2010 Baja Women's Kiteboarding Camps

Women's Camps Featured in Coastal Living! We are booking now for this winter!!!

Cascade Kiteboarding's Tonia Farman, in conjunction with Kitemasters Kite School and Palapas Ventana are once again hosting Women's Kite Camps in La Ventana, Baja Mexico for 2010:

Feb 21-27
Feb 28- 6
Mar 7 - 13

Last year's camps went so well, we're adding one more week to the schedule! If you haven't been to one of my camps in La Ventana, you are in for an adventure you'll never forget! The 6-day camps focus on full days of kiteboarding instruction (as soon as the wind starts blowing!) but that's not all. Here's a typical day:

We get started at 7am with a Pilates-at-Sunrise session, have a healthy home-cooked breakfast with fresh fruit, proteins, strong coffee and fresh Jamaica (Hibiscus juice), then it's snorkeling, kayaking, or stand-up paddling until the wind comes up around 11. For the rest of the day we take advantage of the wind and get 2-to-1 kiteboarding instruction focused specifically to everyone's level. After kiteboarding, there's a little down time, then Happy Hour back at Palapas Ventana with the best margaritas in Baja! Authentic, home-cooked mexican flavors are served at 7 for supper and then whatever you want to do until you can't stay up anymore! Days are usually so full and active that most guests are out by 8pm! We call it "Mexican Midnight!"

All camps are open to all levels of riding. Because we pair two students to 1 instructor, we can accommodate all levels of riders in one camp, with a maxiumum of 8 guests per camp. You are paired with another student who is your same level.

Beginners > Never flown a 4-line LEI (Leading Edge Inflatable) kite or minimal experience with 4-line kite.
Intermediate Beginners > Can control a 4-line LEI kite and body-drag
Advanced Beginners > Can confidently board start and get going in both directions
Advanced Intermediates > Can ride both directions, stay upwind, starting to execute transitions and jumps.

Camps are $1390 per person and include:

- 6 nights, 7 days accommodations at Palapas Ventana - 3 girls per specialty casita
- All meals at Palapas Ventana and 2 dinners out on the town
- Evening socials and chalk talks at the PV bar
- 3 Days of kiteboarding instruction with Tonia and the Kitemasters Kite School professional staff- Lesson gear included
- Transportation to kite spots for lessons
- Downwinder transportation
- 2 1-hour Pilates sessions focused on strength & flexibility for kiteboarding
- Use of kayaks and snorkeling gear
- Optional activities include massage, cooking classes, spanish classes, standup paddling, snorkeling, diving and fishing trips, daytrip to the Pacific.
* Price does not include 13% Mexico hotel tax
* Price does not include transportation to and from the airport, however we will arrange the transportation for you once we have your travel itinerary.

To make reservations or if you have any questions, please contact me tonia(at)cascadekiteboarding.com or email Tim(at)PalapasVentana.com.

Summer's End Women's Intermediate Clinic

Two of the best instructors you'll ever meet, Tonia Farman and Kristin Boese, are combining their instructional talents and passion to get more women on the water for an event you don't want to miss!!

Taking place in Hood River, Oregon on August 29, 2009, this intermediate clinic will focus on intermediate manuevers from transitions and chop-hops to rolls and raileys. All riders must be able to stay and ride upwind. Clinic is limited to 25 women. Here are the details...

Dates & Times: Saturday, August 29 meet at 10am, Sunday as a backup for wind.

Food & Bev: Lunches from South Bank Kitchen, Bevs from Water from the Hood.

Gear: Liquid Force, Dakine, and Best -- Kites, boards, harnesses and swag!

This clinic will fill up quick, so register now! Just register online at Active.com.

Just added!! Windance is throwing a party for the girls! 7-10pm Saturday night 8/29! Well, I guess others are invited too. Where is Windance? It's in Hood River, right next to Tum-a-Lum Lumber and Lampoei's Thai. 108 Highway 35. For more info, email tonia@CascadeKiteboarding.com!

Tonia's 2009 Pilates Courses

Kick-start 2009 with Pilates to increase core strength, flexibility, and postuer. Pilates is an excellent form of exercise not only for kiteboarding, but for all sports and activities that require balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance. I start the first in three series of Beginning Pilates courses in Hood River on January 6th. There are still spots open! I also start a Tower Pilates class at Flow Yoga Hood River on January 5th. Information on both series is below.

Beginning Mat Classes:

Instructor: Tonia Farman. Classes take place at 1020 Sherman Street in Hood River.  To book, email Patricia Railton: wprailton@embarqmail.com

Series 1: Tuesdays & Thursdays at Noon
Jan. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 2
Starts: January 6th

Series 2: Mondays & Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 am
Feb. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, March 2, 4
Starts: February 9th

Series 3: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:40pm-6:40p
March 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31, April 2, 7
Starts: March 12th

Tower Pilates Class: Mondays, 8:15am

Instructor: Tonia Farman. Tower classes take place at Flow Yoga Hood River.  Call 541-386-YOGA to sign up.

What is a "Tower" class?
Here the student performs mat exercises along with exercises utilizing the "tower".   The "tower", originally designed to fit inside of a doorframe, is bolted both to the wall as well as to the floor, and houses numerous springs and bars.   This workout utilizes the spring tension to both aid and challenge the student as he/she strengthens his/her powerhouse. Often one of the most popular pilates classes!

What is Pilates and why should you take it?

Pilates emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient, graceful movement. What is core strength? It is the balanced development of the deep and superficial muscles that stabilize, align, and move the trunk of the body, especially the abdominals and muscles of the back. These are specifically the muscles that we exert about 75% of our strength for kiteboarding.

I added Pilates to my athletic repetoire because of the results that I got from it. It increased my core strength so much that I can now execute every board grab in the book, except for two where I'm limited by arm length. It not only changed my athletic performance, it changed how I sit, stand, walk, and go about my day. In actuality, I could say that Pilates changed my life!

What are the benefits of Pilates?

longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement)
improves postural problems
increases core strength, stability and peripheral mobility
helps prevent injury
enhances functional fitness, ease of movement
balances strength & flexibility
heightens body awareness
no-impact, easy on the joints
can be customized to suit everyone from rehab patients to elite athletes
complements other methods of exercise
improves performance in sports (golf, skiing, skating etc.)
improves balance, coordination & circulation

Which Pilates Method do you teach?

I have trained through, and teach, the Stott Pilates Method. This method incorporates modern exercise principles, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement. It has been refined by a team of physical therapists, sports medicine and fitness professionals as one of the safest and effective Pilates methods available.