It is with great pride that I announce that the 23rd Annual Banderas Bay Regatta is scheduled to take place March 3 -7, 2015. Registrations are now open for this fun filled week of music, good food, great camaraderie, and great racing.

The Banderas Bay is located between the states of Nayarit and Jalisco and is one of the most beautiful of its kind in the world. In fact, it is part of “The Most Beautiful Bays of the World Club,” based in France. Besides being the country’s largest bay, it receives the flow from the Ameca River, which is for all intents and purposes the border that divides both states and their cities: Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Nuevo Vallarta in Nayarit.

The bay is ideal for the practice of sailing sports of every kind. Its unique characteristics allow sailing to be practiced during the windy season as well as making it the perfect host destination for world-class events such as the Biannual Copa Mexico Regatta, which includes the J24, Láser, Optimist, Kite Surf, WindSurf, Club 420, Oceánica and Wesmex classes, the Wind Festival and the Optimist North American Championships (OPTINAM).

If you know your sailing, here’s some more technical info courtesy of Kites Surf Vacation:

You can rent equipment for kitesurfing, windsurfing or even catamarans at the hotels or right on the beach. There are also specialty schools that can teach you the best techniques to ply the waters of the Banderas Bay.

If you’d rather take a tour on a luxury sailboat during the day or at sunset, we recommend you check with your hotel’s concierge or your travel agent. There are several tours available, so get your sunblock ready and prepare to weigh anchor!

A press trip for golf journalists sponsored in May by the Riviera Nayarit CVB has already resulted in seven published pieces generating over one million impressions—and all from just one of the writers that visited the destination.

The purpose of the FAM trips organized by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) through their public relations department is to position the destination and its products within specific markets.

In order to determine the productivity of these trips one must analyze the ROI, which in the case of the press trip for golf journalists held to promote the Riviera Nayarit’s courses in North America—its natural market—is already showing unmistakable results.

Of the three journalists that took part in the trip, one has already published seven articles in www.travelgolfmexico.com, www.golfadvisor.com and www.golfchannel.com; together they greatly exceed one million visits per month.

The author in question is Jason Deegan, who has become an opinion leader on the topic; therefore what he publishes this summer will no doubt attract foreign golfers for winter games on the greens of the Riviera Nayarit.

The Tigre, El Nayar, Flamingos, Litibú, Pacífico Punta Mita and Bahía Punta Mita greens each received a detailed review; there was also a special article titled “Four magical days of golf in the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico,” in which the author makes a series of special recommendations.

“Generally a journalist comes to the destination with a single assignment, finds more than what was expected and, in most cases, ends up generating more than one article; this is usually influenced by the hospitality he or she enjoys,” commented Marc Murphy, Managing Director for the Riviera Nayarit CVB.

According to information collected via tourist surveys conducted by the Riviera Nayarit CVB’s research department, over 14% of all the foreigners that visited the destination in June of this year played golf during their stay.

 Click the links for the articles:

Bahia Golf Course

Pacifico Golf Course

Litibu Golf Course

Flamingo Golf Course

El Tigre Golf Course

Nayar Golf Course

World Golf

 Rivera Nayarit Golf Courses

It sure is amazing to watch and how great is it to see these young men outside exercising instead of being glued to a video game.

Honolua Surf Co.’s Ultimate SUP Showdown has certainly been generating some buzz lately, so much so that the it’s become one of the most highly anticipated events of 2014.

We already knew there’d be big names and a big prize purse, however things really went next level when we revealed that Showdown 2014 will be broadcast across the USA in prime time, thanks to a major deal with CBS Sports Network.

And now, according to the giant countdown clock I just spotted on Instagram, the Showdown is only 16 days away.

Time flies.

So in just over two weeks’ time we’re gonna see a whole stack of the world’s best go at it on the shores of Waikiki Beach. But who exactly is going to be in that stack?

The event teased us with Showdown: Draft Day, a very interesting concept in which the athletes got a personal call from Showdown head honcho Boyd Jeffery (remember: Showdown is invite only). However that invite list was a closely guarded secret.

Until now.

Because now we’ve got our hands on the full list. And it’s mighty impressive…

Almost every big name you can think of has signed on for the Ultimate SUP Showdown. From Kai Lenny and Connor Baxter to Travis Grant and Danny Ching to Annabel Anderson and Candice Appleby. This event is suddenly on par with the Battle of the Paddle in terms of level-of-competition.

Check out all the names down below.

This list isn’t just who was invited to compete either; this is who IS competing. This list is confirmed. Perhaps there’ll be one or two changes over the next two weeks, but I’ve been assured this is pretty much set.

The “Big Five” guys from my Top 13 of 2013 are all there: Connor, Travis, Danny, Kai and Georges Cronsteadt. This is the first time they’ll all be in the same race since… Actually I can’t even remember: Travis was injured in last year’s BOP Elite Race while Georges missed the Distance Race, so this could be the first time they’ve battled each other in years.

Likewise the top three women from last year’s Top 13 list are going to be on show: Annabel, Jenny and Candice. I believe this is the first time they’ve been seen together since the 2012 BOP.

And they’re joined by a virtual who’s who of the paddling world, plus a couple of dark horses that I’m confident will cause some major upsets. Which all means one thing: Showdown 2014 is going to be a hell of a lotta fun to watch. In the words of Justin Holland: I’m frothing to see this clash go down.

We’ve got Connor/Kai/Danny/Travis/Georges and probably another dozen guys who are a legitimate chance to win, especially given the randomness of the Showdown course. Zane Schweitzer? Jake Jensen? Kelly Margetts? Those guys are all lightning fast and love the waves.

Then on the women’s side we’re going to see the top names battle it out for the first time in a long time. Annabel and Candice haven’t faced of for almost two years. Jenny is in great shape. Throw in some dark horses such as Shakira Westdorp (could be my tip – definitely one to watch), Sonni Hönscheid (who can hardly be called a dark horse after winning Molokai on the weekend…) and this may just be one of the most entertaining women’s SUP events we’ve ever seen.

Anyway go through the list below and see what you reckon. If you’re a hardcore racing-only fan like me, you might not recognise a few of these names: The Showdown combines surfing and racing, so naturally many of these paddlers are surf specialists. There’s also an “Alternates” list, i.e. if someone pulls out and a spot opens up, which we’re waiting to get our hands on. A few names are missing; Some paddlers had conflicting events while a couple chose not to fly out to Hawaii. But overall this is a pretty darn stellar lineup.

So yeah… Good luck winning this one.

It’s hard not to be excited about the Showdown. Race fans like myself always wanna see the “big names” go head-to-head but very rarely does that happen. So my hats off to the Showdown crew for assembling one of the most-elite groups of paddlers ever seen. This event didn’t even exist 12 months ago, yet in that short time the organisers have managed to convince almost the entire elite community to get behind them and support a bold but very different kind of stand up paddle event.

It’s certainly going to be a fun couple of days in Waikiki on August 17 & 18 and we’ll be right there bringing you live updates.

[readon1 url="http://www.supracer.com/2014-ultimate-sup-showdown-invite-list/"]Source:www.supracer.com[/readon1]

Over 500 competitors from 10 different countries will visit the Riviera Nayarit from August 14-17 to participate in this international event, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2016 world competition in Argelia. 

The 12th ISKF Pan-American Karate Championships will be celebrated from August 14-17 at Nuevo Vallarta’s Paradise Village Hotel in the Riviera Nayarit. This martial arts encounter consists of technical and refereeing seminars, as well as competitions ranging from green to black belt levels.

Five hundred competitors from nine different countries will participate in this international competition, including Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay and the United States.

The secretary of the Mexico chapter of the ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation), José Luis Dueñas Castañeda, indicated 200 of the competitors are Mexican; 80 of them are from Nayarit, many of them living in the bay area. Around 100 companions will join the competitors.

“I can say the sponsorship of the Riviera Nayarit has been magnificent,” he stated. “We’re very grateful for the wonderful support we’re receiving, including the excellent service and the follow up that is being given to our event.”

The technical seminars will take place on Thursday the 14th, led by master Hiroyoshi Okazaki in the morning and in the afternoon by master Yutaka Yagushi. On Friday the 15th those who wish to go up a level will present their Dan examinations; there will also be a seminar held for the judges.

The Kata and Kumite eliminations will be held on Saturday the 16th with the finals on the last day. The participants are aged 8 and older. This competition will also qualify fighters 18 and older for the 2016 world competition in Argelia.

“There are very few opportunities to hold events of this magnitude so that was the main purpose for organizing this event; it was also important for us to add our ‘grain of sand’ in attracting resources to the area,” added Dueñas Castañeda.

The fights and presentations will take place in the host hotel’s Convention Center free of charge for tourists and visitors wishing to see this top-notch competition. To get your access wristband please contact José Luis Dueñas at 322 105 11 76 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

“Having her in goal, with all the experience that she has, gives us a lot of confidence.” The words belonged to Mexico’s Fabiola Ibarra, and they were spoken in praise of the team’s goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Both players had a vital hand in El Tri’s valuable 1-1 draw against Nigeria in their first game at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014. While Ibarra scoring her side’s goal, Santiago kept the Nigerians at bay with a performance that recalled compatriot Guillermo Ochoa’s stunning one-man show against Brazil in the recent FIFA World Cup™.

Just as Ochoa thwarted Neymar and Co in a memorable goalless draw, Santiago stymied the Nigerians with a string of superlative stops. Though powerless to prevent Osarenoma Igbinovia’s thunderous first-half strike from hitting the back of the net, she stopped everything else thrown at her by the Super Falconets’ voracious strikers.

As the only player to have been at U-20 Women’s World Cups, Santiago has plenty of experience to call on, as she explained in an interview with FIFA.com: “I was 13 when I went to my first World Cup in Chile. I’ve always played with older girls, so it wasn’t something that fazed me, although being away with the team for so long was not easy. I spent the time talking to my parents.”

Ceci, as she is known to her team-mates, sat on the bench at Chile 2008 but has been a first-choice ever since, and even kept goal for the Mexicans at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™.

A world finals veteran
“Playing in a World Cup with the full national team at the age of only 16 was a really big thing,” said the happy-go-lucky Santiago. “The year before my coach told me to prepare myself for playing there, and it was an amazing feeling when I actually did. I got a lot of support from my team-mates.”

She added: “Obviously I had a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, but I’ve never thought about my age. For me what counts is if I’m good enough, and if I am, then I give it all I’ve got.”

Santiago has enjoyed a meteoric career since taking up the game at the age of six, though she has had to overcome her father’s opposition to her becoming a goalkeeper.

“I started playing in defence but I liked watching the keepers train, how they threw themselves around and held on to the ball,” she explained. “So I decided to give it a go and my coach thought I had potential, though my father didn’t like the idea of me being a keeper. He said it was a really tough position – any mistake you make is a goal.”

Breaking into a smile again, she said: “In the end, he saw that I was good at it and told me to give it all I had and try to make a name for myself. He suffers but he’s happy for me.”

Her father was no doubt very proud of her display against Nigeria, though Santiago herself would prefer to keep a lower profile: “The less I’m seen on TV, the better. If I’ve got nothing to do, then that means that the team is doing well. If the cameras are on me, then there’s something that we’re not getting right.”

A figurehead
Ceci is more than just Mexico’s guardian angel. The team’s leader off the pitch, she is aware of just how tough it can be for new faces to cope with the experience of playing in the world finals for the first time.

“We’ve got two U-17 players who were at Costa Rica 2014 and a couple of other girls who are at their first World Cup, and it’s our job to support them,” she said. “I tell them stories from other tournaments, talk about other players and how we can beat one team or another. It’s great to see the look on their faces when I’m talking.”

After reaching the last eight at Japan 2012, the Tri custodian is looking to go further in what will be her U-20 world finals swansong: “We’ve got some unfinished business from Japan, where we failed to take that little step further. The objective this time will be to reach the semis.”

Santiago is hoping to stay out of the limelight when Mexico take on England on Saturday, though her team-mates have the luxury of knowing that if she is called upon, the seasoned shotstopper will not let them down.

[readon1 url="http://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/news/y=2014/m=8/news=santiago-mexico-s-teenage-veteran-2418132.html"]Source:www.fifa.com[/readon1]

A first time for everything for hero Prince

Hosts Canada looked to be on the way out of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 at half-time of their Group A match against Finland on Friday. Trailing 2-0, Andrew Olivieri’s side needed a special second-half performance if they were to stay in the competition and cheer the 16,000 fans who had come to support them at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto.

The Young Canucks duly delivered one, doing what no side has ever done before in the competition by overturning the two-goal deficit to win 3-2. Canada’s saviour was Nichelle Prince, who served up an assist for her side’s opening goal and then scored the winner, helping to put them back on track for the quarter-finals.

To mark this tournament first, FIFA.com grabbed an exclusive and unique interview with Canada’s hero of the hour.

FIFA.com: Who was the first person to speak in the dressing room at half-time?
Nichelle Prince: Lindsay Agnew (one of Canada’s substitute defenders). She came in and told us that everyone in the room had been 2-0 down in a match before, that it was nothing new and that we could come back. What she said inspired and motivated all the players. I really admire her for that. She’s a fantastic team-mate and she helped all of us at half-time.

What is the first thing that went through your mind when you scored the winning goal?
Woo-hoo, I’ve done it! I was so excited. I said to myself: ‘We’re in the lead now’. And we stayed there too.

What is your first football memory?
I was four. My first memory was me crying my eyes out when my parents took me to soccer because I didn’t want to play. I ended up loving it, of course. There, that’s my first memory (laughs).

What is the first football shirt you ever bought?
That’s easy. An Argentina shirt, a Lionel Messi one. And I’ve still got it, obviously.

What is the first interview you ever gave?
It was probably for athletics, the other sport I used to do. I remember giving my first interview and thinking how strange it was to see myself in the paper a few days later.

What was your first big sporting disappointment?
I feel very disappointed after every defeat, though the one that’s affected me the most came with the U-17s, in the quarter-finals of the 2012 World Cup in Azerbaijan. We were very down and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so disappointed since I started playing football.

Who is the first person you’ll call after today’s win over Finland?
My parents, just to thank them again and again for supporting me and for always being there for me, and for forcing me to play football when I was four (laughs).

What will be your first post on Facebook or Twitter after tonight’s match?
I haven’t put one up yet, but it will probably be to congratulate and thank Toronto for the incredible support we’ve had in these two games, especially tonight.

Who is the first coach you can remember and what you learned from them?
The first things I was told were when I was at Ajax (her home town in Ontario), and my coach taught me how to dribble with the ball.

What is the first thing you do when you get home after a match?
Sleep or maybe read a book, though I’m more inclined to do that after a win and less so after a defeat. And recover for the next game.

What is the first thing you’d take to a deserted island?
That’s hard. Probably my mobile phone. Hopefully there’d be a Wi-Fi connection (laughs).

What is the first thing you’ll do if you win the World Cup?
Just go out and celebrate with my team-mates.

[readon1 url="http://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/news/y=2014/m=8/news=a-first-time-for-everything-for-hero-prince-2418604.html"]Source:www.fifa.com[/readon1]

 Lorena Ochoa retired more than four years ago, but she’s still having an impact on professional golf — and we’re not talking about the LPGA.

Just check out the No. 1 player on the Web.com Tour. Carlos Ortiz, like Ochoa, grew up learning the game at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico. And one of the people who shaped him was Ochoa, formerly the No. 1 women’s player in the world.

Ortiz, who is playing in this week’s Stonebrae Classic in Hayward, first met Ochoa when he was about 10 years old. Ochoa was a college player then, at the University of Arizona (she’s nine years older than Ortiz), but she didn’t hesitate to hang out with the kids when she was home.

“I grew up watching her and seeing her become No. 1 from close, because I played golf at the same country club and she always lived in Mexico,” Ortiz says. “She played here in the States, but she always came back to Guadalajara to get ready. So it was nice for me to see how hard she worked and how she made her dreams come true. It was a great inspiration for me.

“On top of that, she’s really nice and really open. She’s always been there — since I was little, she played games with us. And now that I’m up here, close to the PGA Tour, she’s reached out to me and offered her help, whatever she can do to make my career easier. That’s really nice.”

Ortiz, 23, will graduate to the PGA Tour this fall. He’s already won twice this season on the Web.com Tour, with total earnings of more than $371,000.

He will become one of the few players from Mexico to reach the PGA Tour. Hall of Famer Lee Trevino is a Mexican American (born in Dallas); Esteban Toledo, born in Mexicali, spent several years on tour without winning. Toledo did win once on the then-Nationwide Tour, and he won twice last year on the Champions Tour.

Ortiz says there are now many promising young players from his homeland, despite abundant obstacles.

“There are no public courses in Mexico, other than expensive resort courses,” says Graciela Ortiz, Carlos’ mom. “If you’re not a member of a country club, you’re going to have trouble playing.”

Even so, interest in the game soared when Ochoa climbed to No. 1 in the rankings — where she stayed for 157 consecutive weeks.

“Golf in Mexico,” Graciela said, “is before Lorena and after Lorena.”

Carlos Ortiz offers a vivid example of Ochoa’s influence. He shot even-par 70 in Thursday’s opening round at TPC Stonebrae and will need to play better Friday to make the cut.

[readon1 url="http://blog.sfgate.com/ongolf/2014/08/01/carlos-ortizs-journey-included-inspiration-from-former-world-no-1-lorena-ochoa/"]Source:blog.sfgate.com[/readon1]

Everything is ready for more than 70 golfers from several cities to participate in the First Bolongo Invitational Golf Tournament, which is sponsored and promoted by the company Bolongo-Citicapital.

The tournament will not only allow golfer from Guadalajara, Mexico, Monterrey, Veracruz, El Bajio, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit play golf first level, but also allow them to see the beauty and all the tourist offer of the region Vallarta Nayarit.

Golfers will enjoy playing and also know the whole range of services Vallarta-Nayarit offers, especially Punta Mita, where the Bolongo Beach Properties Premium Punta de Mita, which represents an interesting and innovative project investor Philip Thomé project will develop.

The major real estate and tourism development was designed on an area of ​​22 hectares located on the road to Punta de Mita, at the height of 14 Km.

The development includes 1,000 m2 land up front Bolongo beaches and ocean views, a luxurious club of nearly 3,000 m2 house and a condominium set, both designed by the talented young European architect Arseniy Varabyeu.

The Beach Club includes a gym with the latest equipment, bar, library, game room, playroom Spa and restaurants.

The tourist development also has beach land with sea view, surrounded by a unique semi tropical landscape, with beautiful sandy beaches.

So tomorrow is Saturday held Prime Bolongo Invitational Golf Tournament, a tournament that will be held at the golf course real estate and tourism development Litibú, after the first gunshot output will be 10 in the morning Saturday.

We must reiterate that golfers have the opportunity to explore the region, its attractions and tourist offer, in an environment of sports festival.

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2014/07/25/golf-y-turismo-una-combinacion-perfecta-en-el-desarrollo-bolongo/"]Source:vallartaopina.net[/readon1]

RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico -- The historic Puerto Vallarta and the modern resorts of the Riviera Nayarit -- separated by the Rio Ameca -- combine to create one of Mexico's best golf destinations.

Two spectacular 36-hole clubs -- the Punta Mita Golf Club and the Vista Vallarta Golf Club -- anchor the region, although they're supported by a stellar secondary cast.

The Bahia Course and Pacifico Course at Punta Mita -- Jack Nicklaus designs on the Pacific Ocean 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta -- blow away golfers with their scenery, service and conditioning. The famous extra par-3 hole on Pacifico (called "3B") plays to a natural island green in the middle of the ocean.

The nearby Litibu Golf Club by Greg Norman boasts three ocean holes highlighting a layout strong enough to host a 2010 Canadian Tour event. The El Tigre Golf Club at Paradise Village is most famous for the live tigers caged next to the 17th tee. With water seemingly everywhere, the course is equally tough to tame.

ClubCorp keeps Vista Vallarta's Nicklaus Course and Weiskopf Course, hidden in the jungle in the hills above Puerto Vallarta, in good shape. The Marina Vallarta Golf Club delivers a more convenient round closer to the famous boardwalk of downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Just when it looked like the game had passed the oldest course in the region by, Flamingos Golf upgraded its layout and clubhouse, providing a great value for the next generation of players. After years of renovations and routing changes, the Nayar Golf Course might finally be ready to give guests a fun round that includes a forecaddie. A new Norman course affiliated with the resort is scheduled to open at least nine holes in the spring of 2015.
[readon1 url="http://www.worldgolf.com/photo-galleries/riviera-nayarit-mexico-golf-courses-14666.htm"]Source:www.worldgolf.com/[/readon1]

This Saturday, July 26 at 7 pm in the Estadio Sergio León Chávez

Was scheduled 2 days of Apertura Mexico 2014: for Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July.

The activity of the second date will start at 19:00 hours with the duel between Atlante at Altamira in Andrés Quintana Roo stadium. On the same day, but at 19:30 in the stadium Francisco Villa, Zacatecas Mining will be presented to his fans the Rays facing Necaxa.

On Saturday 26 5 remaining games will be played, starting with the encounter between deer who get to Mérida Oaxaca Albrijes at 18:00 hours on Stadium Carlos Iturralde Rivero.

At the same time, but at the Sports Unit Centenario XXI Century Zacatepec will welcome Runner CTU. At 19:00 hours in the stadium Alfonso Alfaro Atletico San Luis get to Dorados de Sinaloa.

Also at 7 pm, but in stage Sergio León Chavez, Irapuato FC will appear before Coras. Coras is in fifth place in the overall standings with 3 points, while Freseros units have not yet joined.

To close the day at 20:00 hours in the stadium Miguel Alemán Valdés, the Bulls will host Celaya Lobos UAP.