Her name is Karen Jacobson, she is 17 years of age and was born in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

With constant support from her parents, Sandra Castañeda and Michael Jacobson, Karen became involved with the world of surfing at the age of 13.

Although Puerto Vallarta is her birthplace and her parents live in this city, Karen spends much of her time in Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit, which is well-known as one of the best regions for the practice of surfing. It was there where she became acquainted with the sport and the people of this town received her with open arms and they have always given her support in growing her surfing expertise.

Karen competes in Stand-up Paddle (SUP) races, and continues exercises to maintain herself 100% physically in order to be at her best level for any time the opportunity presents itself to attend a tournament, either inside or outside Mexico.

One of her most important accomplishments in her short career was to conquer third place in the last World Championship in Peru.

In Mexico, Karen has already won the title of National Champion two times and has won the right to represent Mexico in the month of May for the second consecutive year. Her first National Championship title was awarded in Sayulita, where she learned to surf. Her second National Champion title took place three weeks ago in Los Cabos.

To date, Karen has been able to compete in tournaments with the support of her family and some local sponsors, such as Las Adelitas Restaurant Bar Galeria (Rio Amazona #234, Colonia Fluvial Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta).

As the challenges increase with the level of tournaments Karen needs to attend to further her career, the expenses increase as well. She is in search of additional support from the Government and from private and business sponsors.

For Karen Jacobson, it is vital to attend the major tournaments in Mexico and in locations such as Australia and Hawaii. To accomplish this goal, she is seeking to establish a team of sponsors who will support travel, accommodations, tournament registration fees, equipment costs and more.

You can follow her success and tournaments on Facebook.

If you feel moved to get involved with Karen's career as a sponsor or for more information, please email Michael at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The winners of the Riviera Nayarit Half Marathon were David Gutiérrez Miranda from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato in the male open category; and Dinora Pérez Sánchez from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, in the female open category.

The fifth edition of the Riviera Nayarit Half Marathon 2013 was a complete success with approximately 800 runners of all ages participating. It’s currently ranked among the top 10 marathons on a national level.

“This is an event that plays on the world stage and generates tourism,” said Arturo García, director of the Half Marathon. “If you consider that each of the participants brought three companions, then you can extrapolate that it brought in over three thousand visitors. We’d like to thank the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau for their unwavering support.”

First place in the 21k female open category went to Dinora Peña Sánchez of Puerto Vallarta, with a time of 1 hour and 29 minutes.

“This is the best-organized race out of all the races that take place in Vallarta or the Riviera throughout the year,” said the winner. “We invite people to come help grow the Half Marathon, to make it better so there are more prizes. We need even more people to participate.”

The first male participant to reach the finish line was David Gutiérrez Miranda, from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, a veteran of marathons and triathlons, with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes. This was his first time running the Half Marathon.

“This is a great place to run and the event is very well organized,” said the winner. “The advantage of having the host hotel so close to the finish line is more time to relax, take a shower and eat breakfast.”

“It’s very calm and a great venue for the race. This is a place that can definitely grow for this type of event,” he added.

He asked for more publicity and support to increase the number of participants, that the invitation needs to reach out to the runners in the heart of the country that participate on a national level. He hopes to return next year to uphold his title.

A total of 78 prizes were awarded; the 10K winners took home a trophy, while the 21K winners took home a trophy and prizes in kind.

As a proud sponsor of the event, the Riviera Nayarit CVB reaffirms its commitment to position the destination as a location for sports competitions on a national and international level.

To see all results, click here: http://www.mediomaratonrivieranayarit.com/

One of the aims of Cruz Azul will be to nullify the Paraguayan goal maker Pablo César Velázquez, although the work itself should be centered in the whole group.

For its quarter-final series one of the aims of Cruz Azul will be to nullify the Paraguayan goal maker Pablo César Velázquez, although the work itself should be centered in the whole group, commented the defense Julio César “Cata” Domínguez.

Velázquez was the goal champion of the regular phase in what is his first season in the Mexican soccer, and what was a fundamental piece so that Diablos Rojos could remain as the most conclusive offensive of the contest, for which in La Máquina they have worked these two weeks to stop the rival attack.

“More than studying him, we need to study the whole team, because they all play, they all complement each other and he is the one who scores. We have to try to do our job which is the solidity and the order to counter them, who are the team with most goals and with a goal maker, but we have to play the soccer that has given us (results) lately”, he said in a press conference.

In quarter-finals it will be the first occasion that Cruz Azul confronts Velázquez, as in their regular campaign meeting, The Machine won 2-1 in a day that was contested without national team players and the Paraguayan was focused in his national team for the FIFA Date that was then contested.

“The tournament was an even game, the victory was also due to the block of Memo (Alison, when he stopped a penalty from Juan Carlos Cacho), otherwise it would have been a tie. That gave us confidence because we won, but this is the league tournament, and it is a different game”.

The reserve player considers his team to be strong, both on the defensive as in the attack for the two confrontations against the team of Toluca. “For me the two (are strong points of the team), the defensive as well as the offensive, I think that we have very good forwards, that maybe have not connected very well, but what has taken us to the league tournament is the solidity of everything. I think that we received fewer goals in the past tournament and that gives us (security)”.

Domínguez expressed that he feels that the team is prepared to confront Toluca, after the week of special work that they did in Avándaro and with the arrival today of the national team players Luis Amaranto Perea (Colombian) and Joao Robin Rojas (Ecuadorian).

“The truth is that going to Avándaro was very helpful to us, this week was very good for us in soccer and today we already played soccer with the national players and I felt that the team was well, so now it is necessary to do our job to be able to return peacefully”.

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/11/21/cruz-azul-ha-estudiado-a-toluca-cata-dominguez/"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The days Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th of December 2013, the First National tournament 5 Davino took place. This successful event, which was framed by this beautiful destination, had the participation of a body of auditioners comprised of renowned players and special guests from various parts of the Mexican Republic.

The Mexican strategist revealed that the forward of the Real Sociedad can return to the Team, as long as he reconsiders

The helmsman appeared in front of the media

2013-11-19 10:42:20

Miguel Herrera speaks as it is: the future trainer of the National Team in the World Cup. And although he keeps a restraint in the game against New Zealand, it is also clear to him that it is necessary to start thinking of the future decisions and one of them is the group of players to be chosen.

Even Carlos Vela, the controverted football player of the Real Sociedad, can have a place with the green shirts, unless he doesn't reconsider.

"We are very conscious that the nine Mexican players in Europe are good, 10 with Nery (Castillo), who is a big player and even Vela if the boy's head only changed all of the sudden. They are important, you cannot leave them out just because you feel like it. They have realized that there is a good competition with the players of Mexico and this competition helps the team grow".

Herrera explained that the 23 that are there know that nothing guarantees that they will go to the World Cup and this is clear to them:

"No, it wouldn't be fair, but I told them since before this new process began, I told all of them, that they, the 23, together with the technical body, brought us to achieve an objective, which is to classify to the World Cup in two games, and nobody can guarantee us that we will be in the World Cup, they know it. If they keep their level they will be there, surely the majority has an opportunity, but these 23, the only thing that they have guaranteed is the possibility to fight for the ticket to the Word Cup".

The Mexican trainer said that he trusted that his team will win, for this they have prepared and they have the full intention to launch their players to attack from the beginning of the game, no speculation.

Herrera spoke during the previous press conference about the recognition of the field by Mexico.

[readon1 url="http://www.nnc.mx/deportes/1384879340.php"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The Mexican alignment gets a good advantage in the elimination game of the world cup

The Mexican team attains the first objective of the elimination game, win at home and carry a good advantage for the duel of next November 20 in Wellington.
With goals of Paul Aguilar at the minute 31, Raúl Jiménez at the 39', two of Oribe Peralta and one of Márquez at the 83', the alignment directed by Miguel ‘Piojo' Herrera clearly wins against the champion of the eliminatory of Oceania, which is New Zealand.

The goal of the Newzealanders was work of James at the minute 84.

The return duel will be on the next November 20 at 00:00 hours time of Mexico to seal its pass to the competition of Brazil 2014.

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/11/13/mexico-vence-5-1-a-nueva-zelanda/"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The football raises passions among Jaliscans

GUADALAJARA - An ancestral stadium. Twice a world cup stadium and a place of unforgettable football battles, where the great passed through its court and which now houses the Atlas and the ascending Leones Negros of the University of Guadalajara in the First Division, as the popular Chivas Rayadas of Guadalajara emigrated to their own stadium. The Omnilife and the Oro disappeared years ago.

Also this Colossus of the Calzada Independencia was the scene of the Jalisco team with the blue and gold uniform that brings to mind a thousand memories and that for this reason it is part of the series THE CAPITALS OF FOOTBALL ON ESPN.

A court of Jalisco where Brazil weaved the magic that led to definitively conquer the Jules Rimet Cup of Mexico 1970, and that made the Brazilian and Mexican brotherhood possible, lasting into eternity.

It was on this court where Pelé surprised the midfielder Czech Viktor passing the ball just over his head. It was in this setting that Pelé masterfully put down a ball and served to Jairzinho to undermine Gordon Banks. In 1986 it was the site of a dramatic penalty series between France and Brazil, where Zico and Platini had opposite destinies in their definition and where Bamberg from Asutralia didn't make a legitimate goal on Michel from Spain, because it bounced off the goal line.

The Jalisco lived in its guts the great epochs of the Chivas of Guadalajara.

Way back in 1954 and because of the scandals that arose in connection with the purchase of tickets to the Classic Atlas vs. Guadalajara, Mr. Alberto Alvo, then leader of the Atlas Club, devised the construction of a Stadium with more room and which could be owned by the Club, for this he offered to look for ways of financing the work.

With its creation, the firm United Clubs of Jalisco which encompassed Guadalajara, Atlas and Oro, occupied the property. The opening game was on January 31, 1960 and was conducted between the Argentinian team San Lorenzo de Almagro and the Atlas of Guadalajara.

The first player to step on the court was Alfredo Torres and the first goal was of Norberto Boggio, the player of El ciclón. Fifty thousand spectators attended, whose entry box office gains made about 465 thousand pesos.

In their sacred turf, besides the World Cups, the Olympic games of Mexico 68 were played. It received Pope John Paul II in 1979 and hosted the Confederations of 99.

On Wednesday, May 6, 1970 the grand opening of the expansion works of the monumental stadium of Jalisco was held, which primarily included the construction of the top of the building, giving it the ability to accommodate 65 thousand people.

Thus, one of the main venues of the 1970 World Cup was fully ready. The inaugural event started at 6:45 pm with the match between the Oro team and the University, for the championship of the National League.

At 8:45 pm the main game was held between the teams of Brazil and Guadalajara.

It has also hosted musical shows, standing out the concerts of Earth, Wind and Fire, Quiet Riot, Rod Stewart, Sting, Guns and Roses, Juan Gabriel, as well as Vicente and Alejandro Fernandez

[readon1 url="http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1864672&s=capitales-del-futbol&type=story"]Source: ESPN Deportes Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Spectacular reception of Mexico's team in New Zealand (video)

The National Team arrived Saturday at Wellington where it was greeted by a Maori dance group that performed the Haka in honor of the Mexicans

Mexico's team was received with the Haka dance

Mexico had a spectacular welcome in Wellington, as the ambassador in this country, Leonora Rueda, brought to the airport terminal a traditional Maori dance group that received them dancing the famous Haka.

The players, with Miguel Herrera and Héctor González Iñárritu, were surprised by the welcoming performance, something that no Mexican soccer team has had in recent times.

After the exhibition, the group leader asked the Mexicans to correspond with a traditional Mexican song, to which the group responded by singing the Cielito Lindo, which caused the people at the terminal, at the time only dedicated to Mexicans, to get excited.

The group, which arrived almost at midnight of the local time of this Saturday, lived a unique experience, after a heavy trip of nearly four hours from Sydney.

[readon1 url="http://www.nnc.mx/deportes/1384641754.php"]Source: NNC Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The big winners were local fishermen from Nayarit: Óscar Escobedo from San Pedro Lagunillas came in first place; Javier Vergara from Tepic took second and Julio Parra, also from Tepic, placed in third.

Local Nayarit fishermen won the day during the 5th Annual “Lo de Marcos” Surf Fishing Tournament. Attendance soared from last year’s 41 fishermen to this year’s 66, as expected by the Tepic Surf Fishing Club.

The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau was instrumental in increasing the number of participants, thanks to their continuous promotion of the events that place this destination on par with the top sport fishing hotspots from around the world.

“I'd like to thank all the participants for a job well done and extend a special thanks to the Riviera Nayarit CVB for their support in promoting these great sport fishing events in our state,” said club president Mario Alberto Real.

Governor Roberto Sandoval’s State Government is focused on lending its support by developing this type of tourism activities in greater scale.

All in all, it was a fun family weekend at Lo de Marcos beach, where the locals gave their special guests a very warm welcome.

First place went to Óscar Escobedo from San Pedro Lagunillas, who caught a 2.5 kg sea bass. Second went to Javier Vergara and his 1.8 kg sea bass; Julio Parra placed third with his giant hawkfish, which was released according to the “catch and release” guidelines. Both men hail from Tepic.

The winners took home cash prizes as well as items in kind, including as lures, rods, reels, t-shirts and fishing kits.

Special mention goes to the women who participated in this year’s Tournament: Celene Ocegueda from Las Varas, Reyna Chávez of Colima and Chantal Contreras from the capital of Nayarit.

There were also a few surprises, including the participation of young Yusself Tapia of Tepic, who at the tender age of 7 already competes in major regional tournaments. This is just one more example of how the local population of Nayarit is making the most of the many natural resources that Mexico’s Pacific Treasure has to offer.

Alfio Carranza First Place in Form in the Five Year Old Category - Puyng Dang Taekwondo

Levy is the only man to travel down the more than 7,100 miles of Mexican coastline in a kayak. His new challenge is to paddle his way—alone—across the Atlantic from Spain to Mexico.

Abraham Levy is a self-propelled explorer, that is to say, his expeditions don’t depend on a sail, the wind, or any motor whatsoever. He’s currently training at the Marina Riviera Nayarit, taking advantage of the bay’s geography, the gamut of places he can visit during his preparation and the support he’s receiving from local authorities.

This Mexican explorer has been the only man to travel the more than 7,100 miles of Mexico’s coastline solo aboard a kayak in 2007 – 2008. His new challenge: to paddle solo across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from Puerto de Palos in Huelva, Spain, all the way to Cancun. In order to perform this feat, Levy will travel aboard a transoceanic rowboat named “La Cascarita”.

“My first test with the boat and all its equipment perfectly installed will be when I leave the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos and arrive at Marina Rivera Nayarit,” said Levy. “It will take some 6 to 10 days to complete the over 370-mile journey. This is the trial by fire before I send the boat to Spain in order to start my voyage”.

Levy began his trek from Los Cabos to the Riviera Nayarit this past October 25th; he’s expected to arrive at the Marina Riviera Nayarit on or around October 31st. The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to invite the media to stay tuned for a confirmation of his arrival date (via this medium), at which time they will hold a press conference.

His major voyage across the Atlantic will begin on January 9, 2014, and will last approximately four to six months. He’s expected to arrive back to the Marina sometime in June.

Levy has been in Banderas Bay and the Marina Riviera Nayarit for the past three months, where he has been fully supported, which was key to his decision to train here. Said support, offered by the People’s Government headed by Roberto Sandoval, has always been present in all the activities that promote the destination as an ideal spot for water sports.

“I like Banderas Bay very much. Its geography is great and I have several good friends here who are very knowledgeable about the ocean,” said the Mexican athlete. “Many sailors from around the world meet here, plus the shape of the bay helps me during my test runs”.

He added that it offers all the different water conditions he needs to work with, including being perfectly sheltered. It also offers many places to visit during his training such as Punta de Mita and the Marietas Islands, plus other great “excuses” for a little sailing.

“The Mexican Pacific is the big leagues in sailing here in Mexico,” said the 33-year-old Colima native. “This is a top spot and that’s also why I chose to make the crossing from San José del Cabo back here. The formation of the Baja California peninsula, the entire Sea of Cortez and the Banderas Bay are ideal places to execute this crossing”.

The tournament will take place October 26-27, 2013, in Riviera Nayarit with the participation of fishermen from Nayarit, Jalisco and Colima.

The Tepic Surf Fishing Club and the People’s Government, headed by Roberto Sandoval Castañeda, extend an invitation to sport fishing aficionados and to the general public to participate in the 5th Annual Playa Lo de Marcos Surf Fishing Tournament.