Saturday, June 23rd: On the road in the DR

Posted Tuesday June 26th, 2007

-Words and pictures: Staff Photographer

It's been a while since my last visit to the DR. Three years actually, and I almost didn't make it, as I realized I left my passports behind on the way to the airport (it happens now and then). So a quick turnaround on I95 saw me scramble back to the office in record time to collect them and then race back to Miami to catch my flight. Crazy!

Thankfully, Kristin reserved a spot for me in the check-in line as I arrived with minutes to spare. Unfortunately, Kristin was waiting to send her bags back to the Gorge because of crazy travel restrictions, and she missed the flight. And I made it! Thanks Kristin!

So it was wild start to the trip already as I arrived at the Puerto Plata Airport before heading to Kite Beach to see Tiger (Alvaro). I walked out the back of the hotel to find Tiger, and in the process nearly slipping in the pool with all my camera gear on my back and passports in my pocket.

It was not turning out to be an easy day as Tiger and I headed to Laurel Eastman's Kite School to drop off some kites and gear for Kristin (who was still stuck in Miami) and Bruna. Guess what? On the way the motor concho driver got pulled over by the police for no plates on the bike. Tiger and I decided to walk to Laurel's school instead dodging a dead dog and other roadside DR objects.

The next day was the beginning of the Pura Vida kite trip in Las Terrenas that was being organized by Jo Jo, Stan and Leif.

I knew it would be a fun trip as the crew had it organized perfectly from start to finish. Were we in the same country? Maybe, maybe not.

Las Terrenas is magic. Blue Caribbean water, reef, sliders, parties, rainforest, waterfalls, quad biking ... the Pura Vida crew had the perfect set up and we didn't stop running around from the moment we woke up till the parties finished.

I don't want to give too much away as I am sure there will be lots of good photos and publicity coming from the beautiful spot in the future. But if you haven't been to that part of the DR then go. The water is perfect, flat, blue and clean as you ride along white sand beaches lined with palm trees with no one out. It's just perfect.

Tiger and I stayed a couple of extra days with the Pura Vida crew shooting and make the most of the uncrowded paradise conditions

We finally made it back to Caberete on Tuesday to catch up with Bruna and let the team get some practice before the comp and do some photo shoots.

Laurel arranged an amazing apartment for Tiger and I at the Ocean Dreams complex, which was perfect place. Thank you, Thank you, Laurel!!. It's so nice to catch up on things with a nice apartment to send photos out of and touch base with the world. Plus Tiger could train right out the front at the event site though the wind has been weird. Global warming here we come. You walk down the El Quentro and you can see the water levels are up after only a few years! It's been great catching up with old friends such as Kim as well!

The conditions were light the first few days back. Sometimes windy, sometimes cloudy sometimes both. But Alvaro and Bruna have been out there training and getting ready for the 4th stop on the tour.

Let's hope the wind comes back soon so we can have a great event next week.

More later, from the DR.