Peter-Paul "Pedro" Boot

In 2007 Peter took hold of the reigns passed by Lysta Lestock and is now coming into his fourth season as 'El Jefe', running all things Vela! Peter-Paul Boot started windsurfing in 1978 while living in Kuwait. In 1986, while chasing the wind, Peter got his first teaching job at the Baja Surf Club in Los Barriles. During his seasons in Cabarete while teaching windsurfing and managing the Vela Center, Peter tried his hand at kiteboarding and helped to bring his teaching skills to Baja for over 5 years as the Dare2Fly manager/instructor. Nowadays..He is back to full time windsurfing and spending lots of hours sailing the sup boards reminding him of the good old days and loves riding them in big swell or the pacific waves!  

Finch van der Zwet

Finch returns for his fourth year this time as kite instructor at the all new Vela Baja kite centre  This man is just addicted to the beach ….no, he was born on the beach.  He had his own restaurant/surfbar on the beach in Holland (yes, another Dutchy).  He has been making trips to the Baja since last century.  He loves every kind of board sport, with or without a sail or kite.  Anything to keep the adrenalin flowing.  He likes to keep the chill tunes flowing out of the retail shed and onto the water, adding to the casual atmosphere. And, of course, he likes cheese and good coffee

Neil Howe

Originally from the UK, Neil turned his lifelong hobby into his profession when he became an RYA qualified windsurf instructor several years ago. Since then he has done stints in the Greek island of Rhodes and in the Caribbean islands of St Lucia and laterly The Dominican Republic at Vela Cabarete. This year Neil heads the team as senior windsurf instructor. He is also enjoying putting his other hobby of photography to use when regularly updating the Baja wind reports.

Todd Simmler

Todd has called Oregon home for sixteen years.  Moving from Bend to Hood River several years ago has allowed him to expand his skills as a mountain biker and as a snowboarder.  Skipping the snowboarding season again this year Todd will continue to develop the local Baja mountain bike trails and further hone his already substantial kiteboarding skills.  Todd also creates unique art from scrap metal.

 Bart

Hailing from Poland, Bart joins the Vela Baja team this season as windsurfing instructor. With several years teaching experience in such far flung places as the Sinai peninsular in Egypt and in Southern Spain at Tarifa Bart brings a wealth of experience and a permanent cheerful grin to the team. He also is a keep photographer and videographer and is already providing great contributions to the wind reports.

 Quen

Half Dutch and half English, but living for several years in Greece, Quen completes this year's windsurf team in Vela Baja.

Quen has many years teaching experience and now manages a watersports centre in the summer months on the Greek island on Rhodes.

Quen's goal in Baja is to nail the Flaka and win at croquet!

 Floor

Floor is IKO level 2 qualified instructor and spends the summer running his own kite school in Holland.

A talented musician he is bringing entertainment to the weekly bonfires and he is also a qualified chef!

 The bricks on our wall!

    Our awesome volunteers.

Clockwise from back left, Michael, Rod, Hans, Matteo, Bev, Dean, Jane.