Wingsuits Over Mexico

It has been a few weeks since we had a really cool wingsuit video, but I found this one today while catching up on all the latest news over at The Adventure Journal. It features Jon Devore and Mike Swanson sailing over some very impressive looking mountains near Monterey, Mexico. As is typical with these videos, the view looks spectacular and the whole thing looks like a lot of fun. Not sure I'd ever have the nerve to try this, but I sure enjoy watching these guys do it. I'm guessing you will too!

Kayker Drops 128-Feet Over Falls In Mexico

Paddler Rafa Ortiz made the second highest drop over a waterfall ever last month when he went down the 128-foot tall Big Banana Falls in Mexico. Fortunately for all of us, someone was on hand to shoot photos and video of it, from multiple angles no less. Ortiz also went on NBC a few days back to talk about the experience. Check out all the craziness in the video below, and remember kids, don't try this at home.

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Top Seas Kayaking Destinations in Baja

Paddler Magazine has put together the Top 9 Baja Sea Kayak Getaways with tips for the best places to go on a paddling vacation south of the border.

The article suggests that now that the winter months are not that far off (come on guys, Fall just got here!) that we might be looking to escape the cold weather and go some place warm for our aquatic fun. To that end, they suggest Baja, with it's miles of beaches, amazing water, and completely laid back culture.

Amongst their top places to paddle in the region are the Sea of Cortez, which is notable for it's vast amount of marine life and it's hidden bays, islands, and caves. Perfect for the the person who wants to explore by kayak. If that doesn't meet your needs then try Loreto's Gulf Islands, which has earned the reputation of being "Mexico's Galapagos". They describe San Quintin Bay as a mix of wilderness and civilization, which may be more the speed you're looking for. Paddle and explore by day, then return to port at night to party and indulge yourself with the finer things.

Overall, the article makes it very enticing to plan a Baja getaway this year. Each section gives information on how long you should plan to stay, what you should expect, and how much you will be spending. I guess despite he fact that fall has just arrived, it's never too early to start planning that winter escape.

Mythical Mayan Underworld Discovered

Here's a very cool story that was making the rounds over the weekend. Archeologists in Mexico have discovered a vast underground maze of chambers and temples dating back to the Mayan Empire that they believe was designed by that ancient civilization to serve as a gateway to the underworld where the dead passed from this life to the next.

Scientists came across these ruins hidden in underground caverns in the Yucatan Peninsula, and so far they've discovered 11 buried temples, connected by an interweaving series of tunnels. There are also remnants of human bones and other artifacts that indicate that the area served as a spot for human sacrifice.

Parts of the complex are submerged in water, which has forced explorers to don SCUBA gear to venture further into the hidden realm. Amongst the varying chambers, they have also come across a 330 foot long "road" that is the archeologists believe was a representation of the Mayan road to Xibalba, the mythical underworld believed to be the afterlife.

What an amazing discovery. It's really cool that we can still find things like this in this day and age, and this seems like a pretty big find no less. They've been working away on it for more than five months, and who knows what else they'll find down there once they've had a chance to explore the entire area. Seems like Lucas and Spielberg just found the subject of their next Indiana Jones movie!

Trans-Mexicana Mountain Bike Race

On Sunday, Feb. 17th, the Trans-Mexicana mountain bike race gets underway, departing from Veracruz, Mexico, on the Gulf coast. The seven day event is a stage race that will cover a 700km course ending in Huatulco, Oaxaca on the Pacific coast, passing through some very remote and challenging regions in the process.

The course will vary greatly, starting off with a mostly flat, fast track over approximately 100km. But the following stages will move up into the hills, increasing the challenge and distances. Course designer and race director Luis Canseco has designed a route that will accentuate the culture and natural beauty of Mexico, highlighting the local flora and fauna that will be on display as the riders pass through.

SleepMonsters.com will be posting updates from the event, and they already have two pre-race reports posted. You can also see a preview video posted on YouTube by clicking here.

It looks like it will be a really great race and hopefully will become an annual event. I like the concept and more races like this one with a mix of an endurance event and cultural immersion, would be fantastic. Mexico is a perfect venue with a diverse culture, unique terrane, and very remote regions. It should be fun to read the reports on this one.