Howe Rotary member, Monique Sanders,  recently visited Los Barriles, Baja Sur, Mexico, during the annual ‘face-off' between kite- and wind-surfers for the title of Lord of the Wind - and found herself flipping hamburgers and serving hot-dogs.

A volunteer-organised event that attracts top international competitors from all over the world, the Lord of the Wind Showdown took place between 12th - 16th. January, in the balmy waters of the Sea of Cortez.  For the second year running, race director was Mark Ward from Aberdeen.

The event relies on sponsorship money donated by local businesses such as Exotikite Kitesurfing School, run by Giffordtownian Ian Sanders. But to add to the prize money, the local Rotary Club of Los Barriles ran a food concession, and was specifically responsible for a hamburger and hot dog stall. Though not her food of choice,  Monique, together with her husband, John, was happy to roll up her sleeves to help. 

On the best day of the four, the stall made £400 and was visited by a contingency from the Rotary Club of Los Cabos, a town on the southern-most point of Baja California, known for its whale-watching.

"The four days were busy, with Sunday, in particular, going like a fair," Monique said, "but it was great fun at the same time. We workers on the stall managed to communicate with each other - and customers - in a mixture of English, American-English and Mexican-Spanish!" 

Monique was fascinated by the list of projects supported by the Rotary Club of Los Barriles, a reflection of the geographical, natural, social and economic differences between the Howe communities and that of the small town of Los Barriles.  They included spraying against dengue fever; providing disaster (specifically hurricane) relief; helping with turtle preservation; promoting a children's dental program; encouraging the identification and treatment of diabetes; giving computer support for elementary and secondary schools; oh, and maintaining the three barrels fountain, established at the entrance to Los Barriles in honour of the legend that gives the town its name.

The four day Lord of the Wind competition was declared a great success, with local boy, Mac Skaggs - one of Ian's top instructors - overall winner of the kiting slalom and kiter Johnny Heineken (yes, truly!) declared overall Lord of the Wind. 

It proved a great advert for Los Barriles, kiting and windsurfing in general, and kiting schools such as Exotikite, in particular.  The Rotary movement was also a beneficiary, relaying its message to the hundreds of people who stopped to visit their stall and learn about Rotary contributions to Baja community life in all its forms.