It’s happened to the best of us.  You’re in perfect position with a beautiful a-frame peak headed straight for you.  You paddle in, leap to your feet, and then realize in horror that your leash is wrapped around your legs like a boa constrictor, eliminating any chance for a clean ride.  It’s happened to every surfer, and although it’s impossible to prevent 100%, here are some tips on stopping the leash from getting wrapped around your ankles and caught between your toes.

• Don’t wrap your leash around your board.  A lot of people love to do this, and it seems convenient, but wrapping your leash around the tail of your board just above your fins only puts kinks in the leash.  The material the leash is made of has a memory, and this and causes it to want to coil around your leg.  Leave the leash free when you store your board.  It’s not convenient anymore when you’re blowing waves.

• Make sure your leash is long enough.  Generally it should be as long as your board, rounding up.  If you’ve got a 7′6″ board, get an 8′ leash.  If you’ve got a 6′ shortboard, get a 6′ leash.

• If you’ve got a leash that does nothing but coil around your leg while you’re in the water, one solution is to pull the leash taut.  Attach one end to a doorknob or other sturdy structure and pull it out, stretching the leash a bit.  Hang the leash uncoiled for a few days to allow it to straighten it out.

• If your leash is really annoying you and doesn’t seem to straighten out, buy a new one.

• Wear your leash on your trailing foot (duh!) and make sure that the leash/cuff connection extends out to your side – to the right for regular and to your left for goofy.  Don’t have the leash extend from the cuff towards your back or heel, instead position it so that when you’re standing on your board the leash/cuff connection is pointed towards the tail of your board.

• Use a comp leash if you’re in average sized, 6 foot and under surf.  You don’t need such a thick leash.  Comp leashes are strong enough and will give you less drag.  They also seem to coil and get tangled a lot less than regular thickness leashes.  And if you’re that worried about your leash breaking you shouldn’t be out there in the first place.

• Give one of those XM Tangle Free leashes a try.  I can’t endorse this as I haven’t tried it out yet, but it seems like a good idea in theory.

• Don’t wear a leash.  Ok, maybe I shouldn’t have included this tip, but honestly if you’re in small surf and can hold on to your board, give it a try.  This is NOT suitable for people surfing in areas where there are kids playing in the shorebreak nearby, or if you’re riding in a very crowded lineup.  Sorry, even the best surfers lose their boards.  You don’t want the liability of having your fin go through someone’s eye.  Enough about consequences, though–surfing without a leash is incredibly fun and liberating.  And in small waves you don’t have a leash giving you extra drag.

So hopefully these tips will keep your leash tangle-free and put an end to those horrible wave ruining cases of tanglefoot.  If you’ve got any other ideas or home remedies post a comment below and fill us in!

No related posts.

Hello all!  My name is Dallas Taylor and as a newcomer to the surfing world I must admit, I am absolutely hooked.  I was born and raised on a small peninsula in San Diego called Coronado and have been around the surf culture my whole life, yet I never decided to pick up a board and give it a shot. I am 19 years old and currently attend school in San Francisco at San Francisco State University where a friend of mine convinced me to save up for a surfboard rather than buying a long board skateboard.

I surfed for about a little over a month and a half in the treacherous waters of San Francisco where my progress was limited due to the harsh conditions. I attempted the paddle out to the lineup only four or five times and failed each time, so I spent all of my time in the white wash just getting familiar with my board. I am extremely glad that I stuck with learning the basics, such as paddling and the pop up, because now I am back home in San Diego and have been shredding the gnarly 2-3 footers with ease.

I have made it my goal to surf every day this summer and I’ve been doing so for the 2 weeks I’ve been back, and man can I notice myself getting better and better each time. One thing that I’ve also picked up from surfing is that surfing is so much more than just catching waves; I’d say just floating out in the ocean is in itself a very rewarding experience. Why just the other day while I was sitting on my board letting the waves roll right under me, I spotted a sweet wave to far out to catch, but through the beautiful sea-green color of the wave, I was blessed to have witnessed two dolphins tearing that wave up…it had to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, and it all came from surfing.

I have only just begun my surfing “career” if you will, but I am able to say that surfing has been the most intrinsically rewarding activity that I have ever picked up, and, like everyone, have been through about a million different phases. I am glad that surfing found its way into my life and every time I’m out there I remember one of Gerry Lopez’s rules of surfing; the best surfer in the water is the one who is having the most fun. Stay stoked!

No related posts.

This tidbit is geared towards beginners who are catching green waves more consistently but might be having trouble staying ahead of the curl or whitewater, or who might be nosediving a bit more than they’d like.

I gleaned this tip from someone over at the NYNJSurf.com forum several years ago, and it helped my surfing immensely when I was at this stage.  And it’s simply this:

As you’re paddling into the wave, look down the line as you’re popping up.  I think a lot of beginners tend to look at the water directly in front of them at the bottom of the wave, or at their board, a passing seagull– everywhere but down the line.

In most sports, surfing included, you’re going to go where you’re looking.  In snowboarding if you look at the snow in front of your board you’re probably going to eat it.  The same goes for surfing.  As you progress and start doing more maneuvers you’ll notice that turning your head and looking at where you want your board to point is the first thing you do.

See how this girl is looking down the line as she's popping up?

As you’re paddling into the wave, look down the line.  This is where you want to go.  It’s actually quite a nice sight: a perfect ramp of blue water just waiting for you to glide across it.  Just this simple act of looking where you want to go will gear your whole body in the right direction.  Your board will automatically angle down the line.

Even now that I’ve gotten better I have to remind myself of this when I’m in steeper or bigger waves, when a glance at the bottom is a bit scary.  “Just look down the line,” I tell myself, and then I trust my body to do the work.  Once I concentrate on doing this the problem solves itself, and I end up catching some pretty fun waves.

Extending your gaze down the line as you’re up and riding the wave is also important as you progress.  This allows you to size up what the wave is doing so you can react accordingly.  A friend of mine made a comment to me a few summers ago that my friends and I weren’t looking down the wave – we were only looking at the wave right in front of us.  After I resisted the urge to be all defensive, I realized he was kind of right.  My awareness of the wave wasn’t extending much past my board.  Now that I’ve gotten over that bad habit it’s actually very satisfying to spot a section 20 feet down the line that looks like it’s going to wall up and close out, speed up and race it out, beat the section, and continue down the wave.

So for your next session concentrate on telling yourself “look down the line” as you’re popping up.  If you find this is working for you, or you’ve got any other tips, throw down a comment below!

Happy surfing!

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AP Photos / Eric Gay

Although this is one of the worst man made natural disasters in history, I am hopeful that something good can perhaps result.  Maybe we will take notice of the horrible way we treat the planet as a society.  Perhaps people will become more aware of their own personal waste and overuse of things such as single use plastics.  Perhaps this will open our eyes and change our ways.

I strongly encourage you to get involved in some way shape or form.  Whether you go to the store to buy a reusable water bottle, pledge to bring reusable bags to the grocery store, or join your local Surfrider chapter, there is something that you can do.  Every little bit helps.

Please check out ESM’s excellent timeline and resource page here:

http://www.easternsurf.com/feature-gulf-oil-spill/

Join your local Surfrider chapter:

http://www.surfrider.org

Hands Across The Sand:

http://handsacrossthesand.org/

Rise Above Plastics (Surfrider):

http://www.riseaboveplastics.org/

If any readers would like to suggest any more resources on this topic please send them along and I’ll be happy to post them.

Related posts:

1. An East Coast Surfer’s Quest for Gulf Wax

Image: ReelSessions.com

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Encinitas showing of Taylor Steele’s new movie, Castles In The Sky.  It was held at the historic La Paloma theater in front of a boisterous, sold out crowd.

I’m a huge fan of Taylor Steele’s work, so when he got up on stage and introduced the project as special to him I knew it had to be good.

If you look at the poster for Castles In The Sky you will see that it stars India, Peru, Vietnam, Africa, and Iceland.  A bit odd, considering that there are some big name surfers in the movie.  But while the surf stars in the film are A-listers, they aren’t really the stars; the film is more about the land and cultures that they visit – a visual journey through a global tapestry.  The imagery that Mr. Steele has captured is full of color, life, and culture from all parts of the globe.  Sometimes I find the “culture as opposed to surfing” routine a bit overdone, but in Castles it absolutely worked.  I think that the quality of the photography was the ticket here.

Photo: dhump/poorspecimen.com

That gorgeous cinematography extends to the surfing, where every drop of water, ripple, and rail grab is captured in full color film.  First stop was Iceland, where Dane Reynolds and crew conquer a windy but beautifully peeling righthander in what looks like some sort of bay.  You can see the swells wrapping in under huge snow covered mountains.  The crew also dips into a frigid, barreling left in what looks like a sunrise or sunset session.  The contrast is beautiful, with golden sunlight glinting off the glassy waves as the surfers pigdog into the tube.  This got the crowd going pretty good.

Jordy Smith and crew hit a throaty looking wedge in Vietnam (I think it was Vietnam but I could be wrong).  Jordy pulls some amazing maneuvers, and I’m not sure that he doesn’t  use velcro on his feet.

Rob Machado tackled Peru with his signature fluid style – the hometown hero here in Encinitas, he got the crowd hooting as well.  I know Machado doesn’t air it on every wave, but I have to say that in my opinion he has the most visually pleasing style of all the pros.   Dave Rastovich, another crowd pleaser, catches some amazingly glassy waves in India, and even shoots through a gnarly looking concrete pier.

Other surfers include Dan Malloy, Kalani Robb, Mike Losness, Tim Curran, Craig Anderson, Pete Mendia, Dion Agius, Kai Barger, Gabriel Villaran, and Mitch Coleborn.

A few of my friends commented that there “could have been more surfing,” but I have to personally disagree.  This isn’t Modern Collective, so don’t go in with that expectation.  What you can expect is a perfect blend of amazing photography of people, places, monuments, and surfing, all mixed to an excellent soundtrack.  I know it sounds cliche, but it’s amazing how much culture is out there in the world.  Sometimes we have to look beyond our personal bubbles to realize it.

Check the Castles In The Sky website for more information on the tour schedule.  If you can get to a premiere showing I highly recommend it!

CASTLES IN THE SKY from Sipping Jetstreams on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. The Drifter

Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies
Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies
It’s time to leave this town
It’s time to steal away
Let’s go get lost
Anywhere in the U.S.A.

(road trippin – red hot chili peppers)

Checking Rincon

Just got back from my first California surf road trip.  Gotta do this again.  Despite being slightly marred by strong onshore winds, we still caught Rincon doing her thing.  The first day was big and burly, but by the second day it cleaned up into something that might be called glassy by the extremely optimistic.  Nevertheless I had my most successful Rincon session that second day, topped with an absolute screamer of a wave – riding the high line and denying a succession of guys looking to drop in.  It’s amazing how Rincon still peels even when it’s bumpy and blown out.

I had already surfed Rincon last year, but my two friends had never had the fortune of snagging a true Rincon set wave.  They had been itching for a surf trip, and so we set our sights on the oft overlooked option of having an adventure in our own backyard.  Who needs $600 tickets to Costa Rica when one of the best right points in the world is 3 hours to the north, flanked by jagged green mountains and giant palms.  Sure the water was cold when we got there, but thanks to the slightly unfavorable conditions it wasn’t too crowded.

“Wind is usually never an issue here,” claimed a friend who had transplanted from New York to Santa Barbara.  She was giving us the inside scoop into her network of surf reports as we stood on the beach evaluating the conditions.  “Ventura might be a bit cleaner.”  And then, after a check of a voice message, “Campus point is shoulder high and nearly glassy.”  But we didn’t stray far from the perfectly wrapping walls that made their march around the cobblestone reef.  The Queen of the Coast wasn’t in her royal state, but she was still beautiful indeed.

Should We Go In Or Check The Next Spot?

We set up camp in Carpinteria, home of Sex Wax.  They call themselves California’s last little beach town, and it might be true.  The entire area reminds me of what San Diego might have been 50 years ago, and I long for a time machine to take me back to a more relaxed era.

Lunch Break In Carpinteria

Nightlife in Rincon can be an exercise in deciding what crowd you belong in.  There are scenes for all types, from ritzy LA style clubs to college bars.  We decided that The James Joyce was for us, so after a brief drink in at Joe’s Cafe (where they apparently make strong drinks according to two separate locals) we headed across the street.  The James Joyce will make you feel like you’re in Boston, and both nights the live bands were top notch.  After that we walked down to Dargan’s, a pub hidden back from the main street and hosting several pool tables and a long bar with a stage.  If you’re having dinner in the area check out The Palace Grill and make sure you get the bread pudding for dessert.  You’ll thank me later.

The James Joyce

Saturday was flat and blown out, so we had a local friend take us to hike the 7 Falls trail above Santa Barbara.  We found our inner Avatar as we scrambled up and down some rock faces and jumped boulders over a creek.  At the top there’s a natural stone water slide where you can plunge into a deep, icy pool.  Just make sure that you know how deep it is before you jump.

Heading back down the coast we headed towards Malibu but ended up seeing a mysterious point break peeling off a huge rock formation a bit further up the coast.  There was only one guy out.  Ditching the idea of surfing Malibu, we paddled out and traded waves with a few friendly and laid back locals.  Later found out that we had surfed Leo Carrillo.  Of course, we didn’t really “find” Leo Carrillo, but having no map it was just a no-name wave that looked like fun.  Add a little danger in the form of jagged, shallow rocks right in the takeoff zone and you’ve got some adventure.

This is the true experience of the surf road trip – driving down the coast highway until you see a good wave or a spot with potential.  Abandoning any previous plans you might have made, you pull over and take a look.  You don’t even know what spot it is – what its name is or what tide it shines – but you paddle out anyway.  I suppose the “true” California surf road trip would involve no plans at all…just driving until you see an eligible wave, surfing it, and moving on.  But you take what you can get – and in this case I was more than happy to do so.

It’s the classic California road trip, and I think every surfer should do it once in their life.  It’s like a rite of passage.  Do it now, before the coastline becomes too built up, before all the spots get over-saturated with posers and kooks on Costco boards.  There’s still enough room out there for everyone, you just have to find it.

Related posts:

1. Rincon, Puerto Rico – Surf Travel Report
2. Surf Travel Report – Saladita, Mexico
3. Snow Travel Report 2010

The Courts Have Weighed In. No Kooks.

Kooks beware.

A surfer in Nova Scotia, Canada has been awarded a $750 settlement covering a dinged surfboard from a fellow surfer who failed to paddle behind him while he was up and riding the wave.

Basically the rule is that if you’re paddling back out and someone is up and riding a wave, you should paddle behind him towards the whitewater.

Sources say that the plaintiff had good legal representation, although this is not confirmed.  However, the fact that this was upheld in court is a bit alarming to say the least.  Surf rules aren’t state rules…they are there to guide surfers and keep the water safe and enjoyable for everyone.

The court summary of this case and the determination of the settlement was based on the fact that the defendant was basically…a kook.

“I agree with the Defendant that these rules of etiquette are not binding in law on this Court.  A breach of the rules of etiquette is not in and of itself a confirmation that there is negligence.  However it can be an indicator that there may have been negligence.

In this particular case, the Defendant and inexperience surfer and who  as he indicated may have been encouraged by his friends to increase his level of competency headed out towards larger waves, in this case, 5 to 7 foot breakers.  The Defendant attempted to the best of his ability to paddle over the shoulder of the wave.  This clearly indicates that he was not planning to ride this particular wave but rather to get out of the way.   The Defendant indicated that he was not that intelligent nor did he read surfer magazines or publications on surfing however he did present himself as very knowledgeable on what he should or should not do and he did realize that he did not have that much ability as a surfer.  I would have to conclude on the evidence before me that he breached the standard of care required in this situation.  If he had done or taken other action this may have been avoided.”

In other words, the defendant is guilty because he isn’t intelligent, doesn’t read Transworld Surf, and he realized he was a kook.  Therefore he shouldn’t have been out there.

You simply have to read the entire case summary over at CanLII.  As hilarious as this case is, (and perhaps it’s a good way of keeping kooks out of the water) I have to raise a resounding Are you freaking kidding me? 

Dan Michaluk, reporting for Slaw.ca, has said it perfectly:

“With all the imprecision associated with a good surf session one might wonder if the voluntary assumption of risk rule (raised unsuccessfully in this case) should prevail. In more animated terms, surfing etiquette is about being conscientious, but shit does happen.”

For more:

Slaw.ca Commentary And Source

CanLII Official Small Claims Court Writeup

Related posts:

1. Surfing Dolphins!
2. Surfing: The Sport Of Kings

Greg Huglin was so fascinated by the dolphin’s antics that he made it an obsession to film and photograph them.  The result are some photos and video clips that are simply stunning to behold.

Image: Greg Huglin / greghuglin.com

Check out this article over at DailyMail.co.uk for more images, and check out Greg’s Website.

Greg has just released a short film called Surfing Dolphins.  You can buy the movie from TheSurfNetwork.com, and it will soon be available from Amazon.

Surfing Dolphins Movie Poster

Related posts:

1. Surfing: The Sport Of Kings
2. The Drifter

Taylor Steele is pushing the envelope once again.  His latest brainchild is a video contest where viewers will vote for the top 20 sections submitted to his innersecion.tv website.  While the idea itself is not revolutionary, I believe this is the first time something like this has been done in the surf industry – at least on such a large scale.  The overall winner scores $100,000.

The rad thing about this contest is that anyone can enter.  Rules on the site  mandate that entries and surfing must not be mechanically assisted.  That means no jetskis, chopper drops, or green screens.  This is paddle in freesurfing at its best.

I also like the fact that Poor Specimen is going to cover the cost of getting the rights to the music that contestants use in their clips.  This means you can have fun and search out some new music (nothing too mainstream that’s going to cost $50,000 for rights).

I’m totally stoked to see this progress.  What you’re gonna get is a showcase for some fresh filming talent – this will be like 20 cool short films in one, so you’re not gonna get bored midway through the finished product.  For example, check out one of the newer filmmakers that was mentioned on the site: Victor Pakpour (http://victorpakpour.blogspot.com/)

This is a great idea and I’ll be following it closely.  I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Steele briefly at the Encinitas premiere of The Drifter.  He was incredibly nice and took the time to chat with fans, which only increased my respect for him.

Check out:

innersecton.tv

Related posts:

1. The Drifter

In a slight break from our usual topic of surfing, and in honor of the Winter Olympics, I’ve decided to give a little mini report on the snow this winter.  A lot of surfers I know also like to snowboard or ski.  It never hurts to change it up a little!  In fact, riding in powder on a snowboard feels quite a bit like surfing.  If the cold water’s got you down and you’re looking to hit the road for some of the white stuff, then let’s take a look at some favorite spots.

My snow travels this year have focused on mainly the west coast of North America, from the local hills in California to the grand vistas of Whistler Blackcomb.

If you live in the area you know it’s been a stellar year for snowfall, and it can only get better.

Mt. Baldy, CA

Mt. Baldy is a local favorite, and an often under appreciated member of the local hills within reasonable striking distance of the major Southern California area.  Me and a friend set out for Baldy at the tail end of the 10-year storm that hit Southern California in a series of soaking wet punches.  Thanks to the elevation all that rain came as snow for the local mountains like Baldy, Bear, Mt. High, and others.

I can only describe Baldy as quaint.  It has a very small parking lot and 4 two person chair lifts.  When we got there it was snowing quite a bit, and the Baldy staff was a little overwhelmed with the crowds and trying to dig out the chairs.

The runs on Baldy are steep and full of natural features and obstacles–it’s a cool natural terrain park.  Unfortunately it was snowing so hard when we got there that it was nearly impossible to see where we were going, let alone the surroundings.   Visibility got so bad we had to cut our stay short – that and the fact that the chair lifts were constantly stopping (not sure why, but they were covered in about 1″ of solid ice so that might explain it).

If you’re heading up to Baldy be sure to pack chains unless told otherwise.  The road up to the top is a narrow switchback which can get very slick.

I’d like to head back to Baldy for sure when I can actually see something!  I also heard that the Baldy backcountry is one of its secret charms.

Don’t Forget Your: Woodsman’s Axe, Flannel Shirt, Goggles

Check Out:

http://www.mtbaldy.com

Mt. High

Mt. High is a bit easier to get to than Mt. Baldy, and is also bigger.  It also gets a bit more crowded I think.  The crowd is a bit different, consisting of a more punk/shred crowd in general.  This is probably because of the very popular terrain parks that are kept in very good quality by the crew.

Mt. High has three “resorts” in total – West, East, and North.

If you’d rather just cruise I highly recommend the East resort.  They have one run called Goldrush which is over a mile long.  However, Mt. High has installed jumps on this run recently, which to me reduces its charm as a place to escape from the park-heads at the West resort.  Although I haven’t been to the North resort yet, but although a bit smaller I think that it probably has the least crowds and I don’t believe there are any jumps or park features.

Come here after a local snow and enjoy the pow.  Unfortunately Mt. High can get hardpacked pretty quickly due to the crowds and the warm temps.  You can get away with wearing a long sleeve shirt at Mt. High during the day – the sun is very strong.

Don’t forget your: Sunblock, Ipod, Beer Cooler, Baggy Neon Pants

Check Out:

http://www.mthigh.com

Mammoth Mountain

One of California’s crown jewels in terms of mountain resorts, Mammoth is a true pleasure.  I think I was a little spoiled when I went here for the first time last weekend.  We had over 2′ of fresh powder over two days, and there was very little wind.  According to my friends it can get pretty windy at Mammoth, but the fact is that when it snows there it tends to do so in large quantities.

Mammoth is big, and even on weekends it doesn’t get too crowded.  I only had to really wait on the lift line once, and that was because the lunch crowd was done eating and decided it was time to get back on the hill.

What was amazingly fun about Mammoth was the intermediate level tree runs we found.  Not too dense, but just challenging enough to be super fun.  With the 2′ of pow it was like a dream.  After each run we were hooting with delight.  If you’re just starting to get into trees I highly recommend checking out chair 25.  Even after 2 full days we were able to find hidden caches of untouched pow.

If you’re looking for a place to stay check out the Sierra Lodge.  Great prices, spacious rooms, very friendly and helpful staff, and a hot tub on the roof.  I think the conversations in the hot tub were one of the highlights of the trip, as a friendly group of older men challenged my group of female friends with the question of whether or not they pee in the shower.  According to them either you do, or you lie about it (just like wetsuits).  We begged to differ!  I think guys are a bit different in this respect, although one of my girlfriends insisted that she did.

Anyway, carry chains with you to Mammoth.  You can find good lift ticket deals at Costco if you’re going for a few days.  Buying multiple days on the internet will save you a few bucks, but if you’re anything like us and don’t roll in until 5 in the morning after driving all night, then you might want to hold off in case you only board a half day.

Don’t Forget Your:  Powder Board, Friends, Snacks For The Car Ride, Sinkhole Detectors

Check Out:

http://www.mammothmountain.com

Whistler Blackcomb

Everyone has to do Whistler at least once in their life if they are a big time skiier/snowboarder.  It’s just so big.  For the average skiier or snowboarder it could take 30-40 minutes to get from the peak to the base.  The views are breathtaking, and the Peak2Peak Gondola is a real life Disney ride.

Whistler and Vancouver are playing host to the Olympics this year, but don’t let that scare you away (except during the Olympics).  We went over New Year’s and although it was crowded on Saturday and Sunday, after the weekend the mountain was practically vacant.  Go for a midweek jaunt and I think you’ll have a blast.

Winter Wonderland - Blackcomb Glacier

Although the local Vancouver mountain Cypress is having trouble getting enough snow for the Olympics this year, November was officially the snowiest month ever recorded for Whistler Blackcomb.  My friends and I were lucky enough to arrive right before it dumped a foot and a half of snow, so conditions were pretty mint.

Our best runs were in 7th Heaven, which is a wide open bowl with copses of trees to challenge you.  It’s a wide open powder playground when it’s on.  Another great place to head off track is the Symphony Amphitheater, where you can also find some challenging powder and tree runs.

Losing your friends on this mountain is a pretty real concern, so make sure you stick with your buds and carry phones/walkies.  Also, going out of bounds here can have lethal consequences, so make wise choices and stick with the buddy system.

Whistler has some fun nightlife, so for Apres check out Longhorn and Garibaldi Lift Co for drinks, then Maxx Fish and Tommy Africa’s 80’s Night for some dancing.  Watch out for creepy gropers and slimy old guys.

Remember: US Citizens now need a Passport to enter Canada, so take that into consideration.

Don’t Forget Your: GPS Unit, Walkie Talkies, Dancing Shoes, Passport

Check out:

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com

Related posts:

1. Peniche, Portugal – Surf Travel Report
2. Rincon Travel Report – The Classic California Road Trip
3. Surf Travel Report – Saladita, Mexico