Cabarete Hosts The Butterfly Effect Empowering Women Participating in Ocean Sports

Cabarete, Dominican Republic. July 31, 2009 The Butterfly Effect celebrated its 12th event with the first ever Butterfly Effect Cabarete on the north shore of the Dominican Republic on July 22nd, 2009. 30 local and visiting women from all over the world, gathered to celebrate and promote women and ocean sports with a combined windsurf. kitesurf and stand up paddle (SUP) 4km downwinder from Cabarete Bay to Playa Encuentro. The day began with registration and a beach cleanup lead by the Dream Project Girls Summer Camp group. The Funky Fish Kids Camp from MiGym and the International Student Volunteer Group joined them. Together they collected 30 - 13-gallon bags full of garbage off the beach in Cabarete Bay. With the weather not looking good for the planned downwinder, Michelle Bourdeau the local Butterfly Effect host and Tatiana Howard the founder of the Butterfly Effect, made the call to round up all the stand up paddle (SUP) boards in town and make the best of it. Ben Meyer, Dare2Fly Kite School, Kite Club, Laurel Eastman Kite School and Vela Windsurf Center saved the day by offering up their SUP's for the event. They continued as planned with a group stretching session and a lesson in SUPing. The girls took to the water with smiles and camaraderie as they completed a tour of Cabarete Bay on SUP's and kayaks. There were laughs and fun had by all as they celebrated being water women together. Finishing off the afternoon, there were snacks and drinks served up by the Kite Club Cafe and Claro Restaurant. The evening festivities were held at LAX Restaurant that included a raffle to benefit the event and the Dream Project.

Butterfly Effect Cabarete Facts The participants ranged in age from 11-46 years old. Nationalities represented included: Dominican, American, Canadian, German, Swiss, French, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Austrian, Serbian, and British. The participants water sport experience ranged from 1 to 20 years. Present and former PKRA athletes included Audrey Meyer, ranked 5th on the 2008 tour, and Laurel Eastman, 2002-3 tour. Monique Meijer (Dutch/Bonaire) and Michelle Bourdeau (Can/ DR) are currently competing in Caribbean windsurf slalom events.

Main Event Sponsors are Da Kine, Naish, Matiko, and Cabarete Beach Houses.
Local Sponsors and contributors included Cabarete Villas, Cabarete East, Cabarete Language Institute, Cabarete Massage Therapy, Carib Wind Center, Claro Restaurant, Dream Buz Media, Dream Project, EH Kiteboarding, Fred Joyas, Iguana Mama, IKO, Kaenon, Kite Club Cafe, LAX Restaurant, Laurel Eastman Kite Boarding, MiGym, Plus Magazine, 321 Take Off, 4T Tours, Trips, Treks and Travel, and Vela Windsurf Center.

The Butterfly Effect began in Hawaii in 2007. The founders, Tatiana Howard and Juliana Farias, are avid water women who enjoy windsurfing, surfing, kite surfing, stand-up boarding, and tow in surfing. Based in Maui, Hawaii they travel and compete internationally every year constantly sharing their passion of the ocean and water sports with women around the world.

Since its inception in Maui, it has flown to Brazil twice, New Zealand, France, Hood River Oregon, Germany, and Australia. The founders believe that water sports provide a healthy and fun lifestyle that gives those who participate in them great happiness and life. They have been fortunate to be involved in these sports and want to share this with women worldwide. Water sports have kept them away from many bad influences and they have empowered and inspired them to live out their hopes and dreams.

Fundraising efforts associated with the Cabarete Butterfly Effect are going to the DREAM Project. The Dominican Republic Education And Mentoring (DREAM) Project, a US 501c3 nonprofit organization, provides quality education for all children born into poverty in rural areas and small communities of the Dominican Republic.

Come and experience the water sports world of Cabarete.

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Michelle Bourdeau B.H.K., RMT.
Cabarete Massage Therapy
67 Calle Principal
Cabarete, Republica Dominicana
(809) 851-9399
cabaretemassagetherapy.com