Meet Jordan Vargas
OWNER & KITEBOARDING INSTRUCTOR AT KITEBOARDING NORTH PADRE ISLAND
Jordan Vargas has spent most of his life chasing wind, water, and the thrill that comes with both. His story started right here on the Texas coast, long before he became a pro or the owner of Kiteboarding North Padre Island. As a kid roaming the beach, he stumbled across someone flying a foil kite and cruising in a three-wheeled buggy. He tried it once, instantly fell in love, and from then on, he was the kid building his own boards, tuning his own kites, and testing them on the seawall. That early determination set the tone for everything that came next.
“I basically learned the sport by teaching myself as a kid, and that foundation shaped everything I’ve built since."
By sixteen, Jordan had already opened his first kiteboarding school in Houston, helping bring the sport from Corpus Christi up to Surfside Beach and growing a community that still thrives today. His career pulled him between California, Hawaii, and the Texas coast, coaching in world-class destinations and working with clients from all different backgrounds. No matter where he traveled, the wind and water in Corpus Christi were always calling him back.
Today, Jordan runs Kiteboarding North Padre Island, where he teaches with a blend of intuition, humor, and the depth of someone who has been riding for twenty-five plus years. Instead of sticking to crowded shoreline launches, he uses a jet ski to bring students to wide-open, quiet areas of the bay where they can relax, breathe, and learn at their own pace. For him, teaching kiteboarding is as much about understanding people as it is about controlling a kite.
“From the moment we meet, I’m figuring out how someone learns. What they’re afraid of, how they think. Every lesson is completely adapted to them."
His approach is calm, supportive, and often filled with laughter. He breaks things down into simple goals, celebrates the tiny wins, and creates an atmosphere where people can surprise themselves. Whether someone is an adrenaline seeker or simply trying something new for the first time, Jordan guides them through the nerves and into the joy of catching that first glide across the water.
One of the things that keeps him rooted on North Padre Island is the balance it offers: quiet mornings on the flats, afternoons filled with a steady breeze, and a community that feels close and connected. The geography itself is a huge bonus. With warm water most of the year and consistent coastal winds, the conditions are ideal for beginners and seasoned riders alike.
“I can drop into the water at a moment’s notice. It’s always warm, always beautiful, and the island community is the most welcoming place you could ever live."
Through Kiteboarding North Padre Island, Jordan continues to share that love of the coast with every student he meets. His lessons feel less like classes and more like adventures guided by someone who genuinely wants people to experience the best of Corpus Christi waters. He has traveled the world, coached in incredible places, and built a life around the sport, yet the coast that sparked it all is still the one he proudly calls home.
