A week in the Gorge . . .
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My first trip to the Gorge was everything you read about and more.  Winds from 20 to 40+ mph with swells from 2 to 8 feet sometimes mixed with serious chop.  Intimidating?  Yeah, a little because it is so different and there are hundreds of other really good sailors.  Scary?  Yes, until your first run and then the fear factor turns into adrenaline and excitement.  Fun?  Absolutely AWESOME!
                                                 

This page can't capture the power, beauty and excitement that the Gorge offers, but maybe it will help a few folks prepare for a trip of a lifetime.   I went on the spur of the moment with two friends:  Mark Beauman and Craig Kastner who is just in his third year of windsurfing.   Our skill levels range from intermediate to advanced/expert slalom and beginner to intermediate on waves.  This was Marks second trip to the Gorge.  It was Craig's and my first encounter with wind and waves of this size.  Each of us took our own equipment to save money, but there is plenty of good equipment available at reasonable prices.  Mark and Craig also rented gear from Pete "Duck jibe" Warner to supplement their personal quivers.   Pete's has good gear, very reasonable rates and no hassles with filling out forms and rental agreements.  Bart's has excellent used gear on consignment if you are interested in buying really good gear at reasonable prices.   The shops also have demo equipment available, depending on the time of year.

Sunday, July 30   We flew into Portland, got the pickup truck we rented for $280/ week through priceline.com and headed to Hood River.  We arrived at a friends house where we stayed around 4pm.  In a frenzy we unpacked our gear loaded it back into the truck and headed to the Event Site.  There is a paved parking lot next to a grassy rigging area with steel cables to hold you gear down.  The grassy rigging area is right next to the river for very easy access.  Restrooms are available and there is a place nearby to get drinks and snacks.  This is far and away the nicest launch site we found.   Here's a couple pics of Mark in front of the launching area.     

It was blowing between 18 and +30 mph with 3 to 6 foot swells on the Washington side.  The crowd was thinning out as we launched.   I was on my 256 F2 Wave with a 5.5 Edge.  I will never forget the feeling of going into my first jibe in the swells.  I headed up out of the trough, turned off the face and flipped the sail as I was going down the wave.  What a rush!!!   Making the first jibe at the Gorge.  This was definitely a sign of good things to come.  We sailed full on for 2 hours and then decided to call it a day.  We were tired and hadn't eaten since that morning.  Our friend Brett had plans for us the evening.  Our first night in Hood River was spent at Brian's Pour House over drinks, an incredible dinner and the company of friends.

Monday, July 31   The iwindsurf.com forecast was Strong/Strong along the entire corridor with conditions building throughout the day.  By 9:00 am it was already over 30 out east.   We headed for Avery.  It was going off.

 
Winds were 28 to +40mph with swells between 6 and +8 feet.  Brett was ripping on a 4.7 and getting some nice air.
  

Mark was sailing a RRD with a Ezzy 4.2 and going off too...

I got my ass kicked.  I  was using a Neil Pryde New Wave Slalom 4.0 sail from 1995.  This single cam sail has a very narrow range and does not twist off like the newer sails.  To make things worse, I had it downhauled as flat as possible to handle the intense gusts.  It was top-heavy, twitchy and very hard to manage.  This and the overpowering conditions made for very difficult session.  The next day I got a line on a like new Naish Edge to replace it.   I did manage a couple of fast runs but really didn't sail well.  This experience really made me realize how much range and handling the sails have today compared to only 5 years ago..   

Tuesday, August 1   We headed to the Event Site for a morning session at 10:00 am.  It was blowing a "steady" 20 to 30 with 4 to 6 foot swells in the channel.  The conditions were perfect 4.5 and the weekend crowd was gone.  We sailed for several hours and were able to get used to the swells and get comfortable with the river. Brett was on his F2 Wave 256 with a 4.7.  Mark was riding his 270 ATC ProTech with a 5.0.  Craig was on his Ride 277 with a 4.8 Sailworks Retro.  I was on my 256 "dragon" with a 4.5 Edge.  We all had a great day.  Brett was hitting big air on the huge swells above the White Salmon Bridge.  Mark was getting air and ripping jibes in front of the launch site.  Craig was blasting past everyone on his F2 slalom rocket.

Mark and I were ripping in the troughs, working the terrain and jibing off the swells.  I made the sweetest jibe of my life coming into the launch area on a really fast run.  It was absolutely incredible to turn off the top, jibe down the face and head back across the river.

Wednesday, August 2   We slept in a bit and did some shopping before checking out the Event Site around 11:00am.  It had died off a bit from earlier in the morning but was still around 20 mph.  It was really getting hotter so we decided to head east.  As we were driving on Interstate 84 we noticed a place that was really going off and only had a few people sailing.  We decided to check it out and found the way to the Mosier launch site.  (Here are the directions.  Take the Mosier exit and take the first left hand turn.  Take another left turn and you will be heading back west parallel to the river.  Look for a bridge on the right and turn off road, drive down the dry creek bed under the bridge and you are at the rigging area.  The launch is under the Interstate overpass.)  Another beautiful rock rigging area (rigging on the rocks takes some getting used to).  It was another +90 degree day and it was nice to get on the water.  Mosier turned out to be a favorite place.  We were on 4.5's and ripping.  
    The Washington side had really nice swells and ramps for getting air.  I was stoked. 

                                                        The channel had some smooth troughs for working the terrain and speed...  goin a million into a turn.. 
                                                       

The wind picked-up and the river in front of the launch site was really choppy, making for some exciting jibes. 

I met a guy sailing here that had the same board as me.  We compared notes and I made some slight adjustments to mast base and fin positions.  These changes got my gear (board and sails) totally dialed in.  FINALLY!  The rest of the week was really nice.

It was awesome sailing for a couple of hours.  By early afternoon, the wind was dying a bit and we headed back to town to take care of some business.

Thursday, August 3   It was windy (18 to 27mph) up and down the corridor and the forecast was building out east.  After our session at Mosier the day before, we decided to try Rowena.   Mark had sailed there on his trip last year in overpowering 3.5 conditions.   He wanted a rematch.  When we past the Event Site it was going off and we were stoked.  When we got to Rowena it looked like it was blowing maybe 15 to 20 with some white caps across the river.  Craig volunteered to be a wind dummy and went out on his Ride with a 5.7.  Despite his sacrifice, it did not come up as we expected.  

We de-rigged and headed back to the Event Site.  It was dying when we arrived.   We talked with some other sailors and were surprised when we were told that Rowena was 20 and building!  Back we went and sure enough it was going off.  We rigged in a frenzy and hit the water.  Craig was ripping.  Watching him made me appreciate how well he was sailing in the Gorge after only 3 years of windsurfing.  His confidence and skills were improving every day and it was way cool to see him going off - getting air, going scary fast and making some jibes in really challenging conditions. 
  

The swells on the Washington side were really nice and smooth. You could get speed in the troughs, head-up and turn off the top into full on ripping jibes.  I was really starting to get the feel of things, making some nice cuts off the swells and getting some air - the controlled kind.  It was sweet.  Over 2 and 1/2 hours in full-on 4.5 conditions. We all had an incredible session and sailed till about 8 PM that night. Another favorite spot - every place we sailed was a favorite for one reason or another.  A guy on a kite surfer was really getting some air as the sun set.  We met Gina and Elise, two ladies from NY who were way cool rippers.  After a beer at the beach, we headed back to the house for burgers and more beer.

Friday, August 4   Windy again.  Despite the forecasts that kept calling for the wind to die, it just kept blowing.  The pattern was the same.  Wind in town in the morning and winds building out east in the afternoon.  We decided to try Doug's Beach.  We grabbed some food and drinks at the little stop and go store just across the Hood River Bridge and headed east on highway 14.  When we arrived, we had to park about 300 yards from the railroad crossing to get to the rigging and launch site.  This is quite a hike, especially after a few hours of sailing as we were to find out.  Dougs was packed.  There must have been 150 sailors and more were coming.  The wind was 20 to 30 and the swells in the channel were between 4 to 6 feet.  The river was shallow on both sides which made launching easy and provided a place to stop and rest for a few minutes without getting out of the water.  Jibing at Doug's was especially nice because the wind was really strong on the side and the river flattened out.  We absolutely ripped high speed flat water jibes and then headed back into the swells for some air and wave sailing.  My 5.0 Edge and 256 Wave board were perfect.  I will never forget the speed entering the turns on the Oregon side and just flying into broad sweeping jibes.  Mark was on his 5.0 and Craig had his 4.8.  We all had a great session - this was another favorite spot!  We sailed for about 3 hours before deciding to call it a day. I had my best day yet.  Got some air, just plan ripped the troughs, carved down the swells and made the best jibes of my life. 

Saturday, August 5   Brett took the day off work to sail with us on our last day.  Seven straight days of wind.  We were tired but stoked as we headed for Swell City.  It was going off between 25 and 35 mph with 6 to +8 foot swells at 9:30 am.  When we got there, we couldn't find a place to park.  We turned back to Cheap Beach (which could be also known as "no beach").  This was the most tricky launch site yet.   A 50 foot steep rock cliff between the rigging area and the river.
               
Another 4.5 day and a couple of hours of full-on flat-out sailing.  Brett was getting nice air, ripping jibes and working the swells.  It was really neat to watch him.  The chop was rough and wind strongest on the Oregon side.  These conditions made for wild exciting jibes.  The swells in the channel were big and smooth and great for air and working the waves.  We all had a great session.  After a short break, Craig and Mark decided to do a "downwinder" to the Event Site.  I trailed Mark and Craig with the truck to be sure they were OK.  The downwinder took them a little less than one hour and they logged over 10 miles on Marks Garmin GPS.  Brett stayed at Cheap Beach and caught up with us later.  We hung-out at the Event Site for a while and then headed into town to get some gifts for family and friends.  We were planning to head east for an afternoon session until we found out the Brett had plans for our "last supper" and evening together.  We headed to the house.

We wrapped up our week at the Gorge with Brett's "Five Star" spaghetti homemade with fresh herbs from his garden.  We enjoyed a couple bottles of good wine and several hours reliving our experiences.  A perfect ending to an incredible week in the Gorge.

Sunday, August 6   Mark and I got up early and headed to the airport in Portland.  We stopped on the way and got some nice pictures of Multnomuh Falls. 
                                                     

If you go to the Gorge, here are some tips that could help make your trip more enjoyable.
The Gorge can be a difficult place to dial in new equipment if you have not sailed there before.  Most launch sites and sailing locations don't have much shallow water in which you can tweak straps, mast base position, harness lines and downhaul settings.  Of the places we sailed, Doug's would be the best place to go to get dialed in.  The bottom is "soft" and it is shallow on both sides of the river so you can adjust your gear easily.  The other sites we sailed (Avery, Mosier, Cheap Beach and Rowena) don't have shallow water on both sides and the bottoms are rocky. 

Maybe this should be Tip No.1.  LOOKOUT   FOR BARGES and BIG BOATS. 
Although we were never in any real danger, fishing boats and barges can "appear" out of nowhere, especially when your focus is on getting air, working the terrain or just staying alive in way overpowered conditions.  The three of us kept an eye out for each and let others know when a barge or boat was approaching.  Remember, the barges have the right-of- way and can't stop or steer to avoid windsurfers.  You would be in deep shit if you blew a jibe, missed a jump or just wiped out in front of one.  Waterstarts in 8 foot swells and 40 mph wind can be difficult, especially if a barge is bearing down on you.  They cast a wind shadow.

There are hundreds of windsurfers at the Gorge.  We encountered between 30 and more than 100 other sailors depending on where we sailed.  It is really important to look for others before initiating a jibe or going for air.  At places like the Event Site, there will be sailors with skills ranging from beginner to expert.  Be sure to allow a margin of safety for other less advances sailors.  All the sailors we saw on the water were courteous and followed the "rules of the road."

Don't hold back, go for it.  Be committed and sail aggressively.   This is particularly key to jibing in the swells when there is a lot of chop.  At times you can not find a smooth face to turn off a wave.  A committed aggressive initiation can mean the difference between a sweet jibe or a waterstart in high swell and chop.  Remember, "it's only water" and "pain is only temporary."  

Conditions can vary significantly from one location to another.  It can be blowing in one spot and flat in another only a 1/2 hour away.  A wind pager is highly recommended.  If you don't rent one from a shop, be sure to check with other sailors who have them or check the Internet at: iwindsurf.com.  This site had very accurate forecasts for the week we were there.  It provides information for Swell City (just downstream/upwind of the Event Site) and Doug's Beach which is located about a 1/2 hour drive east of Hood River.   The wind typically builds out east in the afternoon as it gets hotter.  So, you can sail Swell City, the Hatch or Event Site in the morning and head to Rowena, Dougs or Avery for an afternoon to evening session.  

If you take your own gear, check with the airlines to be sure your board and sails will fit on the airplane.  MD 80s can't accommodate windsurfing gear.  I took an F2 Wave 256 board and a quiver of Naish Edge sails ranging from 4.0 to 5.5.   For me, at 160 pounds, this set up was close to ideal.  The sail I used most was the 4.5.  Mark and Craig are both heavier and were on 4.8 and 5.0 sails the most.   A smaller board (around 76 liters) and a 3.7 sail would have been nice on the winder days when it was over 40 mph.  The ideal quiver would be 2 boards (one around 95 liters and another around 80 liters, depending on your size) with sails ranging from 3.5 to 5.3.  Fin selection is also important.  Staying upwind is not a problem since the river current goes into the wind and you are powered up all the time.  A lot of sailors use slotted wave fins to reduce speed, prevent spinout and provide greater maneuverability.

Try sailing different sites.   There are many great locations and each has a personality of it's own.   Conditions can be found that suit about any level sailor and it is possible to get away from the crowds.  As you can see from the story conditions can vary and change at different spots during the day.

Chillin & Hangin-Out
Hood River has lots of windsurfing shops, places to eat and drink and stores to get clothing and gifts.  Our friend Brett works part time at Brian's Pour House on Oak Street.  This place has a casual friendly atmosphere, good drinks (especially from Brett) and great entrees.  The only meals that we had that were better were the grilled salmon and spaghetti dinners that Brett and Sandra made for us at his house.  The 6th Street Bistro also has great food with outside dining and a pool table.  Mark and I got a few games in after dinner and drinks. This is a nice local hangout.  If you're in a hurry and want to grab some excellent pizza for lunch, try the pizza place downtown.   The cafe on Oak Street across from the bagel shop has great coffee, smoothies, sandwiches and treats to start the day, take a break and hang with friends.

Hood River Oregon is the coolest place I have ever been windsurfing.  The country is beautiful and the people are really friendly.   The conditions are epic and consistent.  This is definitely the one place to do it all - mountain bike, kayak, rock and mountain climb, ski, snowboard, kite surf and windsurf.  All this is within a short drive from Hood River.  If I had to describe Hood River and my trip to the Gorge in one word, it would be EXTREME.  If I could use two words, they would be EXTREMELY AWESOME!  If you get the chance, go.  Maybe we will see you there next year, somewhere between Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams..
   

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