Moon Spotlight Columbia River Gorge by Ericka Chickowski

Author:Ericka Chickowski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avalon Travel
Published: 2012-07-02T04:00:00+00:00

Sports and Recreation

WINDSURFING AND KITEBOARDING

The undisputed hub of wind-borne water-sports in the Gorge, Hood River draws self-proclaimed boardheads from around the world, who flock here to ply the windy and scenic waters of the Columbia. Also known as sailboarding, windsurfing is powered by a mount that looks like a cross between a surfboard and a sailboat. An extreme sport around these parts for decades, sailboarding will always remain in vogue to some degree, but of late it has been supplanted in the hearts of many of the Gorge’s adrenaline junkies by kiteboarding. Also referred to as kitesurfing, this high-octane sport sends enthusiasts careening over the water on a wakeboardlike mount powered by a line attached to a large C-shaped sail.

Both are technical sports that’ll take some degree of education and training to get started. Fortunately Hood River has the highest concentration of schools for both in the entire country. If you take a lesson in town, more likely than not you’ll be meeting at either the Hood River Sailpark (300 E. Port Marina Dr.) or the Hood River Event Site (north end of 2nd St. off of I-84 exit 63) each on either side of the Hood River outlet into the Columbia and both popular launch sites for boardheads of all experience levels. Try Hood River WaterPlay for a range of windsurfing lessons that run the gamut from a Quick Start two-hour ($69) lesson to a full two-day, six-hour U.S. Sailing sanctioned windsurf class ($199) that affords you free time on the company’s equipment at its beginner beach throughout the sailing season after graduation. Meanwhile, for kiteboarding, the Port of Hood River has sanctioned six different outfits to teach classes from local launch spots. Located at a stand over at the Event Site, New Wind Kite School (541/387-2440) runs an individualized full-day Introduction to Kiteboarding for 1–2 people ($254–320 pp), as well as a two-day Fast Track Camp ($414 pp) for two that will really get you jump-started by getting you out on the water quickly through Jet Ski–assisted lessons.

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