If you want to learn to kite, you want to learn from the best, and around here, that’s Cascade Kiteboarding. Why? On-the-water lessons take place at the west end of Well’s Island, away from the chaos of the sandbar. Your lesson will be one-on-one, with radio helmet instruction, this year’s gear from Da Kine and Liquid Force, and dedicated jetski assistance. And let me point out that Cascade Kiteboarding is the ONLY school with those radio helmets, so it’s the one school where you won’t have an instructor yelling at you while you’re learning. One of the lucky people on the email version of this forecast will win a two hour kiteboarding lesson later this week.
We’re headed back into a more stable weather setup today, and that should give us some decent wind in the Gorge. We’ll see 6-10 this morning from Stevenson to Hood River, picking up to 22-24 from Stevenson to Hood River by early afternoon and then shifting out east to Mosier, Doug’s and Rowena later on.
Tomorrow looks lighter as less clouds make it up the Columbia overnight. We should see westerlies in the 5-10 range early, building to 15-17 later.
The wind picks up on Friday, with 7-10 early, going to 17-19 by mid-morning, and then building to 22-25 in the afternoon. Strongest wind in the morning will be from Stevenson ot Hood River, and strongest wind in the afternoon will be from Hood River to The Dalles.
The Clymb: free membership.
Access to super cheap gear including Trew, Zeal, Sierra Designs, and many more.
This evening’s events include the Kayak Shed’s shop paddle (the White Salmon is at 2.6’), the Hood River Yacht club’s sailboat race, and a night with Friends of the Gorge at Columbia Center for the Arts from 7-9pm. I believe there are snackies at this event. =)
Also this evening, I’ll be headed to the Post and Pinot ride at Dirty Fingers to shoot photos for the Native Eyewear catalog for next year. If you want to catch Native Eyewear tomorrow, they’ll be at the Punchbowl shooting cliff jumping from 3-5, and then they’ll be at the Post and Pint bike ride at 5:30.
Don’t forget we have some of the best SUP Paddlers in the world in Hood River this week practicing for the Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge this weekend. So, kiters, windsurfers and everyone else, keep your eyes open. A SUP paddler on a downwinder is moving pretty dang fast, so collisions are likely. Please use extra caution this week and weekend and give the SUP paddlers the right of way
In continuing PSAs, it’s time for the CGWA yearly windsurfer awards. You can send in your nominations here. I’m suggesting everyone nominate Dave Brown for the Dale Cook award. Dave’s the one out there on the 1990-something Hot Sails throwing huge port jumps. Other awards: Most stoked, most selfless, best grom and windsurfer of the year.
Also, if you’re around September 5th, you can help CGWA get some cash by volunteering as a semi-lifeguard for the Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim. CGWA gets $50 for each of you who signs up to volunteer.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the link below. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til August 2012, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors. If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.
