Kiteboarding Magazine

admin
2003-08-07 20:00:00 | 607 views | 1 Comments

Scene
The Sandbar (aka The Spit)

Location
The Gorge, Hood River, Oregon

Best Seasons
Summer (You can kite all year long with enough rubber or a
drysuit.)

Conditions
W/SW/NW (or sometimes E)

Wind speeds vary considerably, from 15 mph to over 30 mph
(don’t forget that there is a 2-3 knot upwind current in the
main channel of the Columbia River and an offshore current coming
out of the Hood River when the water is high). The bread-and-butter
kite for an average-size guy is a 12 m (surface area).

Wind Check
www.iwindsurf.com or www.windance.com

Directions
From Portland International Airport, Oregon:
Rent a car or catch a bus east to Hood River. Take Interstate 84
and turn off at the Downtown Hood River exit (exit 63). Drive until
you see Second Street, turn on Second and head toward the Columbia
River. Turn right at the first stop sign (Riverside Street) and
turn right again at the next stop sign (N. Second). Follow the road
behind the gas station, past the old Nichols Boat Works, through
the yellow gate and into the dirt parking lot. Grab your gear and
head down the steps by the sign to the river level.

Parking

Parking is free. The parking lot can get overloaded during the
peak season, so park conscientiously. Also watch for kite lines in
the lot in June, when the water is high and there is no
sandbar.

Setup and Launch

Set up on the sandbar or in the parking lot if there is no
sandbar. Launch on the upwind end of the sandbar. Launch as far out
on the bar as possible because the potential for a face drag across
the sand and rocks into the downwind jetty is high (the wind near
the parking lot, trees and upwind jetty is quite gusty).
“Dick and his friend Doug won’t launch other
people’s kites. Don’t be a Dick.”

When you are ready to land make eye contact and tap your head
(the universal sign for “catch my kite”). If there is
no one on the beach, self-land in the wind shadow behind the trees.
Beginners should move downwind so as to not interfere with
launching and landing. Check out
www.portofhoodriver.com/Images/Kiteboarding1 .htm for visual
guidelines.

Local Shops

Big Winds 207 Front St. 541-386-6086 www.bigwinds.com
Storm Warning 112 Oak St. 541-386-9400 www.e-stormwarning.com
The Gorge Surf House 13 Oak St. 541-386-1699
Windwing 201 Cascade St. 541-386-3861
Windance 100 Hwy. 35 541-386-2131 www.windance.com
Second Wind 210 Oak St. 541-386-4464 (tons of used gear)

Instruction

New Wind Kiteboarding
www.newwindkiteboarding.com 541-387-2440

Storm Warning
www.e-stormwarning.com 541-386-9400

Gorge Kiteboard Camps
www.gorgekiteboardcamp.com 253-740-0169

Hood River Water Play
www.hoodriverwaterplay.com 541-386-9463

Make sure your instructor/school has a concession to teach at
The Sandbar from The Port of Hood River.
(www.portofhoodriver.com)

Grinds/Java

Holsteins (coffee/sandwiches); Andrew’s Pizza; Taco Del
Mar; Brian’s Pourhouse; Horsefeathers; Thai Winds Trailer;
Lompoei’s Thai Dinners in the River City Saloon (unreal Thai
food); El Rinconcito (great cheap and authentic Mexican food);
Sixth Street Bistro (popular for a bite and a pint); Charburger
(hangover breakfasts); Jack’s (try a scorpion bowl); New Wind
HQ; Brian’s; Sevino’s; The Shed; The River City Saloon;
Kor’s Luau; and Zavadsky’s (for vodka and smoked
salmon). Try Bette’s downtown for breakfast.

Accommodations
www.gonorthwest.com

Tips

The water is cold, so bring a 4/3 mm or good 3 mm fullsuit for
early June, and a shorty and trunks for August.

Most folks in The Gorge ride leashless with a shackle. If you
are leashless and not using a shackle, remember that there could be
many river users downwind of you as well as a bridge. The Sandbar
is not a good place to practice handle-pass tricks.

The Sandbar is formed by deposits of silt and sand flowing down
the Hood River. It changes every year and varies in size depending
on the river’s flow. One day it can be the size of a football
field and the next a couch.

A small group of locals worked diligently to secure access to
The Sandbar a few years ago after talk of banning kiteboarding on
port property. After a lengthy process the Port of Hood River
granted access to The Sandbar for kiteboarding and so far things
have gone smoothly, but a serious incident could jeopardize access.
Keep this in mind while you are riding at The Sandbar, and expect a
friendly local to remind you of this issue if you do happen to
forget.

Contact

The Port of Hood River www.portofhoodriver.com 541-386-1645
Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association www.business.gorge.net
800-98-GORGE.