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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1473 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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Mlander
Since 06 Oct 2010
33 Posts
Mosier, Or
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Sat Jun 05, 21 10:24 am Choppy and hardly any swell |
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Gusty and holey too. |
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knotwindy
Since 25 Sep 2011
598 Posts
Addicted
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Sat Jun 05, 21 1:38 pm |
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Yup, the trifecta
Gusty, holey, choppy
Very little swell, 1star, not recommended _________________ curiously observing blurry patterns while slightly distracted |
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hilton
Since 15 Aug 2008
790 Posts
Opinionated
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Sat Jun 05, 21 6:02 pm |
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I think you answered your own question back in 2018...
"If the flow is above 290,000 - I don't bother going there."
but that was before winging.
What I want to know is whether Rufus would be good for learning to wing foil during the high flow. If you don't want big swell and don't want to have to walk back upwind. |
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bfb38
Since 02 Sep 2016
75 Posts
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Sat Jun 05, 21 8:01 pm The foiler and the flow |
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Call me the princess and call the river the pea all you want, but when the flow is this high at Rufus I feel like I notice it on the foil and it doesn’t help with stability |
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1473 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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Sun Jun 06, 21 7:11 am |
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hilton wrote: |
What I want to know is whether Rufus would be good for learning to wing foil during the high flow. If you don't want big swell and don't want to have to walk back upwind. |
Learning to wing at Rufus would be ok if you're a stud athlete with years of kite foil experience. But not when the current is above 300K. too many weird currents and eddies.
I've been winging for a year now and I've watched others learn to wing.
IMO - the Hook to Sandbar is the best place in the gorge to learn. Pay your dues doing the shuttle or walk and learn to ride both directions and stay upwind.
Going to places like the Hatchery and using the current to get back upwind will only retard your progress.
The number #1 issue I see new wingers struggling with is getting up on the foil after they stand up. The #1 reason I see them struggle - they decide to try winging when the wind is light and crappy. (too light to kite so I might as well try wingingin today).
Winging is not a light wind activity - you need to be overpowered to learn.
If you want to learn how to wing - put your kite gear away for a month.
I learned at the age of 61 and it took 4 sessions (and a dozen walks of shame along the waterfront)..... after I put my kite gear in the garage. |
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AC
Since 04 Jul 2012
66 Posts
CGKA Member
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Sun Jun 06, 21 8:09 am |
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LD preaching the truth on winging and Rufus. Listen to the Gorge Oracle, peeps. Yesterday afternoon Rufus was as expected if you followed the Maryhill wind sensor. Roughly 25-55, with some really nice swell series running through, but those were few and far between. At 4PM a 50+MPH gust blew through which compelled many to call it a day. About 320kcfs discharge from both John Day and Dalles dams. On a scale of 1-10, maybe a 6 or 7. On the positive side, it was sunny, 70 degrees, and I rode downwind for an hour and pretty much stayed in place. In general, not a good place for a beginner to learn anything but humility and how to be rescued. |
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bigjohn
Since 13 Mar 2012
663 Posts
Addicted
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Sun Jun 06, 21 7:32 pm Re: Annual Rufus high flow current swell conditions. |
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I went to Rufus yesterday... I was disappointed. I even made the comment to a buddy that I was thinking of heading back and working instead...
In hindsite I went back and looked at the graph. I think I hit the worst period.
Hit and miss. Sometimes you hit the jackpot, other times you roll snake eyes. _________________ Kiting starts at 40MPH |
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skideeppow
Since 26 Aug 2011
518 Posts
Addicted
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Mon Jun 07, 21 7:10 am |
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I was there on Sat as well. I thought it was sweet, but then again i was visiting. at 215lbs it is rare when i can ride m 6m and be fully powered. Swell was pretty good as well. Have 3 great days of wind at the gorge and left yesterday. Quick visit from windless CO. |
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skideeppow
Since 26 Aug 2011
518 Posts
Addicted
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Mon Jun 07, 21 7:20 am |
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I was there on Sat as well. I thought it was sweet, but then again i was visiting. at 215lbs it is rare when i can ride m 6m and be fully powered. Swell was pretty good as well. Have 3 great days of wind at the gorge and left yesterday. Quick visit from windless CO. |
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TravisBickleRex
Since 30 Jun 2005
314 Posts
Taxi Driver
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Mon Jun 07, 21 11:07 am |
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[quote="ldhr"] hilton wrote: | Re: Winging
1) the Hook to Sandbar is the best place in the gorge to learn. Pay your dues doing the shuttle or walk and learn to ride both directions and stay upwind.
2) The number #1 issue I see new wingers struggling with is getting up on the foil after they stand up. The #1 reason I see them struggle - they decide to try winging when the wind is light and crappy. (too light to kite so I might as well try wingingin today).
Winging is not a light wind activity - you need to be overpowered to learn.
3) If you want to learn how to wing - put your kite gear away for a month.
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I wish I'da had this advice and followed it two months ago. All three are gold. |
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user124
Since 02 Aug 2012
390 Posts
Portland
Obsessed
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Mon Jun 07, 21 11:31 am |
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[quote="TravisBickleRex"] ldhr wrote: | hilton wrote: | Re: Winging
1) the Hook to Sandbar is the best place in the gorge to learn. Pay your dues doing the shuttle or walk and learn to ride both directions and stay upwind.
2) The number #1 issue I see new wingers struggling with is getting up on the foil after they stand up. The #1 reason I see them struggle - they decide to try winging when the wind is light and crappy. (too light to kite so I might as well try wingingin today).
Winging is not a light wind activity - you need to be overpowered to learn.
3) If you want to learn how to wing - put your kite gear away for a month.
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I wish I'da had this advice and followed it two months ago. All three are gold. |
#1 and # 2 are solid advice. I didn't follow # 3 though since I still want to foil with my kite on light wind days! Maybe it's slowed my progress some but I'm not entirely convinced I'll ever dump my kite gear and switch to full time winging. |
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2575 Posts
The 503
METAL
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oliver19
Since 25 Jun 2019
77 Posts
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Wed Jun 09, 21 3:48 am |
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That video is ridiculous. |
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