Novice at the Gorge

Nasu · Mon Jul 07, 08 6:53 pm **Novice at the Gorge**

Hi everyone!!
I live in SoCal, and kite in Belmont(Long Beach), Just a beginner (can not go upwind). I have a bunch of miles on United Airlines, and was thinking about taking the family to the Gorge on the first week of August/08. I have only a 12m switchbladeII and I am 170 pounds. Can I use my kite up there? I would be very happy with any suggestions(info) of hotels(cheap), where to kite?
Thank you very, very very much.
peace

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

That's a perfect time to come to the Gorge! When you get here, take another lesson to get you riding upwind. Good schools will follow you in a jetski while you're getting your upwind riding skills down. The Gorge doesn't have the best setup for doing downwinders, so having a PWC follow you is well worth the money!!

Also, you'll have a much easier time going upwind than back at home. The current in the Columbia River goes upwind on the summer westerlies, so it's almost like cheating when it comes to riding upwind.

You should definitely come to Kiteboarding 4 Cancer on August 9th and there will be lots of local lesson packages up for bid at the silent auction as well. And, it's a good opportunity to meet and talk to a ton of other recreational kiters. Get those upwind skills dialed at the beginning of your trip and then enter the Kiteboarding 4 Cancer Kite Derby (www.kb4c.org) on the 9th!

Accommodations are pretty booked already in Hood River, but you will probably have better luck in White Salmon (WA) and Mosier, which are both within 5 miles of HR. Good luck!

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 440 Posts Obsessed

No question the Gorge is a beautiful place to kite and windsurf but not as user friendly as the wide open beach you are used to in So Cal. A jetski lesson will get you away from the crowd at the sand spit (the only launch at Hood River) but otherwise the sandspit can be intimidating for a beginner on typical summer day due to the sheer number of kiters.

Might want to watch the Sandspit webcam to get an idea of the kiting location and conditions; http://live.gorge.net/gorgelive.asp

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

As far as the size of the kite - 12 is a bit big for the gorge. There are some days when you can use it - but you may end up having to sit out some days because there is too much wind.

I'm 190 pounds - the largest kite I fly at the sand spit is an 11M SLE. And there are plenty of days I'm juiced on a 7M SLE.

Its tough to say what the wind will be like this far in advance.

You may want to see if you can score a 7m just for the trip - try to find one on the cheap - and then sell it when you get back from your trip. Hopefully you won't lose too much cash in the transaction.

There are a lot of guys who only have a 7 and an 11 and they make it work in the gorge just fine.