August Winds Rage On – August 16, 2011

The last two weeks have been the windiest of the season.  Stevenson to Doug’s has had the best wind, but the eastern sites have also seen some great late day sessions.  We’ve had some big days at the Hatchery and Doug’s Beach with winds averaging 30+ and huge swells.  Check out some of the pictures from the Hatchery on Trudy’s facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150259453194615&set=a.10150259450774615.344369.664944614&type=1&pid=7819673&id=664944614

Sailors have had to pace themselves with day after day of classic Gorge conditions.

Amy tests the Panther on her last day in the Gorge, before heading back to UCLA this fall.

I’ve been to Stevenson for demos this past week were a loyal group of sailors enjoy this small but windy westend Washington beach.  The windsurfing beach is provided by the City of Stevenson and is known as Bob’s Beach.  Bob who still sails there nearly everyday, helped pioneer this site many years ago when it was a path through the brush from the road to the water.  Today this small oasis has green grass and is surrounded by shade trees; picnic tables, restrooms, and even wifi.  Bob’s beach is one of the few sites in the Gorge that is sailable in both west (summer) and east (fall/winter) winds.  It’s located just upriver from Bonneville Dam so there is less current to worry about.  The typical conditions are bump and jump with small swell on bigger days.  On lighter days the racer types can drag race for nearly a mile to Oregon and back.

For Amy, Ken and Luke windsurfing is part of the family.

One of the best parts of doing demos is meeting new people who are passionate about windsurfing.  I was fortunate to meet a windsurfing family from Southern California who have been windsurfing together since buying their first Ezzy sail sixteen years ago.  Amy (18) and Luke (16) have grown up windsurfing the ocean beaches in southern California along with summer vacations to the Gorge.  Ken and Deb have always made windsurfing a fun family experience that even included some racing.  Ken, Amy and Luke welcomed the chance to sail the new Panthers.  They loved the new Panthers and were surprised how the sails have changed in 16 years.  Check out their comments.

It’s still windy so get out on the water and enjoy the summer weather…fall is just around the corner.  See ya on the beach, Gary

Lisa tests the new Panther Limited at Bob’s Beach, it will be here soon!