Back to Randy Brich
		Learn To Windsurf Reprinted from June 2006 Issue -by RANDY BRICH Skipping across choppy water intuitively sheeting in on the sail as the board leaps to a plane. You are deftly sailing a high-tech piece of equipment, catching air when desired, carving turns on swells and executing a variety of maneuvers. The windsurfer alone commands a unique sailing craft. No other sailing sport, including kiting, is as hassle-free, safe and exhilarating as windsurfing. However, in order to experience the excitement one must first learn to windsurf. The Lower Columbia River valley offers abundant recreational activities some of which span the entire year like mountain biking, hiking, road biking and rock climbing while others are mostly seasonal such as skiing, snowboarding and windsurfing. Like skiing, windsurfing is a physically demanding activity providing not only a super adrenalized sensation when practiced at high levels, but, also a darn good workout. At its beginner levels windsurfing can be enjoyably and safely practiced on any body of water no matter how small. In fact, at the early learning stages while the sailor is attempting to balance on a tippy platform while trying to command it to move forward under sail power alone, the smaller the water body the better. Small water bodies provide several advantages over larger bodies of water: small waves, shallow water, and easy to walk back upwind to starting location after getting blown downwind. Anyone who’s driven from the Lower Columbia to Portland has noticed the large number of windsurfers ripping across the river in the Hood River area during most summer days. As the epicenter of windsurfing in North America, Hood River boasts several outstanding windsurfing shops, houses the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association (CGWA) and offers many fine windsurfing schools. For links to Hood River windsurfing schools go to the CGWA website (www.cgwa.org) and select from the companies listed. All of the beginner lessons are given at The Hook, a land-locked pond on the Hood River Waterfront that offers fairly clean wind and very safe learning conditions. As skills improve the future wave-ripper can hop across the jetty and sail in the isolated stretch of river between the Oregon shore and Wells Island. A sandbar leeward of the island provides a convenient place to rest before attempting to return toward the Oregon shore. Here waterstarts can be learned and jibes can be practiced in perfect safety without risking the river current and attendant commercial and recreational river traffic. Only after waterstart skills become solid can a beginner consider venturing out on the main river. In addition to guaranteeing that you will learn to windsurf, the schools provide all necessary equipment including wetsuit, booties, helmet and most importantly rigged sails and boards, waiting for you on The Hook’s sandy beach. The companies want you to learn how to windsurf and they provide every incentive to assure your success. Once you’ve completed the beginner lesson the equipment is available to you during non-prime time hours throughout the summer. Certainly the biggest advantage today’s beginner has over the original equipment most Tri-City windsurfers learned on are the small but powerful sails and wide stable boards. The combination of small sail and wide board allows the beginner to focus on actually sailing instead of trying to balance on a very unstable board while simultaneously learning to use the sail to power the board. Combine the modern equipment with knowledgeable, experienced instructors who’ve taught hundreds how to windsurf and all of the factors needed for you to succeed are wrapped together into one convenient package. I’ve been told that a fit, coordinated individual can advance from beginner status to mastering harness and footstraps on a medium-sized board in one week at a Hood River windsurfing school. Call it Gorge University where the lessons taught during a single week of summer school could provide you and your family with a lifetime of incredible outdoor recreation. Only after completing the requisite lessons at Hood River should you consider purchasing your own sailing equipment. Again, the instructors and shop owners in Hood River can provide valuable advice selecting gear to match your sailing skills and aspirations. Located on the Oregon side of the river at the eastern edge of The Gorge, about an hour away from the Tri-Cities (halfway between Boardman and Arlington), lies Three Mile Canyon, the absolute best sailing location on the entire river according to many experienced windsurfers. Three Mile features a large lagoon protected by a jetty which offers access to the main river channel through a slot. The lack of trees allows decent wind right up to the shoreline regardless of the direction. During most summer weekends a friendly group of enthusiastic “boardheads” and their families can be found camping, relaxing and windsurfing at Three Mile. Seek these sailors out, solicit their advice and revel in the common interest that you all share. If you get started early in the summer by summer’s end you will be a windsurfer, guaranteed.