Bob's Beach

Columbia River Gorge, OR & WA

Auszug aus dem KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE:

The River’s very wide out west in Stevenson, where windsurfers freeride at Bob’s Beach in mid-sized chop. 400m away, the kite spot at East Point right in front of Slingshot’s warehouse is a playground for local pros. It’s not for beginners as the steep, rocky launch doesn’t allow any room for error, but it is a great launch-pad for downwinders to places like Stevenson Cemetery (0.5 miles), Home Valley (5 miles) or even Hood River (19 miles). The westerlies are often a bit weaker at Home Valley but it’s a good spot for the easterlies that are common in transitional and winter months, when the region’s temperature differential and pressure gradients click into reverse. In contrast, Viento is great for strong westerly winds, which churn up some nice swell – but it doesn’t draw crowds like The Hatchery or Swell City. As one of Oregon’s State Parks, Viento also offers all kind of onshore amenities – just be sure to use the designated crossings to get over the railroad tracks! In Swell City the waves get a bit bigger and are ideal for jumping and 'riding’. Both the short wavelength and strong current can be pretty demanding, while parking is sparse and costly. Next door, The Hatchery offers a bit more space – but don’t park on the road or you’ll get towed! Pro riders and local heroes show off their moves here, so it’s a great spot for spectators. The launch is narrow, rocky and slippery, with lots of current and swell. Getting in and out is a bit easier in the gravel bay just east of here. All Hood River spots on the Oregon side sit on the inside of the river bend so conditions are a bit more manageable. The Hook stays very smooth inside the bay, ideal for practicing waterstarts and gybes. Kiters ride outside where they have to contend with the current and a wind shadow from Wells Island. The Hood River Event Site is like a golf club for windsurfers: rigging greens, gently shelving gravel beach, stadium seating, bathrooms. Kiters are slowly encroaching since strong rains expanded the sandbars of Hood River Kite Beach almost all the way to the Event Site, creating the Gorge’s largest standing-depth area. Despite gusty winds and occasional driftwood this spot bustles with beginners, pros, schools and spectators so it’s best to arrive early in the morning. For good river swell and constant wind you can ride over to the White Salmon Bridge or make an upwinder to Wells Island. East of the river mouth, Hood River Marina offers windsurfers a big standing-depth area. It’s a very family friendly spot with showers, bathrooms, picnic tables and a boat ramp. But in summertime though there can be a lot of swimmers and yacht harbour traffic – not forgetting the perpetual barge traffic in the shipping channel. 4km upriver, Bingen was the Gorge’s speed strip back in the ’80s and ’90s but hardly anyone uses it these days, despite the nice flat water on offer for waterstart and gybe practice. Rock Creek is the first place to start 'nuking’ when the cloud line and associated westerlies move eastward on hot summer afternoons. Predominantly windsurfers take advantage of this – the launch over rough gravel right next to the freeway is for experienced kiters only. Mayer State Park East in Rowena is a windsurfing family favourite. Kiters can take a downwinder to the sandbar opposite Doug’s Beach where a vast standing-depth area awaits on the Oregon side, with some fat river swell building in the flow. High wind addicts love it here in the desert when the Gorge starts 'nuking’. At The Dalles Riverfront Park it blows much weaker, great for relaxed cruising. It does get windier nearer the Washington side – just watch for those barges!
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Kite and Windsurfing Guide
Bei Stevenson ist der Fluss besonders breit. Windsurfer gehen am Bob's Beach bei mittelgroßem Chop Freeriden.
The River's very wide out west in Stevenson, where windsurfers freeride at Bob's Beach in mid-sized chop.
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