Gorge Paddling Festival-HUGE!

Join Rivers for Change for the Gorge Downwind Paddling Festival (GDPF) – a week-long event at the Columbia River Gorge near Hood River, OR, from July 19-25.  There are two premier events – the inaugural North American Surfski/OC1 Downwind Championships and the incredibly fun and popularWildside Relay.  The week will also feature clinics led by experts and organized shuttles along the course.

While winds blow very consistently in The Gorge, a window format will be utilized for the race.  The Championship race will be run on Friday, July 24  and the Wildside Relay will be run on Saturday, July 25 unless forecast conditions favor an earlier day. The window will open on Wednesday, July 22.  The determination will be made by the race committee by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, July 21 and communicated by website, social media and email.

Links for the most recent information.

https://www.facebook.com/gorgepaddlingfestival?fref=ts

http://www.gorgepaddlingfestival.com/

http://www.riversforchange.org/

Schedule of Races and Events

• Tuesday, July 21 – Race Date confirmed for Championship Race and for Wildside Relay
• Wednesday, July 22 – First day of race window
• Friday, July 24 – Championship Race day – subject to wind forecast
• Saturday, July 25 – Wildside Relay – subject to wind forecast

Downwind Shuttles – Daily shuttles are included in your festival entry and will be running daily between ~11am and ~3pm.  Start times and locations will be announced the previous day as we follow the winds.

1. North American Surfski/OC1 Downwind Championships- July 24th

13.5 mile (21.5km) 100% downwind race from Home Valley Washington to Hood River Oregon

Large cash prizes for overall finishers as well as separate prizes for all division 3 day race window (21-23 July)

*This race is part of the Surfski World Championship Series

2. The Wildside Relay-July 25th

24 mile (40km), four leg relay race from Stevenson to Bingen with beach changes along the Washington side (The Wildside)

A full week of daily downwind clinics and group events

Dave Jensen(far left), Carter Johhnson(center), Greg Barton, Don Keisling(far right) during Relay

Race Day Announcement – Tuesday, July 21.

A window format will be utilized for the event races based on wind conditions for the week. The default race days are Friday and Saturday, but may be moved up to ensure downwind conditions. Updates will be posted on this webpage, Facebook and Twitter.

Check in and Packet Pick up – Wednesday, July 22 –

North American Championships Race Day – Friday July 24

Wildside Relay Race Day – Saturday, July 25.

Meet at Bob’s Beach in Stevenson, WA at 9:00.

Awards and BBQ will happen post race.

*Race start is wind dependent.

Gorge Downwind Paddle Fest Celebration – Saturday July 25 

Largest Prize Money of any Surfski Race!!

The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep, the canyon stretches for over 80 miles (130 km) as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with the Deschutes River down to eastern reaches of the Portland metropolitan area, the water gap furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades and the only water connection between the Columbia River Plateau and the Pacific Ocean.The gorge holds federally protected status as a National Scenic Area called the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and is managed by the Columbia River Gorge Commission and the US Forest Service. The gorge is a popular recreational destination