Matt: Hood River has been a Mecca for windsurfing, and then kitesurfing since the 70’s, when it was first discovered as a wind lover’s heaven. Enthusiasts from all over the world flock to the Columbia River Gorge during the summer months to enjoy the strong winds and rolling river swells. Windsurfing and kitesurfing allow you to ride these swells with the assistance of the wind in your sail, but we’ve never been able to freely surf the swells without a kite or a sail. It was simply a pipe dream… until now. With the advent of high aspect foils, the Gorge has taken on a new light as one of the most unique surf spots in the world.
Sure, the surf purists will scoff at that last sentence. They’ll tell you that there is no such thing as real surf in a river. They’ll also tell you foiling isn’t surfing. What I’ll tell you is I’ve heard more Hawaiian pidgeon on the banks of the Columbia River this year than I have heard at most surf spots around the world. Typically, Hood River is flooded with
