Gorge wind has not changed - your equipment is to blame.

ldhr · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 121

The wind has not changed - your windsurfing equipment has changed.
In the 90's we had gear designed in the gorge by people who lived and sailed here everyday.l We had sails and boards specifically designed for the gusty wind and river chop.
We had Hurricanes, Northwaves, Rushwind, Sailworks, Gorge Sails.
Dill, O.O., Cascade, Zephyr, Eric Shroeder, Preister Built, Bailey.
They're all gone now and you're sailing on stuff designed for Japan and Hawaii. Flatwater or Ocean swell.
With the new sails you hit a ramp, jump high,,,, and then fall like a rock.
Also - these sails don't have the low-end to glide thru the lulls.
Solution: If you think things were better in the 90's, upgrade your gear to stuff that's designed and built by Gorge sailors.
Rig big and stop whining.

FINERO · Joined: 25 Jun 2000 Posts: 5

Might just be your brain too.

Just sayin'.

arkirschbaum · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Northwave and Sailworks are still producing great sails. Northwave still makes their sails in the Gorge right on the river.
I bought a 6.9 Windwing from John Chun and it works fantastic in the Gorge as well.

willysurf · Joined: 08 Sep 2003 Posts: 59

I have no problem sailing any Gorge conditions with my quiver of JP boards and Neil Pryde sails. Most of the people I see struggling in gusty/holey conditions are on heavily rockered wave boards that are way too low in volume for the conditions. 99% of my sailing is done on freestyle or freestyle-wave boards and I've never even thought of doing a freestyle trick. The shapes of these boards are just much, much better to keep you planing through the lulls. Sure, they bounce around a liittle more in the chop but it's a small price to pay. The only day so far this season that I wished I had my little wave board was last night at Roweener and even that would have turned to misery after 6:30 pm.

kmf · Joined: 02 Apr 2001 Posts: 503

You can still purchase new Open Ocean's, Cascade is still in business, and North Pacific Surfboards has been shaping and manufacturing sailboards and surfboards in the Gorge for 15 years.

You need to get out more often

KMF

bajaguy · Joined: 27 Dec 1999 Posts: 69

Just picked up my new Cascade sailboard on Friday. Built by Gary Swanson here in the Gorge, just like he's been doing for 25 yrs. Also drive by Open Ocean in Lyle most every day. Sounds like the Gorge is still alive and doing well.

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

cgoudie1

I tend to agree, but, if you want to do some hang time like the "olden
days", I suggest Sailworks Huckers, or Northwave ZX's (or even Surflites).
And as mentioned, Gary Swanson will build you whatever kind of board
you like, or you can tell him you want a 90's style Gorge board, and get
one brand new. You can also get an OO from Brian, and while he's more
uppity about changing his shapes to your suggestions, he's almost always
dead right about what you really want rather than what you think you
want.

I do see a lot of people who complain about the gusty or choppy
conditions, who are riding JPs or some other board that's not designed
for the Gorge, but they're mostly tourists, and I'm sure those boards
work a lot better in the conditions they normally sail than a custom
Gorge board would, so they've made a good decision, unless they're
spending a whole Summer up here.

I only carry 1 board also (OK maybe I'll wind whore a 2nd board in there
for 6.7 conditions occasionally) custom shaped to my specs
by Cascade. It's good from 5.5 to 3.7 in the Gorge. Methinks it would
suck large in any Utah conditions, even really good ones.

- Craig

billgfc · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Posts: 226

the best new rigs are far better than what we had years ago, have more range and are much easier to sail. this applies to evey brand

For example, I am on Maui Sails, designed by Barry Spanier and his team. I know these guys well. Barry landed shipwrecked on Maui with Jeff Bourne in the late 70's and opened Spanier and Bourne. Windsurfing came along and they were the creators and brains of Neil Pryde windsurfing sails. One only look at past and current successes here to see the track record. Now , six years into Maui Sails, the evolution continues, mast bends set, new booms and easier to sail sails with wider range.

The Gorge is gusty, but many World locations are more gusty, re Sylt.
Look for the Maui Sails van and try them. Better yet, ask someone on the product how it feels. Then ask them how what they have compares with the past.

This is one example, using the sail brand I like. We all have our preferences. I would not trade mine for any older sail anyone has made.

I suspect the same with other designers. Ask them.

The best do not stand still, they listen and evolve.

I have been sailing the Gorge since 1980 when there was no windsurfing here.

markandmonique · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 35

Had a great time sailing with Carl Meinberg at The Hatch the other night! He still nailed his Monkey Jibes just like he did 20 years ago!

He was out on a circa 93-94-ish Gorge Sail and a Rutger board still ripping.

Here he is in this Youtube Video of Hard Winds a Blowin' (he is on the blue Mistral sail)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWlcgQ3L7O4

Carl it was fun to see you on the water!

PS> 20 points to the first person that can name the naked sailor at minute 2:15...