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Hood River Event Site / Columbia River kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

United States · Oregon

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 25 m 45.72 | -121.51

Overview

Hood River Event Site is the most famous spot in the Columbia River Gorge, located directly on the Hood River waterfront in Oregon. This site has hosted international windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions since the 1980s, including the legendary Gorge Pro-Am. The grass lawn and beach provide a spacious and comfortable launch area. It is the social heart of the Gorge wind/kite scene, with legendary westerly thermal winds blowing from May to September at 20-35 knots.

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Spot forecast for Hood River Event Site / Columbia River

Sunrise 07:29 · Sunset 18:11

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

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Hood River Event Site / Columbia River: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

327h

in July · 29.5 rideable days

Wind is uneven from month to month: the best months are July, July and June, at 28 rideable days and 29 °C. The low point is January, at 4.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J February: 6 rideable days F February: 6 rideable days F March: 10 rideable days M March: 10 rideable days M April: 19.5 rideable days A April: 19.5 rideable days A May: 24 rideable days M May: 24 rideable days M June: 26 rideable days J June: 26 rideable days J July: 29.5 rideable days29.5 d J July: 29.5 rideable days29.5 d J August: 24 rideable days A August: 24 rideable days A September: 21.5 rideable days S September: 21.5 rideable days S October: 12 rideable days O October: 12 rideable days O November: 7 rideable days N November: 7 rideable days N December: 5.5 rideable days D December: 5.5 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J February: 6 rideable days F February: 6 rideable days F March: 10 rideable days M March: 10 rideable days M April: 19.5 rideable days A April: 19.5 rideable days A May: 24 rideable days M May: 24 rideable days M June: 26 rideable days J June: 26 rideable days J July: 29.5 rideable days29.5 d J July: 29.5 rideable days29.5 d J August: 24 rideable days A August: 24 rideable days A September: 21.5 rideable days S September: 21.5 rideable days S October: 12 rideable days O October: 12 rideable days O November: 7 rideable days N November: 7 rideable days N December: 5.5 rideable days D December: 5.5 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 80%13-20 knots · 20%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 80% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 4 °C. The wettest month is December, with 183 mm.

Monthly averages: Hood River Event Site / Columbia River
Monthly averages — Hood River Event Site / Columbia River — averaged over 1 year of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 4.5 25 h 4 °C 127 mm
January 4.5 25 h 4 °C 127 mm
February 6.0 37 h 8 °C 72 mm
February 6.0 37 h 8 °C 72 mm
March 10.0 67 h 14 °C 57 mm
March 10.0 67 h 14 °C 57 mm
April 19.5 170 h 18 °C 16 mm
April 19.5 170 h 18 °C 16 mm
May 24.0 266 h 21 °C 13 mm
May 24.0 266 h 21 °C 13 mm
June 26.0 290 h 26 °C 7 mm
June 26.0 290 h 26 °C 7 mm
July 29.5 327 h 31 °C 0 mm
July 29.5 327 h 31 °C 0 mm
August 24.0 232 h 30 °C 1 mm
August 24.0 232 h 30 °C 1 mm
September 21.5 190 h 28 °C 17 mm
September 21.5 190 h 28 °C 17 mm
October 12.0 80 h 18 °C 33 mm
October 12.0 80 h 18 °C 33 mm
November 7.0 35 h 11 °C 75 mm
November 7.0 35 h 11 °C 75 mm
December 5.5 27 h 6 °C 171 mm
December 5.5 27 h 7 °C 183 mm

Photo gallery of Hood River Event Site / Columbia River

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Technical details of Hood River Event Site / Columbia River spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Not rideable ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Rideable WNW: Rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from SW, W, WNW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

Fresh water from the Columbia River, cool (12-18°C in summer). 3/2 to 4/3 wetsuit recommended. Constant current of 3-5 km/h westward. Short chop characteristic of the Gorge, ideal for jumps and freestyle. Reliable thermal winds from the west at 20-35 knots, perfect for all disciplines. The area in front of the Event Site is the most supervised and secure waterway in the Gorge.

Hazards

Most crowded spot in the Gorge: maximum vigilance toward other riders, windsurfers, and foilers. Constant river current. Barges and commercial traffic on the main channel: stay out of the channel. Winds can ramp up quickly to 40+ knots. During competitions, some areas are restricted. Cold water that can cause hypothermia. Respect right-of-way rules and marked navigation zones.

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Nearby spots

All spots: Oregon

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