Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2002-07-29 14:00:00 | 232 views | 3 Comments

Freestyle
The Ford Gorge Games Freestyle Windsurfing competition took place in front of the largest crowd ever at the ''Hatch'' despite fluctuating wind conditions. The world's top windsurfers descended upon the 2002 Ford Gorge Games to compete for a record prize purse of $20,000. Nori Hubbs who hails from Ottawa, ON took 1st place in the women's competition and Mitch Gingrich from The Dalles, OR who placed 2nd at the 2001 Gorge Games placed first in the men's competition.

Hubbs, who finished 3rd at last year's event and went undefeated through the entire competition, bested local Hood River resident Tamira Wagonfeld in the final round. Each having one loss, Gingrich and Pedrick took their battle down to the wire and needed a sail-off to settle 1st place in the men's competition, with Gingrich taking 1st place. Fifteen-year old Riley Coon from Kula, HI placed in both the Men's Freestyle and Juniors competitions finishing 4th and 2nd respectively. For complete Ford Gorge Games results go to www.gorgegames.comresults

Picture:  Big crowds lined the shore of the Spring Creek Hatchery on the Washington side of the Columbia River for the freesyle event of the 2002 Ford Gorge Games.  Photo: Eric Sanford

Winner: Mitch Gringrich. Photo:Eric Sanford

FREESTYLE WINDSURFING RESULTS Windsurfing Men Windsurfing Women 1. Mitch Gingrich, The Dalles, OR 1. Nori Hubbs, Ottawa, ON 2. Web Pedrick, Mosier, OR 2. Tamira Wagonfeld, Hood River, OR 3. Chris Audsley, Hood River, OR 3. Jennifer Henderson, Paia, HI 4. Riley Coon, Kula, HI 4. Motoko Sato, Haiku, HI

Juniors Masters 1. Nick Warmuth, Maui, HI 1. Royn Bartholdi, Hood River, OR 2. Riley Coon, Kula, HI 2. Randel Strome, Haiku, HI 3. Mike Crickmer, Vancouver, BC 3. Doug Beaman, Hood River, OR 4. Kieran DeVanney, Stevenson, WA 4. Carl Martiweave, Whistler, BC

The Ford Gorge Games will air on NBC Sports for two consecutive Sundays, September 1st and 8th, with repeated airings on Outdoor Life Network (OLN) October 2nd and 9th. 2002 sponsors include title sponsor Ford, Nike ACG, BALANCE Bar, National Geographic Adventure, Revo, SoBe, Camelbak, Outward Bound, Yahoo! and John Paul Mitchell Systems. For more information visit the Ford Gorge Games website at www.gorgegames.com or call 1-866-GORGE-01.

 Blowout:
Bruce Perterson . Photo Eric Sanford

 The Ford Gorge Games Blowout began with 134 competitors poised and ready to challenge the Columbia River. 17-Miles later, nearly one-third crossed the finish line. One of those competitors was Hood River resident, Bruce Peterson, who took first place in the men's windsurfing division. ''It felt great, this was my first win in 6 years'' stated Peterson. ''This was my 18th year in the Blowout it's always a tough event.''

The most heated battle of tthe day was contested in the women's kiteboading category. 2001 Gorge Games champion and the first woman to ever complete the Blowout, Renee Hanks, edged out Julie Prochaska at the end to take first place in the women's kiteboarding category for the second-year in a row. Hood River resident, Monique Anderson was the lone woman to cross the finish line in the women's windsurfing category with a time of 3:35:22 seconds, but did not qualify because she missed the time cutoff.

Kiteboarder Chris Gilbert placed first in both the overall and men's kiteboarding category finishing in front of last years overall champion, Corey Roesler. Roesler posted a faster time, but was penalized and finished in second place.

For complete Ford Gorge Games results go to www.gorgegames.comresults

BLOWOUT RESULTS Windsurfing Men 1. Bruce Peterson  1:09:33 2. Dale Cook  1:51:53 3. Jose Gruart  2:10:55 4. Stefan Liddington - 2:35:37

Kiteboarding Men 1. Chris Gilbert  1:17:51 2. Cory Roesler  1:13:15 3. Adam Koch  1:22:12 4. Flash Austin - 1:23:09

Kiteboarding Women 1. Renee Hanks  1:19:40 2. Julie Prochaska  1:45:09

The Ford Gorge Games will air on NBC Sports for two consecutive Sundays, September 1st and 8th, with repeated airings on Outdoor Life Network (OLN) October 2nd and 9th. 2002 sponsors include title sponsor Ford, Nike ACG, BALANCE Bar, National Geographic Adventure, Revo, SoBe, Camelbak, Outward Bound, Yahoo! and John Paul Mitchell Systems. For more information visit the Ford Gorge Games website at www.gorgegames.com or call 1-866-GORGE-01.