Josh Stone’s First Trip to the Gorge

Josh Stone's First Trip to the Gorge

kristin
2003-09-16 14:00:00 | 88 views | 0 Comments

Arrival - July 3, 2003: Josh and I arrived at PDX airport in
Portland, OR late at night. Josh flying in from Maui, and me flying
in from Miami. We were both fighting the time change - I was tired
and Josh was wide awake, so we compromised with a massive dinner
including Fat Tire beers and then sleep. We stayed at the
Travelodge in Portland adjacent to the airport - this is the type
of motel that only gives you clean towels and sheets if you beg for
it. Needless to say, we paid for our nine hours of room use and
made it out of there alive and well rested for our big Fourth of
July weekend. Josh hadn't been in the USA in ten years for the
Fourth. Normally, PWA riders are in Gran Canaria during the Fourth
for the Pozo wave/freestyle Grand Slam competition. Josh has opted
out of the tour this season so he can spend more time in places
like Hood River promoting the sport. Aren't we lucky!

Day 1 - July 4, 2003: Josh and I arrived in Hood River at 10 am
to see the crew at Big Winds - wow what an awesome shop! We met
with Darryl, Sparky, Steve, and Mark at Big Winds when we rolled
into town to discuss the strategy for the weekend. Darryl from Big
Winds did a fantastic job organizing an in-store clinic for Friday
Night (the Fourth) as well as an on the beach clinic at the Event
Site for Saturday morning. The crew from Big Winds were very
professional as usual and made it seem like a family visit for us.
Josh and I stayed at the Gorge View B & B. Anne and Pat were
great! They made sure that we ate well, slept well, stayed clean,
and made our appointments.

Eddy Patricelli (editor) was our Gorge Tour Guide for the
weekend. Eddy had also just rolled into town from FL, so we were
both jonesing for wind. We checked the wind readings and it looked
good at the Hatchery, so off we went. It was building when we
arrived so Josh went with 4.7, Eddy with 5.0, and me with 5.2. As
the wind increased, Josh started going off. Lots of the local groms
showed up as word about Josh being in town spread like a bad virus.
At the end of our three hour session, the groms were on the rocks
with the photographers, videographers, and Eddy and I as we all
watched in awe. Josh was hitting every spock variation, flakas, one
handed shove-its, one handed speed loops - you name it! Josh was
sick and I believe that his hair was dry when he finally got off
the water. We hit some lunch and then checked the wind readings
again. We were headed to Doug's Beach. It's a little east of Hood
River on the Washington side of the river with a sandy launch.

The wind swells line up almost side shore on starboard tack
there making for great jumping. Eddy was going off hitting
grubby's, spocks, and wymaroos on the flat inside and perfect backs
and forwards in the starboard tack wind swell. Hey, this guy is an
editor and he rides sick! Josh pulled off more sick moves on the
flat inside like clew first willy skipper 540's, one handed flakas,
clew first grubby's and every spock variation known to man. On the
outside, he was going big with backs, one handed forwards, speed
loops, wave riding, shove-its, etc, etc, etc. A crowd mounted on
the beach as the locals and visitors alike realized that Josh Stone
was ripping their spot. We had a beer with the crowd after the
session and then headed to Big Winds for the First Friday
clinic.

The town was full of people and lots of fans for Josh Stone,
NeilPryde and JP showed up to see the international superstar. Josh
gave a clinic to kids, signed autographs, and talked to hundreds of
people until Big Winds closed the doors later that evening. It was
time to go out on the town. We went to a party with some of the
staff from the store. The people there were very cool and had
barbeque and refreshments for us all night long - what a cool
group! We watched fireworks from the balco overlooking the river
with a packed house. Somebody recommended that we go down town, so
we headed to Jacks with a big group of people. We had Scorpion
Bowls (don't ever have these) and eventually had to leave since we
didn't have any shoes!?! Jack's is a very cool place and I have to
take my hat off to those brave enough to do the karaoke. We made a
short stop at the Rivercity for a quick drink and then we were
spent! It was off to bed.

Day 2 - July 5, 2003: Don't ever have Scorpion bowls - even if
someone else is buying! It was hard to get up on Saturday, but we
did it with help from Darryl from Big Winds, and Pat and Anne from
the Gorge View. Josh gave a great beach clinic at the Event Site
(wind was too light to demo). The locals provided great questions
and Josh used his passion for the sport to get riders psyched on
trying loops, and sliding/spinning tricks as well as hitting more
of the basics like planing tacks and using the foot straps. The
weather was unbelievable, not a cloud in the sky. Sun screen is
definitely on the menu if you are in the Gorge. So far, all the
people were really cool and it was easy to make friends. Eddy
checked the wind and it looked like The Wall was setting up for a
great afternoon session with strong winds and good waves. We made
the drive out east to the wall and grabbed lunch along the way.

The Wall is a beautiful location down a rocky road with a rocky
launch in what looks like the desert. The farther east one travels
from Hood River, the more one feels like they are in the desert!
The wind was up, the 4.7's were rigged, and off we went on the
water. The current at The Wall is amazing. You can ride swells back
and forth across the river, and then take one tack upwind and you
are higher than where you started! Unbelievable! We all had a blast
at this site with great wind swells and a nice flat spot near shore
for busting sliding tricks. After having sailed most of 2003 on my
11.0, I was finally getting comfy on my 4.7. Eddy and Josh were
once again going off and hitting lots of sliding tricks and big
aerials off the swell. the wind got a little light, so we broke for
lunch #2 and then went back to see that the wind had dropped
off.

We took a scenic route back and decided to give Doug's Beach a
try again. Boy that was the right call! Doug's was going off. It
was fully powered 4.7 with short but steep ramps on the far side of
the river with excellent starboard jumping. The wind was really
filled in and steady setting up our best session of the trip. We
sailed for only one hour, but josh was busting sick push loops and
Eddy hitting big stalled out backs. Although small, the ramps
provided plenty of air time and allowed for some nice backside wave
riding. The locals were now getting used to having Josh Stone at
their spot. That was two days in a row and we were hoping to make
it three! The sun was going down, so we got off the water with wide
grins. We share stories over a beer on the beach with lots of the
locals and then said our good byes. We made our way to the Sixth
St. Bistro in Hood River for an amazing dinner with Team Advil.
Team Advil spends some time in the Gorge every season and even have
their own launch in between Swell City and the Hatchery. This is a
great group of people that enjoy the free living and lifestyle of
the Gorge and offer unmatched hospitality. The food and company
were excellent! We needed some sleep, so it was a quick stroll
through town and then off to bed.

Day 3 - July 6, 2003: Our last day in the Gorge. We have our
last killer breakfast at the Gorge View and then meet up with Eddy.
The bodies are starting to get tired now with all the hours we've
had on and off the water. However, Josh, Eddy, and I have fire in
the eyes when we see the wind picking up early and we make for an
early session at the Team Advil launch, just between the Hatchery
and Swell City. The conditions were solid 4.7 with good starboard
jumping, some backside wave riding, and flat water near the rocks
for freestyle. What more could you ask for??? Bryan from Side Off
Video was on location filming Josh who was cranking off one
ballistic trick after another. Eddy was going big again on the
outside and ripping the flat inside section with more and more
spinning freestyle maneuvers. You have never seen a magazine editor
rip like Eddy! Josh stayed out on the water longer than us (big
surprise!) and Eddy and I spent sometime with Team Advil watching
Josh. Finally, Josh fell in the water for the first time in three
days - maybe he was finally getting tired???? I know I was. We
packed up the gear after another 3 hour session, said our goodbyes
and headed over to the Hook to see the newbies and get people
psyched up on windsurfing.

Brian's daughter (Brian from “Brian's Windsurfing”) was beating
Josh and I with her mom's purse (she is the smaller of the two
girl's in the picture), then she took the camera and cracked off a
bunch of pictures of us and the overall scene. Then, she through
the camera in the water - good thing it is water proof! We talked
with some of the instructors at the Hook from Big Winds and with
some of the parents of the kids that were learning to use the foot
straps and harness in preparation for the river. It's unbelievable
how quick the newbies are learning! We made one final stop at the
Big Winds store to say “thanks” and goodbye to the staff. We say
goodbye to our tour guide Eddy (he ought to charge for these
trips!) and then we hit the road.

Josh's first Gorge trip was a total success! For sure we'll we
doing the same next summer. Josh's ultimate Gorge quiver???
NeilPryde Core 4.7 with JP Freestyle Wave 77. He never used
anything else! Here's looking forward to next year.

Todd Greaux

e conditions were solid 4.7 with good starboard
jumping, some backside wave riding, and flat water near the rocks
for freestyle. What more could you ask for??? Bryan from Side Off
Video was on location filming Josh who was cranking off one
ballistic trick after another. Eddy was going big again on the
outside and ripping the flat inside section with more and more
spinning freestyle maneuvers. You have never seen a magazine editor
rip like Eddy! Josh stayed out on the water longer than us (big
surprise!) and Eddy and I spent sometime with Team Advil watching
Josh. Finally, Josh fell in the water for the first time in three
days - maybe he was finally getting tired???? I know I was. We
packed up the gear after another 3 hour session, said our goodbyes
and headed over to the Hook to see the newbies and get people
psyched up on windsurfing.

Todd Greaux

Categories: Features

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