Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2003-06-30 14:00:00 | 26 views | 0 Comments

Windfest Blows into Hood
River

With plenty of fun for
non-windsurfers

By

Steve Merge

Drive along Oak Street and you know immediately
windsurfing season has arrived. Cars loaded with boards and sails
vie for parking spots. Colorful rows of sale items crowd the
sidewalks outside downtown windsurfing shops.

To celebrate the return of the warm west summer
winds, the American Windsurfing Industry Association (AWIA), along
with the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association (CGWA) have put
together three days of activities, called Windfest, that anyone can
enjoy and take part in.

AWIA will be offering the chance to try all types
of brand new windsurfing gear from 10-4 Friday through Sunday, at
the Event Site. It only costs five dollars a day to demo as many
boards and sails, as you want. Free lessons will also be
offered.

Saturday night from 5:30 -10, CGWA will host its
9th annual Pray for Wind Party at the Best Western Hood River Inn.
You can dance to the Northwest's premiere Reggae band, Byron
Mercurius & Rhythm Culture. Silent and oral auctions, along
with numerous raffles offer something for everybody, including
vacation packages, plane, boat & train rides, recreation gear,
art objects, golf, and horseback riding. Dine from a full barbeque
menu for only $5 a plate. Tickets for the Pray for Wind Party can
be purchased in advance for $10 at Big Winds, Windance, and
Windwing, or for $12 at the door.

^{Sunday morning from 8-1 bargain hunt at
CGWA's all recreation gear swap meet held in the Hood River Expo
parking lot.}

^{For more information on Windfest Weekend
you'll find Gorge Windfest newsletters at most windsurfing shops or
go to www.cgwa.net.}