Downwind Paddlers. Here is your guide to the Gorge Downwind Champs.   Unless otherwise specified, all events take place at the Downwind Village in Water front Park, Hood River. See Site Map below.

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Important

• Number assignment will be the day before the race at the downwind Village (Waterfront Park) – (4:00pm to 7:00pm)

  • DO NOT Crumple your race Numbers. They have RFID chips that could be destroyed

• Sign up for Live Finish results here (unofficial times subject to change)

• Water Finish – The finish is between 2 Chip Reading platforms (see event diagram)

  • You will get 2 race numbers/w chips inside them as well as a chip on a strap

  • Wear one Race number on front Jacket/Jersey

  • Wear one Race number on Back Jacket/Jersey

  • RFID chip to be worn on the LEFT side of your Life jacket shoulder strap or on LEFT side of inflatable e belt

    • Do not wear RFID Chip on Ankle as you boat may block signal

    • Wrist is OK if you prefer

• Live Music 3 nights. <TBD> (6:30pm to 7:45pm)

• Lilo’s Hawaiian Dinner Wednesday (5:00pm to 7:45pm)

 

Safety

• If you bail out of race, YOU MUST LET US KNOW  Number on Safety card that you need to wear on your PFD.

• Race Jerseys are Mandatory for safety race day. Bright Color jerseys are strongly recommended at all times

• During the week (non race day), you must always buddy up when paddling. Never paddle without a dedicated partner. You are responsible for never loosing site of your partner.

• If you get in trouble on a Viento run. Get out of middle of river and head to Washington side and hug the shore. 

• You must wear a PFD

• You Must wear a leg leash

  • Separation from you boat can happen in fractions of a second.

• It is strongly encouraged to carry a Phone and or VHF radio. You will be provided with safety number to call

• Watch out for fishing nets along shore of river.

• Barges always have the right of way. Keep an eye out for them and go to the far opposite side of the river

• Maritime law gives right away to vessels under sail. Please stop for or navigate around Kites and Windsurfers

• Always help out people in need

• You cannot put on the water if you cannot remount in large conditions every time. This is as unsafe as jumping out of an airplane not sure if you can pull the rip cord on your parachute every time.

 

Daily Schedule / Guide / FAQ

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Monday - Tuesday

11:00am to 3:00pm – Registration opens. (See Event Site Diagram)

• You cannot put your boat in storage or ride shuttles till you have registered

• Boat storage will not be available till 11am (scaffolding construction starts 5am…)

• Remember – You must have pre signed up for storage. Cannot be added at registration

• You will get your Jersey, but not your number at registration. Wear your Jerseys are Mandatory on race day. (Race Numbers given out day before race during race check in)

 

11:00am to 4:00pm – Shuttle Buses

• We have 7 trailers in rotation. Dropped off at Viento State Park

• You will pick a number to get in the queue – See Diagram

• You are responsible for final check on your boat before it leaves the lot.

• Remember. There are MANY other good locations to downwind in the Gorge. Out east. Stevenson. More. Make friends and set these up too. You will not regret it.

 

3:30pm to 7:45pm – Full Sail Beer Garden

• Tickets can be purchased at registration, or at the Beer Garden

  • 10 for $20,

  • 3 for $10

  • 1 for $5

• You must be 21 to enter. Sorry, no minors in the fenced off beer garden.

• Beer cannot be removed from the Beer Garden. A violation like this could shut down the event.

• You will not be served if you appear intoxicated.

 

Wednesday (if RACE is on THURSDAY)

11:00am to 2:00pm – Event Registration (different than number pickup tonight). (Same as above)

11:00am to 4:00pm – Shuttle Buses - (Same as above)

11:00am to 4:00pm – Boat demos with Vendors

• If you would like to demo a boat. Please set this up directly with vendors.  All demos are directly thru the vendors. Speak with them early in the week to see how they will be handling it.

3:30pm to 7:45pm – Full Sail Beer Garden – (Same as above)

4:00pm to 7:00pm – Mandatory race Check in – Number Assignment

• You must show up to receive your Number - No race morning pickup

  • DO NOT Crumple your race Numbers. They have RFID chips that could be destroyed – This will be bad luck.

    • You will get 2 race numbers/w chips inside them as well as a chip on a strap

    • Wear one Race number on front Jacket/Jersey

    • Wear one Race number on Back Jacket/Jersey

    • RFID chip to be worn on the LEFT side of your Life jacket shoulder strap or on LEFT side of inflatable e belt

      • Do not wear RFID Chip on Ankle as your boat may block signal

      • Wrist is OK if you prefer

• We will validate your craft again. This is your last opportunity to make corrections or change. No change Race Morning.

4:00pm to 7:30pm – Hero’s Dinner, In loving memory of Judy Jensen – Lilo’s Hawaiian Dinner (BLUE MEAL TICKET)

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YOU MUST BRING YOUR BLUE MEAL TICKET – . It is as good as cash. We cannot serve you if you do not have your BLUE meal ticket.

 

5:30pm to 6:00pm – Special Recognition, Hawaii, Locals, 5 Year, CGW2A

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Thursday (RACE DAY)

8:30am – Pre Paid only Shuttle to Race Start. Meet at 8:30am Sharp at boat storage area to load your boat. Trailers will leave at 9:00am with or without you. (Note: You had to have pre signed up for and paid for this during registration, No open slots left)

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!! Please carpool to race start. Parking is limited. We cannot stress enough how important this is !!

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9:00am to 10:45am – Home Valley Park – Boat Prep, Final check in to get count of paddler on the water

11:00am – Home Valley Park – Mandatory Safety Talk.

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Home Valley Park – Race Start.

We will go over final start instructions during Safety Talk. There will be 4 heats in the following order 

• All SUP ( Start from Beach, Not on the water)

• All Female OC and SKI + all OC2 and SK2

• All Male Surfski

• All Male OC

• If conditions are not too crazy, Everybody (except SUPS) will get on the water at once and stage in the lagoon to the West. Heats will come out from the Lagoon in order of their heat start. Start boat will be marked with a White Flag.   Yellow FLAG 5 min Warning.  Red FLAG 1 min Warning. Start is when RED flag is dropped + Horn.

2:00pm to 6:30pm – Post Race Pizza

2:30pm to 4:30pm – Buses will take people not boats back to start to grab their cars.

5:30pm to 6:30pm – Awards ceremony 

2:30pm to 7:45pm – Beer Garden – (Same as above)

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Friday 

11:00am to 4:00pm – Shuttle Buses - (Same as above)

3:30pm to 7:45pm – Full Sail Beer Garden – (Same as above)

Live Music Friday  Kate Gaffney Solo (6:00pm)

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Saturday 

11:00am to 4:00pm – Shuttle Buses - (Same as above)

3:30pm to 7:45pm – Full Sail Beer Garden – (Same as above)

7:45pm – Boats must be off storage racks by 8:30pm. Any boat left on the racks after this may be removed by the scaffolding team and left on in the park.

 

 

And Remember, Downwind Paddling without the ability to remount your craft every time in big water is the same as sky diving without knowing how to pull the rip cord.

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Race Day BAIL OUT option