Kevin McHugh’s shuttle rig, loaded with foilboards and wearing the Big Winds logo. Photo: Dasher Films.

To Shuttle or Not to Shuttle?
Downwinding in the Gorge, Then and Now

By T.J. Gulizia

Shuttling has been part of Gorge culture since the birth of the downwinder.

Downwinding is hands down one of the best ways to enjoy your time on the water. It’s super scenic, you trade the crowded launch for wide-open water, and since the birth of the foil, it’s the surfiest feeling you can get on an inland river.

The Ride Up Is Half the Fun

Part of the fun factor is the social side. The upwind ride in the van, catching up with friends before the run, sharing stories between runs. For a lot of us, that’s as much a part of downwinding as the run itself.

The Hydronauts in wetsuits getting ready to pile into Tre's van for a Gorge downwind shuttle run

The Hydronauts getting ready to pile into Tre’s van for a shuttle run.

The Classic Gorge Runs

A few of the classic shuttle downwinders here in the Gorge:

Viento to Hood River

Viento to Hood River on Waterspeed: 8.78 miles, 11.25 mph average, 16.68 mph top speed.

Drano to the White Salmon River

Drano to the White Salmon River on Waterspeed: 8.03 miles, 11.75 mph average, 18.18 mph top speed.

Silos to Rufus

Silos to Rufus on Waterspeed: 6.92 miles, 9.71 mph average, 15.44 mph top speed.

Mark Ribkoff downwind SUP foiling the Silos to Rufus run on a Duotone Downwinder D/LAB. Photo: Bob Stawicki

Mark Ribkoff on the Silos to Rufus stretch. Photo: Bob Stawicki.

Blalock Canyon to Arlington

Blalock Canyon to Arlington on Waterspeed: 9.37 miles, 12.61 mph average, 17.11 mph top speed.

Winter shuttles:

Home Valley to Stevenson

In the winter the wind switches easterly, and we get after the Home Valley to Stevenson run a bunch. The beauty of a winter shuttle run is the warm car ride up, and never having to face the wind with upwind tacks.

Home Valley to Stevenson on Waterspeed: 5.66 miles, 11.24 mph average, 16.07 mph top speed.

The Shift: Park and Play

The past couple of seasons, we’ve seen a major shift in the Gorge downwind scene. The parawing made upwind travel easy, and it gives you a hands-free, small-board, ultra-surfy ride on the way back down.

Two riders parawinging on Duotone Stash parawings in the Gorge. Photo: Bob Stawicki

Parawing park and play in the Gorge. Photo: Bob Stawicki.

Tom Woodward surfing a KT Super K Pro Carbon 50L foil board downwind, hands free, in the Columbia River Gorge. Photo: Bob Stawicki

Tom Woodward surfing his KT Super K Pro Carbon 50L downwind, hands free. Photo: Bob Stawicki.

The only other tool remotely close is the eFoil and the foil assist options out there. Both let a rider park and play: buzz upwind, ride swell downwind, rinse and repeat.

Park and play is easy on the rider who isn’t interested in sticking to someone else’s schedule, who wants to save on gas money, and who’d rather spend more time on the water than in the Sprinter van.

T.J. Gulizia foiling a LiftX eFoil on a double-battery park and play session at the Hatchery, Columbia River Gorge. Drone: Dan Gavere

T.J. getting an early start on the LiftX with a double-battery park and play session at the Hatchery. Drone: Dan Gavere.

LiftX eFoil park and play laps at the Hatchery on Waterspeed: 19.71 miles, 11.73 mph average, 16.48 mph top speed

That park and play session on Waterspeed: 19.71 miles, 11.73 mph average, 16.48 mph top speed.

Shuttle vs. Park and Play

	Shuttle Downwinder	Park and Play
The ride	Long point-to-point runs, all downwind	Laps: work upwind, ride swell back down
Getting upwind	Warm van ride, no upwind tacks	Parawing, eFoil or foil assist
Social	Catching up in the van, stories between runs	Meet up on the water
Schedule	Set by the crew and the driver	Yours. Show up and go
Cost	Gas money and van time	More time on the water
Gear	Downwind SUP foil board and paddle, or parawing + small board	Parawing + small board, or eFoil / assist