Downwind Foiling Hood River, Great Conditions, Ride Guide

[@mikeinhoodriver]

Glad you liked our town! Been here 45 years and still can’t get enough. 🤙🏼😎🏄‍♀️

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

I can understand that. Beautiful spot your in.!

[@ieism1]

My first introduction to sports was a VHS tape about Hood river about 35 years ago. I still remember watching that dozens of times. I was sick at home for 6 months, and after buying my first windsurf sail would sneak into the garden when my parents were gone and rig the sail and pretend I was surfing. This exhausted me to the point that I could not walk inside anymore, but my perents never found out. When I got a little better I started mounting the sail to a skateboard, and a year later I was on the water for real. At 48 years old now, I'm no longer windsurfing but foiling and kitefoiling are even better.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Haaa Love it! Thanks for sharing. 35 years ago wow. Incredible to see people more “matured” and still frothing like a kid on candy store. Started playing in the water, in my youth. My love and passion for the water only grows.

[@kippywylie]

​@@michaelpisarczyk6465 74 years old living 3 hours north of the Gorge. 1991 I was completely shocked when I first observed higher wind windsurfing.... grabbed the keys and raced to a shop and got my start. Since then it's been an almost constant with weekly runs south to Hood River, Arlington, and all the spots on the entire 70 miles of river. Now I'm finally starting to Wing after 10 years of kite foiling and the juice has me completely stoked again.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Beautiful sir! I hope one day I can share a similar story. I have so much respect for you and the “OG’s” still killing it. I think there’s something about the water and these sports, once you get a taste it grabs a hold. Keeps you in shape and always searching for that next high. I believe so good for mind and body. Have a good one 🤙

[@rickdevine4150]

I know the video I had it as well . Made it there in 1990”s. Been surfing ever since

[@shreddagorge]

Rod Parmenter made those early windsurf videos, and he is killing it as a downwind foiler here now.

[@66crayfish]

That was really really excellent. Thanks for taking the time to add some info about the location. We hear about these places & see footage of runs or sessions however by showing a wider context you made me really want to visit there.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks!!! Hood River is awesome!! Don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

[@AkSeapilot]

I don't get to go to gorge anymore until i retire due to work commitments in the summer.. this brings back some memories.. such an amazing place

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@hirthproductions988]

Great job filming and explaining the Gorge DW scene. It's been a long time since I've been there for windsurfing in the 1990s and later kiting in the in the early 20s. After watching this video, I would love to go back and DW it.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks. Great crew of people sending it. Lots of fun, talking while waiting and shuttling. Gives your body a break and great to slow down and actually talk. Generally I’m one of those guys who doesn’t sit around much after sessions. Nice change

[@shreddagorge]

You lucked out. It sucks there! Folks you'll be disappointed if you come... 😉

[@RhettBonner]

Great video! You were riding with my buddy - Bob! Great drone footage! Glad you had a great trip!

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Yes it was a pleasure to ride and get to know Bob a little bit. Small world

[@GregLantz-p3m]

epic trip! looks so fun.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks! Was awesome

[@Thatspec1]

The Hatchery is an EXPERTS ONLY site, it is no place to learn ANY sport on a busy summer day. Great that you had a good time here, you're clearly an advanced SUP foiler and just briefly passing through the "heart" of the Hatchery. This is no place for beginners though, many better spots for learning🤙

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Ya ur right. Any person going to the Hatchery would be an experienced waterman or woman. Downwind foiling requires advanced foiling skills, a pre-requisite before attempting to DW. When ready to start learning to DW foil, I still think would be a good spot. That being said respect the locals be kind and watch out. Use common sense. During my brief visit saw many beginner DW sup foilers. Doing mini laps and learning. I’m sure they all were good foilers and water people. 🤙

[@kiter9271]

17:55 Nice compilation. BTW : The FarcEast Gorge Wallula Gap ala Port Kelly will blow your mind if you ever get to see it when its firing...swells are tilted football fields genuine breaking coast like unbelievable for inland. I wrote a few stories about windsurfing Port K in the '90s for a local mag.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Wow sounds amazing. I’ll be back one day forsure!

[@Fjordjumper]

Did you have a partner or friend flying the drone as you rode the river? Kudos, however you pulled it off. You guys killed it regarding recording logistics

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Hey thanks!! So I just met the filmer/drone pilot, Rob the day before just through riding. We both did a couple runs that day and wanted to do a couple more short ones. I asked Rob if he wanted some drone footage of himself. He said for sure.! Then returned the favor and got some clips of myself. No planning what so ever. Just came together haaa. A lot of good people out there!!

[@kippywylie]

"Getting over a cold".... Sometimes this is River Nose which is the legacy often from the pollen floating on the surface getting rammed up into your sinuses in crashes

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

No shit!!! When I got home I could feel my sinuses. I actually was flushing my nose with salt water and breathing eucalyptus steam. All good now. Thanks for the info.

[@ironphil62]

👍🍺

[@JostKlopfstein]

Nice video. What drone are you using?

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Dji mini 4 pro I really like it

[@JostKlopfstein]

@@michaelpisarczyk6465 I have a Dji mini 2 and I'm scared to fly it in stronger winds on the Columbia River Gorge, but it looks like you got yours back at different spots on windy days. The Gorge sometimes has 40+ knots of wind..

[@Fjordjumper]

As a Great Lakes waterman you are an inspiration, man. Thanks for sharing. Question: when conditions are great do you prefer downwinding to winging?

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks!!! I prefer downwinding. It’s the pinnacle for me. Freedom of not having to manage a wing and solely play with the water is amazing. Fall or make a bad decision you pay the price with a laborious paddle up. Can be bit of a chess game at times. The connection to the water and being able to read waves is like nothing else.

[@SneakySteevy]

What happen when you fall?

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Paddle back up onto the foil!

[@walterbunso3675]

I'm heading up to the UP for the summer. Are the conditions good for winging on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior over the summer. Like over 11 ? knots

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

It’s all frontal. High and lows. But if you’re there for the summer. You’ll definitely score somedays! Had a good one today

[@freddy82]

Which lift foils were you riding for the downwind?

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

150HAX and 130HAX. 130 was amazing when it was big

[@freddy82]

Awesome 👏

[@Hydrosurf_]

I bet the Gorge is a lot warmer

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Very similar actually. Water temp was pretty much exact same. Actually lower latitude then Hood

[@hhhancock167]

Great video. Which drone do you have or recommend?

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

DJI mini 4 pro. It’s awesome, was little worried how it would do in high wind but handled it well

[@benclark4865]

Great video thanks! I'm doing my first trip this summer too. What foils do you recommend? I ride Lift and am probably a similar weight and skill level to you. I was going to bring the 150 and 120, but since the 130 and 110 just came out, now I'm considering them instead. What did you ride and what do you recommend? Thanks!

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks!! Was on the 150 HAX probably 75 percent of the time. Then got to demo the 130. 130 was sooo good! Top end excellent and awesome low end and glide was what really impressed me. That 130 will be my go to for big days.

[@kylemaligro]

Heck yeah! Good vid of the hood and east! Love this place and can’t wait to be there in a few weeks. Yeeeeew!!

[@Drnardinov]

Hood river sucks cuz moss grows 9 months outta the year and it's drizmal. Housing is ridiculously expensive and the cops will pull u over for any infraction.

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Really !? Seemed pretty rad

[@Piros181]

Fantastic video thanks so much

[@tommy85]

Great video! I'm a decent winger and wanting to get into downwinding. What length mast are you using? What size foil? Looks super fun!

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks! I use short mast downwinding. Lift 28” M2. (72cm) Sometimes 32 but getting the small one dailed. Daily driver would be the 150 HAX. I demoed the 130 HAX on the bigger days. Was amazing. 130 I’ll use when it’s firing at home. Highly recommend DW!!!

[@russellzauner]

Grab a dry bag and get camping :-) There is a lot of water in the state and having to walk around it sucks lol

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

?

[@patrickrebstock200]

Looks like you had a great trip, best part is the realization how you have epic conditions at home to foil on the Great Lakes too!

[@michaelpisarczyk6465]

Thanks Patrick.! Ya when the Great Lakes are on its world class. Blessed. And now have the toys to unlock all its potential!