Gorge WindsurfingA CGWA-Centric History

THEN: The Gorge in 1980 Pre-CGWA

• Bart Vervloet sold windsurfing gear at Nordstrom• The few local windsurfers sailed in nearby lakes and inside the

Marina• Windsurfing was seen as an upcoming lake and ocean sport,

and the thought of River windsurfing was just silly.

Early 1980s, Continued(Still Pre-CGWA)

“Sailing on a river? How goofy is that?!”

- Bruce Peterson, Owner, Sailworks

“I remember being told about this windy place on the Columbia River. We thought it was probably a pretty stupid place to sail. Who would want to sail on a river with a current?”

- Gary Gorman, then rep for Gaastra, Bare Wetsuits and Windsure, among others

1984 Pro-AmThe Gorge gets on the Global Map

(Still Pre-CGWA)

• National media coverage• 220 competitors from a dozen countries

1986: Gorge national Scenic Act passed by Congress

Provides specific instructions for the protection and enhancement of the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources within the NSA; and promotes economic development within the Gorge's existing urban areas.

1987: CGWA Founded

“Windsurfing, or boardsailing as it is more properly called, is the fastest growing water recreation sport in the world.”

- Columbia River Gorge Sailboard Economics, 1987 Season, as prepared by The University of Oregon Community Planning Workshop

• Engaged• Vibrant• Energetic• Like to par-tay!

1987 Gorge Windsurfing Scene

“Rock n’ roll is addictive. Sex is addictive. But this is the most addictive.”

- Jeff “Coach” Hughes in 1987 flick A Hard Wind’s a Blowin’

Celilo, 1995 Doug’s Beach

Roosevelt, 2002 Rock Creek, 2001

Beach Improvements

~2000Viento

• Helped secure funding & volunteers for railroad crossing, parking area and a path to the water, as well as partially funding the vault toilet.

Installation of the “Noble Toilets,” respectfully named after founding CGWA board member Fred Noble

~ 2001Rock Creek

• Helped secure $500,000 in funding in partnership with the City of Mosier, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Windsurfing, Friends of the Gorge, and others.

Rowena• Helped secure river access, parking area, railroad crossing

Event Site

• Worked with Port to develop user friendly launch site

Beaches

• 18 beaches from Stevenson to Celilo, including Horsethief Lake & Koberg Beach

• Amenities extremely limited: parking, bathrooms, user friendly launches

• Few launch sites were very crowded

• 24 beaches from Rooster Rock to 3-Mile

• New developments at Blackberry Beach, and new energy at Bingen & Stevenson

• User-friendliness ranges, with the Event Site one of the most user-friendly in the nation (grass, flush toilets, proximity to vibrant town)

1987 2010

People

• 76% male, 24% female

• Age• Average age is 29• 2% of windsurfers are over 50 • Highest age bracket is 30-34

• Average household income is $36,560

• 48% are single, 1% retired, 10% have kids

• 78% male, 22% female

• Age- biggest age brackets are:

• 28% age 45-54• 21% age 18-24

• 55.3% earn over $100,000

• 27% employed as “Professionals” (lawyers, doctors, etc.), 16% owners/partners

1987 2010

Sport & Environment Trends• Beginners: wide boards and small, light sails make learning easier than ever

• Sport is established and recognized within the region, and beaches are not actively threatened on an ongoing basis. In fact, CGWA isn’t the only group advocating for beaches anymore- it’s a team effort!

• More opportunities to improve existing access sites; less so to create new access sites.

• Many Gorge windsurfers live in the Gorge, either in second homes or permanently, and have families.

How do we market ourselves now?

www.GorgeWindsurfing.org

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Now that we know people are engaged, what are we doing that they like?

Focus on Hood River – High Impact

Youth Engagement

Public Engagement

Community Engagement

The End