DW shuttle

honda1 · Since 11 Sep 2013 183 Posts Stoked

Does anyone know if there is a downwinder shuttle service in Hood River? I was hoping there might be one to Viento.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

So back in the day when I started kiting the coast (2005) there was this guy from somewhere in BC. He would rent a house in Manzo for like a month in July, have a truck and a covered trailer in which he stored his Harley.

Religiously he would be out on the beach around noon to survey the wind. Once he was comfortable with what he saw out on the water he would rig pump up his kite, attach the lines and then wind them up, place his surfboard onto of his kite and as well as a healthy amount of sand. Then he would go to his truck and change into his wetsuit. Finally, he would head down to the day-use park 2 miles downwind/the beach and park his trailer and truck. Then he would pull out his Harley and ride back to the launch area/his kite and wait for the right moment. Often times the wind was already blowing enough for his setup/sized kite.

Then he would kite for as long as he wanted to. Sometimes he would do multiple dw'ers, but he would often just stick around the launch area and kite a good break (within a 1/2 mile or so of his bike; the Billy Joel has of glass/ white house with the blue metal roof sand bar break) and come back in for a rest and retrieve water and food from his bike packs and chill/rest.

A different type of effort expended to attain the same goal (a downwind session).

This method rather than coordinating a Dw'er with other riders has its pro's and con's.

I have also seen riders use a much smaller motorbike (small dirt bike) where they rack the bike onto a rack on the back trailer hitch. Same with ebikes. . .

My preference is coordinating a dw'er with my usual pack of kiter friends. Gather at the takeout, discuss a plan and ascertain wind etc etc and a few what ifs, put on wetsuit and gear and suncreen, and take usually two kites up to the launch area. Make the call at the launch.

Leave cooler full of truck driver cold waters and beers, snacks at the takeout car/cars.

Rinse and repeat.

And yes, a dedicated driver and vehicle (someone's truck, van, or the Promotion Van) is awesome when they are doing laps like at the south jetty at the Columbia mouth down 3.5 miles to the shipwreck.

Cheers to a great season and countless dw'ers!

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 798 Posts Opinionated

Maybe these guys

https://hoodriverpedicab.com/

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

No shuttles this time of year.
The spring runoff causes the current to be too much and the spring winds are very fickle.
The Viento downwinder is typically done June-August.
Big Winds has run a shuttle the past few years.
Just know that 20% of Viento kite downwinders end in a dripping wetsuit hitching a ride on the highway.

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

Somebody needs to invent a chairlift or a tow rope or something Very Happy

On a more serious note, I was at rufus a few weeks ago and rode down to the grain silos. I enjoyed a session in the swell with a paddle foiler, just us two in the swell. It was pretty fun... I decided to ride up to the wall to see if the swell was any better up there. That same darned paddle foiler was already up there doing another down winder.

I had just worked my ass off riding up wind for a 1/2 hour while he sat in his comfy truck riding back up to the wall. He probably even had a couple of beers on the way.

Needless to say... I was a bit jealous!

mikeinhoodriver · Since 23 Apr 2009 424 Posts down wind somewhere Obsessed

How might one be prepared for shuttling? I have a Tundra with a 6' bed/canopy with racks on top and an 8' utility trailer. I might consider helping out, but want to be adequately prepared as I dont do DW's.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Sella · Wed May 17, 23 10:35 am

mikeinhoodriver · Since 23 Apr 2009 424 Posts down wind somewhere Obsessed