Mitch Gingrich

Mitch GingrichMitch Gingrich, USA 007

Current Hometown: Encinitas, but The Dalles will always be my hometown

“I love the Gorge because it’s like a skate park.  Everywhere you look there’s something to do.  It’s almost always windy in the summer.  The scenery beats anywhere on earth.  The culture’s incredible.  People are having fun any way you look.  And, it’s home.”

What are you up to these days? I work as a Blimp Folder now and am married.

How do you see the sport of windsurfing evolving in the next 10 years? It’ll still be a very fun fringe sport that most people don’t know about or understand.  The gear will be better.  Hopefully, we’ll get another technology/material revolution and the entire rig will weigh less than one pound and never break.  Plus, we should be able to control the weather by then, so it’ll always be 3.0 with giant ramps.

Who are your heroes? Windsurfing-wise: Cor Harrison, Marky Mark, Sean Aiken, Chris Wyman, Corky and Jeff, Jan Boersma, Dave Kalama, Rush Randle, the Angulo brothers and a few others.

Tell us about a windsurf-related accomplishment that you’re proud of: On my 27th birthday, I landed 100/123 back loops in one day.  I’ve won some contests, been in videos and magazines, but this was by far my favorite achievement.

Do you have a Gorge memory you want to share? This section would take years to fill.  I have so many.  It’s better than others concentrate on their memories and let me have mine.

Have you participated in any CGWA programs or events? Long, long ago I ran the kids windsurfing program that was a partnership between the Parks & Recs departments of HR and The Dalles and the CGWA.  I used to go to a clean up here and there.

Sponsors: Sort of Nolimitz, Hotsails Maui, Dakine