Wind in the Gorge!
If you live in the Central Gorge you already know, but the past couple days have been W I N D Y. This was the first day of the season that it really felt like full on summer in the corridor. Pros and summer sailors have been cruising into town with big wind and swells on the river. Check out these photos of some recent action at the Event Site sent to us by local photographer, Michael Peterson:
Waterfront Park Beach Clean Up
The first clean up of the season is upon us. 
Come on down to the Waterfront Park this Saturday, Earth Day, from 9am-noon and help keep this amazing Hood River park looking good!
CGWA Members Get US Windsurfing Discount
We just renewed our membership to US Windsurfing. All CGWA members now get a discount on personal US Windsurfing memberships. Check out the benefits of joining US Windsurfing here.
Ski to defeat ALS – April 13th
Come join CGWA and Gorge Windsurfing legend, Fred Nobel, on April 13th at Mt. Hood Meadows to raise money and awareness about ALS while having a great time on the hill! For more information go to skitodefeatals.org.
To learn more about Fred and his incredible journey, check out his website, here.
New Windsurfing Movie Coming Out. Looks Good!
DON’T LET GO -Trailer from DONT LET GO on Vimeo.
CGWA Board Member, Fiona Wylde, Crushing It!
Recent Times from Fiona Wylde on Vimeo.
CGWA at the Hood River Holiday Parade
Gorge Windsurfer Passes on Maui
Daniel Lee MershonDecember 14, 1951- November 6, 2012
Homer resident Dan Mershon died unexpectedly of a stroke while on vacation in Maui. He was 60 ys. old. Dan was born in Portland, OR the son of Alfred and Norma (Kent) Mershon. He attended all 12 yrs. at Corbett, OR area schools graduating in 1970. He was active in all sports, excelling in football.
Dan grew up commercial fishing on the Columbia River, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He married his high school sweetheart Christy and together they raised 2 sons, Joshua and Nathan. Dan followed the fish from Corbett, to Astoria, Oregon and on to Homer, Alaska where he lived and worked for over 30 yrs. He fished for salmon in Bristol Bay on the Gray Ghost, Cook Inlet on the Lady C, crab and halibut on the F/V Magnum and tendered the M/V M&M, a storied career.
Adventure was a big part of Dan’s life. He was a pilot and a sailor taking his family on sailing trips to Hawaii, American Samoa and Tonga. Dan loved the water and was either working or playing on it at any given time. Besides windsurfing his greatest passions were his grandkids and little dog Corky.
He is survived by his wife, Christy, son Joshua and his wife Mei, grandchildren Jonah, Micah, and Hannah, all of Homer, son Nathan and his wife Chandra ,White Salmon, WA, sister Karen Beyer (Mark) of Tillamook, OR, brother Phil Mershon (Sherol) of College Place, WA, brother Paul Mershon (Susan) Corbett, OR. and father-in-law John Schaffer (Judy) Sammamish, WA. He also leaves a large extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law as well as many good friends. We believe that being a man of faith he is in the Lord’s care but we miss him deeply.
Due to the number of family living in the Pacific Northwest a memorial will be held at the Corbett Community Church, in Corbett, OR on Saturday Nov. 24, 2012 at 1 pm with an informal get together to be held in Homer, Alaska at a later date. Cards and remembrances may be sent to the family c/o Mershon, 845 NW Kennedy Lane, White Salmon, WA 98672.
Board of Directors Election
It’s that time of year again. The CGWA is having its annual Board of Directors election. We are now accepting nominations through December 3rd. Feel free to nominate yourself, family, or friends who you think would represent the windsurfing community well. There are 8 seats up for election and board terms are 2 years. Bellow are some basic board expectations:
The Board as a group is legally and morally responsible for all the activities of the organization. The Board is responsible for determining policy, approving the annual budget, and determining the goals of the organization. Basic expectations of Board Members are that you will:
- Participate in the activities of the board and organization, including attending CGWA Board meeting and events;
- Be knowledgeable about CGWA and contribute your expertise;
- Be informed about CGWA’s organization and the environment in which we operate;
- Contribute your individual expertise and knowledge in the deliberations of the board;
- Help procure funds for the CGWA budget. This can come in many forms, from writing grants to participating in or organizing fundraising events, to contributing from your own pocket.
- Be an advocate of CGWA.
Please e-mail nominations to cgwa@ gorge.net with name and contact information.
THANKS!
Vote for the Gorge Windsurfing Awards
2012 Gorge Windsurfing Awards
The nominations are in and it is time to vote for the 2012 Gorge Windsurfing Awards. Check out who is nominated and fill out the brief voting section bellow.
The Awards will be announced at the CGWA’s end of the year party on Thursday, September 13th from 6pm-9pm at The Ruins at Springhouse Cellars. Food from Four and Twenty Blackbirds and beer and wine from Springhouse Cellars. Free admission.
Dale Cook “Big Air” Award
1. Whit Poor: I take photos in the gorge all the time and no one gets higher that Whit
2. Rob Warwick: Trudy Lary got a photo of a HUGE stalled forward Rob threw at the Hatch
3. ”Lex” Luther Oas: He jumps and loops with the greatest of ease!
4. Tim Requa: Tim has gone bigger than anyone else, longer than anyone else in The Gorge. Guys half his age can’t even touch him. From The Hatch to Doug’s to The Wall, you’ll see Tim getting huge port air with his patented aerial kick and down the wave landings!
Most Selfless Windsurfer
1. John and Sharon Chao: John and Sharon are the Event Site park hosts and are down there every single day of the summer. The pick up after everyone, answer questions, help coordinate events, and everything in between always with a smile on their faces. The Port of Hood River, as well as all of the event coordinators this season are lucky to have them there!
2. Temira Wagonfeld: Provides a wonderful service, getting up early and stoking the adrenaline fires. She also posts on iWindsurf with onsite reports.
Most Stoked Windsurfer
1. Fiona Wylde: She is the most stoked windsurfer I know. It doesn’t matter that she is a grom, she encourages and exudes “stoke” like no one else.
2. Jay Watermayer: When Jay is not teaching groms and family friends how to sail at the hook or practicing new freestyle tricks at the hatchery, he is sharing the gorge windsurfing stoke at the event site giving pointers and friendly advice on anything from gear/gybes to fun activities to do in the gorge.
3. Ryan Kolberg: Ryan is THE guy at NoLimitz and is always stoked on windsurfing. He loves heading to the Waddell and Pistol AWT stops as well as all the local Gorge events. Ryan will rig and re-rig all day long just to keep his session going. I have never heard Ryan say anything negative and he is a great ambassador for NoLimitz and the sport of windsurfing.
Grom of the Year
1. Fiona Wylde: Fiona continues to dominate windsurf competitions around the country. She has been killing it on the AWT. She was a staple in the Gorge Cup race series and she did extremely well at the US Windsurfing Nationals.
2. Ben Grodner: Ben is always stoked to go windsurfing or SUPing. He won the Junior class at the US Windsurfing Nationals, placing 16th overall. Not to mention he held his own in the Elite division of the Gorge Paddle Challenge.
Gorge Windsurfer of the Year
1. Tyson Poor: Tyson has been pushing the limits of windsurfing in the gorge. He has been known as a freestyle specialist, one of the best, but now he is also one of, if not the fastest slalom sailors in the Gorge, and the nation. He will sail where the wind is good and is always fun to watch.
2. Jay Watermayer: Jay’s Sailing abilities has improved tremendously this year, after he got 3rd place at the 2012 North American Slalom Mens Championship, 3rd at the 2012 US Nationals Formula Mens Championship, 5th place at the 2012 US Nationals Mens Slalom Championship, 7th at the 2012 US Nationals Mens Freestyle Championship, and is currently sitting around 15th in the mens amateurs division of the American Windsurfing Wave Tour; one of the only competitors in the US that competes in all aspects of windsurfing. If you are looking for a more stoked, more kind, more athletic, and stronger Gorge advocate then Jay, you simply will not find one.
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