“THE RIVER” – [ Ewan Jaspan x Prolimit ]
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Discover the magic of the Columbia River Gorge through the eyes of Ewan Jaspan! The Gorge is a dream destination known for its breathtaking scenery and constant winds. From kiteboarding at the iconic Slider Project Kite Park to foiling on the river’s famous swell, Ewan shares his love for this world-class playground – watch this!
“The Columbia River Gorge has long been the place to be during the North Hemisphere’s summer months. The cool, wet coastline and the hot, dry desert create a pressure gradient unlike any other, providing constant winds funnelling against the river from April to October.
For many years, windsurfing was the go-to sport for river-goers, and then kiting became hot in the early 2000s, and the scene slowly changed. Kiting has always been tough due to the gusty winds and tough launches The Gorge provides, but where the Hood River flows into the Columbia lies a huge sandbank perfect for kiting and a great location for the Slider Project Kite Park. Recently, it has become a world-class destination for foiling, where tricky launches and gusty winds don’t matter, and hundreds of people surf the famous river swell.
The Slider Project originally brought me to Hood River. With its thriving scene and huge array of free features, it was the perfect place to hang out in the centre of the industry. Although the Slider Project is what brought me here, it is not what kept me coming back and eventually calling it home.
The River is what kept me coming back. The diversity of what it offers to the region keeps you entertained and always wanting more. You can kite, wing, sup, windsurf, pocket wing, paddle, or sail on the beautiful waters. In the surroundings, the hills and mountains provide world-class mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding/skiing, and paragliding.
The idea behind this video was to showcase the beauty of the waters of the river and show what I am up to during the summer months these days. With all the amazing sports we have these days, it really is just a case of choosing the best craft for the conditions. When the breeze is steady, the kite park comes alive; when it nukes, I find myself endlessly surfing the river swell from A to B, and when it’s marginal, you can explore the river by kitefoil, the fastest way around the river, and find yourself shredding the glassy waters and taking in the scenery.” – Ewan Jaspan
