Da Gorge July 29th through August 6th

[Josh Shirley]

My wife Bim, and son Kenny decided to come up with me this year which made the trip all that much better. We meet up with Mike Egan and girlfriend Lindsey, as well as Steve and his girlfriend.

I think we only had one day without wind other than that it was all classic small gorge gear. Many sessions at the event site, Rowena, the hook, and the hatch.
Kenny is getting better on the Start board, or at least bouncing around on the front.
Next year I will start him on a 1m.

After watching/listening to someone avoid peanuts in their Thai food order (due to an allergy,) I decided that I am really blessed. I was able to spend a week with my family and windsurf a lot. I am able to work and play and eat what I want. I really feel blessed/lucky to enjoy life like I do. I can't imagine not being physically able to do what I love. Life could be a lot worse. Windsurfing takes a lot of balance, talent, patience, strength, flexibility, etc. I understand not eating peanuts is a small thing but that reminds me that life is delicate and the tide can turn at any moment.
Then as the week came to a close I rediscovered my disability - I can't seem to be able to go on a windsurfing road trip without car trouble. Growing up my dad had cartripitis and I didn't think it was genetic but apparently it is. Dubock says I'm snake bit, but I know what it really is -cartripitis. I should have been back to work on Monday but I was trading in my future formula board for a new drive train.
If having cartripitis is my price for fun I will gladly take that over any other real disability. Windsurfing is a great privilege in life.

[Marty Lowe]

Windsurfing is a great privilege in life.

Now that's the way feel when you come home from a vacation.

Way to go......

I'm heading to the Gorge in the morning,,
And gonna do my best to come home with that same feeling.

-Marty