The 2009 Gorge Guide

GarryW · Joined: 11 Mar 2001 Posts: 171

For those of you who may not have seen it yet windsurfing seems to have become an afterthought in the new Gorge Guide. This year there is a total of TWO pages dedicated to windsurfing and there is no longer a guide to windsurfing sights and no full length map of Gorge sailing sites. I encourage everyone to drop the Gorge Guide publishers an email and express your displeasure with this years issue. Granted there is only one windsurfing ad in the new Gorge Guide but why would windsurfing related businesses advertise with so little windsurfing coverage?

When I emailed them this was their response:

"Thank you so much for contacting the Gorge Guide. We value the comments of all of our readers as it helps us gauge the value of the editorial content we provide. The Gorge Guide did start as a windsurfing magazine almost 30 years ago and in the last 20 years has become the official visitor guide to the Columbia River Gorge. We aim to represent the diverse and varied interests of the six counties and 2 states that comprise the Gorge as best we can. We are sorry to have disappointed you and hope you will continue to be a faithful reader of the Gorge Guide. Again, we appreciate your comments and are glad you took the time to share them with us."

jesusjones · Joined: 17 May 2001 Posts: 229

Thanks to the internet we have everything we need know about the Gorge and windsurfing. Sure it’s nice to have a little guide to help navigate you around; so just print off the pages and staple them together? I can relate to as why there’s no windsurfing advertising, moneys better spent on promoting events, charities, gatherings and such you know? That Gorge Guide was never that good anyway. What happened to 3*5? Now that was a handy little guide.

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

jota · Joined: 28 Feb 2001 Posts: 205

Remember the Gorge Current in the late '80s? The publisher's name was Mike too. Talk about a grassroots publication. It was a free newsletter at area coffeshops, surf shops, and brewpubs. Or, I should say, the only brewpub - Full Sail! (Geez, do any locals go there anymore?)

cgoudie1 · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

It was the White Cap back then by the way, and I still get in there a
couple of times a year, though I guess I'm not technically a local.

-Craig

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

jesusjones · Joined: 17 May 2001 Posts: 229

I remember seeing you on the water Mike, testing all that gear. I know it was fun. I read that magazine a lot, you did an outstanding job. Thanks for all your contributions over the years. Without you, Windsurfing would be missing a major contributor to the sport. I know you have helped many people in your day and I’m sure there are plenty of people who appreciate you like I do. God bless you Sir!

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Careful, JJ, or people will think you're my sock puppet -- a la Brucie -- rather than just another wise, perceptive, good judge of character.

I should a also add that testing can be a good way to mess up a great hobby. The way we did it -- chasing all over Hellenbach in search of optimal test conditions -- involves way too much logistics, and writing up the tests ate into sailing time. And, oh yes, the worst part: trying to built a compatible rig out of four brands of equipment and get it to plug into a fifth brand of board with a fin that wouldn't fit into the fin box.

Mike \m/

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

westender · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 1288 Location: Portland / Gorge

Whatever became of Michael the war hero??