I cannot recommend Carlos and Itzhak more highly than to say: I entrusted my children, 8 and 10,…read morewith them to learn how to wing surf. My children were tentative (and a little distracted at times) and they were so patient, kind, generous, and you can tell their heart and love for people and the sport(s) they offer. I have gone to lessons at three different places on the Gorge and Kite the Gorge is our forever lesson home. The offering, the professionalism, the quality and skill, the patience (I could write a paragraph about how patient Itzhak was to take my kids and work with each of them, drive the jet ski, control the kite, carry the foil...... oy vey!) Their location is tremendous and allows for lessons and an experience that feels intimate, less commercial, and attentive. We are so happy to have found Carlos and his team. Forever grateful for the core memories and that my children are getting to grow and learn in a safe, fun, encouraging environment that will transcend time and go with them in life. GO KITE THE GORGE WITH KITE THE GORGE!!

We just finished three days of instruction at Kite the Gorge. Yes!!!! I can finally get up and…read moreride in both directions!!! Thank you Carlos and Spring for making this an amazing and rewarding kiteboarding experience. Kyle was my instructor and he was amazing! I had a few lessons in San Diego and La Ventana, but my experience at Kite the Gorge was the best. I made really good progress with their program (love the two way radio system!!!) and was able to enjoy this world class kiteboarding location in a safe and efficient manner. Initially intimidated by the traffic and location, I quickly realized Kite the Gorge, with it's unique location and top notch instructors, was the best kiteboarding school for me. The equipment was new with the latest in design and safety features. They were very good about making sure we were on the correct size kites and boards for the wind conditions and took care in making sure we were proficient in using the safety features built into the kite system. I am already planning my next trip to do more lessons with Kite the Gorge. Such an amazing sport. The culture and people involved are absolutely wonderful.

Aaron & Erik were super stoked, knowledgeable and conscientious, and made sure we had the best gear…read moreincluding jetskis to learn foiling, the right size board, foil and wing, and instruction with headsets mounted on helmets. Day 2 culminated in maniacal laughter, as we finally got to put it all together and power up the wing, foil and even learn to head up wind...like the thrill of catching that first wave surfing!! We're addicted now. Thanks for a stellar time in Hood River! Sandy & Kurt

From the owner: We provide top-notch kiteboarding lessons from IKO certified instructors. We provide lessons for…read moreeveryone from first time beginners to advanced riders looking to take their kiteboarding to the next level. We also provide strapless surfboard and foil lessons.

Today I witnessed the owner and head instructor, Jim Bison, leave a student alone on the water…read moreduring a lesson to physically assault another kiter. This is unacceptable behavior from a "professional" who should be teaching"safety first". Look elsewhere for your kiteboarding instruction!

Kiteboarding is an amazing sport, but it takes the right instruction to save you frustration, time…read moreand pain! Jim and his team will carefully take the time to show you how to do it RIGHT, take you to the best places to learn on the river (and in Baja) and keep you safe in the process. You can waste your time and money with less knowledgable people (or god-forbid yourself), but it was worth my time and money to have Jim and New Wind. Jim is a master at this, and a great ambassador for the sport. He takes it personally how each of his students progresses and loves what he does. I am up and riding thanks to Jim and New Wind.

I took most of my lessons with Tanguy at Cascade and I have to say I owe it all to his style and…read moregeneral approach to teaching. He was able to point out everything I needed to do differently to finally get out on my own. He's an absolute asset to the Cascade team and I'd highly recommend booking him for your next lesson, you won't regret it. Thanks Tanguy

Two thumbs way up!…read more This was my second trip to the Gorge and have been extremely pleased with the experience with Cascade Kiteboarding both times. While this is probably a sport that shouldn't be taken up once eligible for social security that didn't stop the instructors. The instruction from Nadia, Mel and Mike was right on point. Each brought encouragement, helpful individualized kiting tips, and enthusiasm to the lesson. Now that they got me making water starts, I am looking forward to more lessons with Cascade Kiteboarding to continue to progress on the water. Tons of fun.

Windance is fantastic…read more Great selection of gear, great vibes, the staff is always high-stoke and helpful. Definitely feels like a pillar of the windsport community, and not just in the gorge. The consignment area of the shop is a great amenity, and theyve got a pretty good demo fleet of boards, foils, etc if you want to try something out. Theyve also got the best windsport hardware section with all the different bolts, nuts, doodads etc that i seem to misplace at an alarming cadence. My singular complaint is that whenever im in town my bank account seems to mysteriously drain down... its the weirdest thing

Walked in planning on spending $300-$400 on basic safety gear for a new sport and fully…read moreprepared/borderline keen to get upsold up to a full kit --so, literally thousands of dollars more than that. Walked out irritated enough to bother writing this review, having spent exactly $0. From the jump, front desk staff radiated general annoyance that I'd even walked into the place. A few basic questions about gear got me a series of one-or-two word answers and vague pointing. I get that we'd all rather be outside playing than working, but (1) basic civility is not difficult, and (2) the wind wasn't even that good that day?? Reading recent positive reviews, I have to assume this is just the kind of place that may have one approach to customer service for sporty-looking white guys and another approach for everybody else. I'm sure this doesn't apply to everyone who works here, but it's been a long time since I've had an experience this bad in a gear shop, and the owner might consider some level-setting with staff.

The go to spot for wind surfing, foiling, standup boarding, biking gear in Hood River OR!read more

Gear, clothes, water and wind toys to select from abound at Big Winds! The only thing more…read morememorable is the great service and attention from the team. We always feel like family whether we're together in the store or sharing the stoke on the river.

We attempted to schedule lessons with the company. We completed their "sign up"form and were very…read morespecific about the package, date, time window, experience and travel plans. All we needed was a confirmation of time and price. We did receive an email which was pleasant but in typical old school form it said "Hey - give me a call". It's time these businesses understand that when customers go to the effort to fill out your forms to schedule in a simple manner, they do not want a 3 step process or to play the voicemail back and forth game. I am rating this as we asked for a reply to their email to confirm scheduling.....nothing. If you make it hard, customers go elsewhere.

If you are a beginner, I'd recommend having lessons with the young boys instead of Bryan. I found…read morethem much more patient, friendly and they don't stick with every small detail that for a beginner just make things harder to get. At the end of the day, if this is your first time, you probably are just looking to have some fun and not to remember every name of a move and each detail. Plus, he overcomplicates on his explanation and has a bossy tone. Maybe that is good if you are an experienced guy and is looking to sharp your skills. Not sure. The young crowd do a great job with first-timers though. Happy that they saved the day. Get lessons with them.

Got loaded up with some great used wing foiling gear from the consignment section. Chris and Cruz…read morewere super knowledgeable and awesome people to speak with! Crazy friendly to anybody that walked in the door! Love the atmosphere, people and products!

Bought 2020 Rossignol skis here through the online shop but the skis were very unstable and had a…read moreton of chatter at higher speeds on flat terrain. Didn't get much support to resolve the issue. Even if you're not letting me return them after 1 use, I was hoping to not get ghosted contacting support on why the skis were underperforming.

Owen was a good teacher, patient while keeping a fair pace to ensure I learned enough from the…read morefirst lesson. I've been flying kites for over 30 years but kite surfing is a different animal, highly recommend lessons

I would highly recommend taking kiteboarding lesson from owner / school operator Owen . He has a…read morevast knowledge of the Gorge conditions and will tailor your lessons to the conditions and your skills .

High quality wetsuits in every imaginable size and style. Full, 5/4 full, 3/4 sleeves, full…read moresleeves, full leg, 3/4 leg, shorts - you get the point! Vests and jackets,, headgear, masks, gloves and other accessories too. Everything you need to windsurf, surf or swim in the very chilly PNW water. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable providing personalized service.

Finally found a quality 3/4 leg wetsuit. I got a kiteboard 3/3 short sleeve 3/4 leg wetsuit and it…read morefit perfectly. I've owned tried many suits and its usually very difficult for me to just walk in off the street and find something that fits perfectly. The store and staff were super friendly. They have a large selection of wetsuits available. Totally stoked!!!