I’m setup to spend much of this season in the gorge and am looking for beta on the best launches and conditions for learning to ride swell. I’m an intermediate foiler at best, can jibe but no tacks, coming from inland lake foiling (winging). Been to the gorge a number of times but have only ridden at the Waterfront, 3-Mile, Maryhill, and Stevenson. Maryhill and 3-Mile got me into the best conditions while there…been to the Hatch, Rufus and Arlington on really nuking days and was pretty intimidated (and lacked a small enough wing to get on the water). Guidance appreciated…
I think that viento has a lot of nice variety and amazing scenery. Nice easy swells with plenty of room on river left. No crowds. I have a new appreciation for it after sessioning it a few times last summer. The hatch and waterfront are a fucking gong show in July.
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Are you paddling, parawinging, or winging?
Wing…just picked up a 2.5M to support getting into bigger conditions after being blown out on my 3M last year a couple times…
While I’m at it…I’m 65kg, on a 72L Omen Flux, riding Uni P170 and P140, with an 80cm Cedrus Surf mast.
From my experience as a non-local who has spent a decent amount of time in the Gorge - Viento and Rowena are good spots for smaller swell, as well as out towards the buoy from the Event Site (below the Hatch). Rowena doesn’t get very big or crowded but you need to stay out of the weeds and don’t get too far downwind where it gets big at Dougs. You already hit Maryhill which is another good one for what you are looking for. Even Rufus can be good on a small day when its more manageable and fewer people will be out there.
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For a bit of context, I’ve gone from wing → downwind sup foil → parawing, and had my biggest early breakthroughs in the Gorge.
The hatch is the best spot, but be aware it’s a bit of a zoo as a result of it. If you stay on the edges of it (i.e. upwind of the parking entrance, downwind of the windsurfer launch, or South of the middle of the river) you will be out of the way of the most crowded rotation which requires you to be competent and keep your head on a swivel.
There are other spots - but Viento and Stevenson do not have regular solid bumps … and you need real bumps when you are just getting started. If Rufus or Rowena are on, then all the better - Rufus is the best when it’s firing.
One last thought - you don’t need to paddle or parawing to learn to DW, but it’s incredibly rare to meet a winger-only who can glide indefinitely. Resist the urge to pull in on the rear handle!