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Gorge Downwind Intensive

3- and 4-Day OC-1 Advanced Skills

This camp is for strong paddlers who already have downwind experience and have the fitness to do 2 on the water sessions a day, multiple days in a row.

July 9-12, 2025
3 day option available for those racing OC6 Sat July 12

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Improve your surfing skills

Repeat downwind runs with coaching is key to making you a better OC1 surfer.  Access to reliable downwind conditions is a challenge for a lot of OC1 paddlers.

This  3 or 4  day camp focuses on advancing your skill set with a coach by your side giving you specific instructions to improve in the moment.  

With two sessions a day over four days, we will dig in to your skill set to make you a faster and more confident downwind paddler. 

Who this intesnsive is for

This intensive is best suited for women who race OC1, strength train to support their paddling and are focused on OC1 training and racing.

This camp is not for paddlers who have never paddled downwind before, who are new to downwind paddling or who have not raced in open ocean or downwind conditions yet.

Typical skills that advanced workshop addresses are:

  • Linking waves together more consistently.
  • Adjusting tempo and power to match the conditions.
  • Maintaining speed instead of stalling.  
  • Getting off the ama, stopping leaning left and improving balance.
  • Turning left and right in any conditions.
  • Feeling fast, confident and stable in big water.

Practicing surfing skills with a coach by your side will help you improve your steering and wave selection, and gain more boat speed while having tons of fun!

Your knowledge of surfing will improve in these ways:

  • Understanding the most common surfing mistakes and how to over come them.
  • Practicing the five main downwind concepts and skills over and over again with a coach by your side. 
  • Identifying and fixing the mistakes you are making that are holding you back.

The benefits of doing a four-day immersion are that you will improving your understanding of what surfing is and isn’t, how to train to surf, how to read the water, and develop your ability to manage the conditions with a coach by your side 

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“The most valuable part was the surfing and guidance through the Hawaiʻi Kai run, especially on the OC2. The more I surfed, the more I saw, and the better I understood what to look for.” – JACKIE

“I’m not falling off the back of waves as much anymore. I’m also paddling WAY more on the right and feeling more solid by not leaning left. I am reading the water better and getting great glides the whole way!”– HEIDI

Are you technically ready for the OC1 Downwind Intensive?

  • Can you paddle two sessions of up to eighteen miles per day for two or three days? (This is a physical requirement for the workshop.)
  • Are you comfortable with huli-ing and able to recover from a huli in rough water and waves?
  • Have you done at least 5 downwind runs like Hawaii Kai or the Gorge ?
  • Can you accelerate your OC1 over 6 mph to catch waves?

If you answered yes to all of the questions above, then you are ready!

“My biggest takeaway is that you need to spend time focusing on the little things to get the big things. You provided me with the little things to work on (tempo drills, land exercises, and how to see the on-ramps while surfing).” – JULAINE

“Thank you again for an amazing experience! Totally exceeded my expectations. The clinic I did with you in Hawaii has helped me so much. I feel so much more confident. I hear your voice telling me to hunt for that next wave!” – BONNIE

You can expect to:

  • Tune-up your paddling technique.
  • Improve your paddling posture.
  • Solidify your brace stroke to improve your balance on waves.
  • Sit more centered in your OC1.
  • Improve your wave catching.
  • Fine tune your steering to stay on waves.
  • Improve your speed to catch waves.

If you have ever wonder what faster paddlers are doing that you aren’t doing, this camp will change that for you!  

Canoe and transportation:

  • You need your own OC1. 
  • We will use a canoe trailer which will help facilitate easier logistics for the downwind runs.
  • You will need to be able to transport your canoe.
  • You may need to help shuttle people and canoes.

Camp structure:

  • 4 days Wednesday to Saturday OR 3 days Wednesday to Friday (for those racing OC6) 
  • Start time and location will depend on conditions and learning objectives for the day. 
  • We will spend time between Skamania, Home Valley, Viento, Hood River and Bingen.
  • Downwind runs up to twice a day weather and ability permitting.
  • On double downwind days expect to paddle 12- 18 miles in a day.

Accommodation, cost and other details:

  • You will need to arrange your own accommodation. 
  • I will be camping at Viento, welcome to join me!
  • You’ll need to pack a lunch every day so we have more time for paddling and logistics.
  • Minimum required safety equipment is a PFD and spare paddle. 
  • 4-day camp cost: $1,200 per person / 3-day camp cost: $900 
  • You must provide your own OC1
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Don't have the required experience for a downwind intensive yet?

How to get ready:

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