Columbia River Gorge

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

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. 

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.

This camp 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. 

If you are not ready for an advanced workshop yet, we have other options for you! Take a half day workshop at the Gorge Downwind Champs or sign up for Precision Paddling to level up your technique. 

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.

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 

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!  

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.

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.

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

I use an application process to make sure this camp is right for you!

If you are not sure if this camp is for you (either it sounds too intense or too easy) please follow the link at the bottom of the page to get in touch with me and we can determine together if this is the right fit for you.   

This camp is intended for intermediate-moving-towards-advanced OC1  downwind paddlers, not for paddlers who don’t already have downwind experience.  

If you are new to downwind paddling I look forward to helping you learn and encourage you to check out the downwind primer, precision paddling, and read this article about training to surf.