Spot Guide › United States › Oregon / Washington › Viento → Hood River waterfront downwind route
Oregon / Washington, United States · 45.7065, -121.5909
Best wind
Strong Gorge wind; one local says the Viento meter reads high and needs roughly 27 average before rideable waves form
Season
July discussion; current can weaken later in July and require stronger wind
Water
Standard Viento-to-Hood River river-wind-swell course; avoids the roughly three-mile weak zone immediately upstream of Viento on the longer Home Valley line
Experience
Advanced Gorge downwinder able to restart in weak sections and navigate shore transitions
Hazards
Strong river current, shuttle dependence, variable bump quality and concentrated traffic near Hood River. Starting farther upstream at Home Valley adds a reported three-mile weak section where pumping may be required.
Parking & access
Arrange legal Viento start access, Hood River waterfront landing and a two-point shuttle, or use a suitable upwind/downwind parawing plan. The forum does not guarantee endpoint parking capacity.
“Progression Project forum visitors and locals break the Viento-to-Hood River run into materially different sections: very small bumps early, stronger water from Drano toward Tunnel 5, the cleanest larger section through the Hatchery, then fading energy toward the Hood River waterfront. The route midpoint is schematic. Progression Project forum Gorge discussion treats Viento-to-Hood River as the standard SUP-foil downwind alternative to the longer Home Valley course. A rider warns that the Home Valley line contains about a three-mile weak zone between the Narrows and Viento, which the shorter Viento start avoids.”
— via Progression Project forum — public topic and post research, last verified 2026-08-02
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