Little Wind? No Problem! We've got the tips & gear you need to get the right stuff for light to medium wind conditions.
Central Oregon is edged with a string of beautiful lakes in the
Cascade Mountain Range. Century Drive, also known as Cascade
Lakes Highway, is a 100 mile highway through the mountains.
It's a loop of road beaded with gorgeous lakes, each with it's
own personality. Some lakes are small, some are large. Some
allow speed boats, some don't. Only a 40 minute drive
from downtown Bend, Elk Lake is our favorite for a quick
evening windsurf or paddle. We have a very loose-knit
windsurfing/paddle club. Here's a little history:
The Elk Lake Yacht Club (ELYC) is a consolidation of sailing
interests in the high lakes area around Bend, Oregon. The club
dates back to the 1930’s and has seen various levels of
organization, including US Sailing sanction and a national
Geary 18 championships. The club is currently dormant except
for the windsurfers. The Windsurfing Fleet used to be called
Central Oregon Sailboarders and for many years in the early
1980's hosted the Oregon Windsurfing Championships. The
Gorge has drawn away many of the fleets’
participants. However, a strong group remains that enjoys
the challenge of course racing in gusty, shifty, mountain
winds. The beauty of our surroundings, friends, family,
and our common interest in improving our windsurfing skills
keep our group active and alive. Our events include Thursday evening practice
racing (June-September), a series of three ELYC Sunday races.
The racing is great training for a US Windsurfing national
series regatta in Hood River--The Gorge Cup. All types of
windsurfers are welcome. Our official one-design class is the
Mistral Prodigy. In 2005 four members of our club competed in
the US Windsurfing Nationals in Prodigy class. Our own Michael
Heidenreich won the prized gold medal! See info at www.prodigyonedesign.org.
Where to get NEW windsurfing gear
Randall sells gear that's perfect for light to medium wind
conditions on the lakes. Shifty, gusty winds demand sails that
stand up to the changing conditions and boards that are
versatile.
Where to get USED windsurfing gear
Randall's been selling windsurfing equipment since the early
1980's. He had the first windsurfing school in the state of
Oregon and a store to supply the gear. When equipment got
sophisticated enough to handle the high winds, the epicenter of
windsurfing shifted to The Gorge and the sport changed. Low
wind gear was mostly beginner stuff with the exception of
racing boards and rigs.
A lot of people know that Randall's the guy to see for gear,
so they often ask him to sell their used boards and rigs. Give
Randall a call and find out what he's got.
