Event: Gorge Games Stand Up Paddle Race, July 18-20

New this year, the Gorge Games is including Standup Paddling. SUP racers will be grouped with the outrigger canoe paddlers. Though the focus is on outrigger, anyone that pays the entry fees can tag along and take advantage of the safety boats and other race infrastructure. Because this is the first year for this event, information isn't complete and things aren't planned to the inth degree. You can read more about the games on the Official Gorge Games website. And also on the Bend Outrigger site. Thanks to the Bend Outrigger site for the photo of the canoes. The Gorge is about 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Bend, Oregon.

When: July 18th, 19th and 20th
Where: Stevenson Fairgrounds on the waterfront in Stevenson, WA in The Gorge
Cost: $40 includes entry fee, paddle shirt, insurance and camping
Required: Life jackets and board leash

Standup Events at Stevenson Fairgrounds:

• Friday, July 18th, 1:00 p.m.: un-official downwind event. From Stevenson. . . . (we don't have more info, yet). Aprox 10 miles. Note: You MUST team with a partner for safety AND have a life jacket. There are No chase boats and the water is knarly.
  
• Saturday, July 19th (after completion of the team outrigger event is over. It begins at 11:00 a.m.): Standup paddle head-to-head, one-design race. Sponsors provide Laird boards and adjustable paddles so that all of the racers are on the same equipment. This is the first time for this race, so that's all we know.
• Sunday, July 20th, 9:00 a.m.: Up and downwind course race, 2.75 miles total.
  

We think this is going to be a super-fun thing to do this summer and urge everyone to come to the Gorge and join in this event. There were about 300 competitors last year. Let's get the standup group numbers up in this outstanding traditional outrigger event.

Note: photo of the Gorge at twilight is from the 3 Gorge net blog.