Kite the Gorge
Kite the Gorge
5
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
22 reviews
Excellent
22
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Devin
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
If you want to learn kiteboarding, do it in Hood River and do it with Kite the Gorge! I could not have had a better experience with these guys. The location out on the Spit is the way to go for beginners. Super easy to walk down to the sandbar, free parking, and its sooo nice to be away from the crowds and distractions at the Event Site where the other schools are located. They use Slingshot Kites – a top notch local company that will be at the top of your list if/when you start buying your own gear. They use radio headsets for on the fly communication and jetskis for safety. Carlos, Brian, Marissa, and my instructor Kyle are all just straight up great people who are passionate about what they do. Kyle is a talented rider and a natural teacher. He tailored the lesson to my knowledge/ability/comfort level perfectly so I was able to progress faster than I ever thought possible. Didn’t want to set too high of expectations coming in, but I’d hoped to become a self-sufficient kiter by the end of my trip and have a good time through the process. Mission accomplished! Went out on my first solo ride yesterday and couldn’t be more psyched about this sport!
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan L
Clackamas, OR1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Couples
I am a board riding fanatic snow/wake/skate/surf and I slalom waterski. I always wanted to learn kiteboarding but I had heard it was dangerous and tough to learn. Thanks to Kite The Gorge I was able to gain confidence and proficiency in a matter of days. I booked multiple lessons on back to back days. I felt safe with professional instructors who explained every step of the process to me. They had radios built into the helmets and I got instant feedback and instruction as I flew the kite. Hunter and Kyle helped me in a kind and patient manner. They were rad dudes who have international Kiteboarding instructor certification and they make the experience super fun! After a few days I was riding upwind, and learned transitions both ways. I even made it across the river and back without crashing a few times. It was challenging, exhilarating, and educational. I booked another lesson in 2 weeks and I can’t wait go back!
Many thanks to Carlos, Spring, Kyle, Hunter and the entire Kite the Gorge team.
Many thanks to Carlos, Spring, Kyle, Hunter and the entire Kite the Gorge team.
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skier_doc
Salt Lake City, UT3 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
Carlos and Spring run a great kiting school. Instructors Danielle and David were patient and attentive and got me, a first timer, riding the kiteboard over the course of three days. A total blast!! Ample kind staff was there to help sort and maintain gear. Everyone wore masks and respected the COVID times. I will go back for more to put some more finesse into my new skill. Great job guys. Strongly recommend.
Written July 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reefbreaks
Chicago24 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
These guys rocks! The owners and instructors are really knowledgeable and friendly. Hunter was my instructor and was killer. Really positive and was able to break down exactly what I was doing and what I needed to be doing. I highly recommend and will be back myself to get better.
Written September 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isabella J
5 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
My friends and I had an awesome experience with Kite the Gorge! 8 of us took lessons with them mid-May. Our experience was great, right from when we started communicating our lessons by email to the lessons themselves. They were super informative and easy to deal with. The lessons were so fun! Everyone had a great time and now love the sport. We did the Bring a Friend lessons so 4 groups of 2. Pretty much everyone got up and riding on the first day and wanted to do a lesson the following day if there was wind. My lesson was with Carlos and John. They were both super fun, great at instructing kiting, and professional. Spring was amazing at managing our group and organizing our lessons, dealing with everything else basically. We would definitely come back! Thanks Spring and Carlos!
Written May 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cara G
2 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Learning to kite with Kite the Gorge this summer was, I have to say, one of the most fun and exhilarating experiences of my life.
I’ve always been a very timid person. When my husband and I decided to learn to kite last year, I was really just along for the ride. When we took our first lessons Memorial Day weekend, I left frustrated, scared (as I said, I’m a timid person) and ready to give up. But that was 100% on me. I had mentally prepared myself to fail.
Anyway, I didn’t. With the support of Carlos, Spring and Rhice I actually learned to kite - something I was beginning to think I couldn’t do. Rhice in particular was incredibly supportive and probably one of the best instructors I’ve ever had, for anything. Some people have a lot of knowledge, but completely lack the ability to teach. Rhice is not one of those people. She is incredibly knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. Her patience astounded me and I am so glad that Carlos and Spring paired me with her throughout.
But it wasn’t just them, either. All the instructors at the school are invested in every student’s success. For them, it seems, seeing every student learn to love the sport and become independent is a success. I don’t think I’ll every forget their cheers from the shore when I got my first real, controlled ride.
Now that I’m done with lessons, at least until I want help to work on something new, I can’t wait for my weekly trips to the Gorge and literally count down the days between them. This would not have happened had it not been for all the time Kite the Gorge invested in my learning, as well as their patience in helping me get over my lack of confidence and frustration.
Many thanks to everyone at Kite the Gorge! I’ll always remember this summer as one of the best ever and it wouldn’t have happened without them.
I’ve always been a very timid person. When my husband and I decided to learn to kite last year, I was really just along for the ride. When we took our first lessons Memorial Day weekend, I left frustrated, scared (as I said, I’m a timid person) and ready to give up. But that was 100% on me. I had mentally prepared myself to fail.
Anyway, I didn’t. With the support of Carlos, Spring and Rhice I actually learned to kite - something I was beginning to think I couldn’t do. Rhice in particular was incredibly supportive and probably one of the best instructors I’ve ever had, for anything. Some people have a lot of knowledge, but completely lack the ability to teach. Rhice is not one of those people. She is incredibly knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. Her patience astounded me and I am so glad that Carlos and Spring paired me with her throughout.
But it wasn’t just them, either. All the instructors at the school are invested in every student’s success. For them, it seems, seeing every student learn to love the sport and become independent is a success. I don’t think I’ll every forget their cheers from the shore when I got my first real, controlled ride.
Now that I’m done with lessons, at least until I want help to work on something new, I can’t wait for my weekly trips to the Gorge and literally count down the days between them. This would not have happened had it not been for all the time Kite the Gorge invested in my learning, as well as their patience in helping me get over my lack of confidence and frustration.
Many thanks to everyone at Kite the Gorge! I’ll always remember this summer as one of the best ever and it wouldn’t have happened without them.
Written August 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack S
Portland, OR8 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
In Summer 2017 I came to Hood River to kite the gorge. An intermediate kiter, I soon realized I needed a lesson on how to launch and land safely at the sandbar, in part because the sandbar gets jam packed with tourists, non-kiting local families, and dogs as well as other kiters. (Watch the CGKA's "Kite Hood River Safely" on YouTube for an introduction.) Carlos listened carefully to what I wanted, and then he and I went out to an empty part of the sandbar, and practiced launching and landing my kite, over and over again. We also practiced what to do when a launch goes awry. This single lesson made a huge difference during all of my eight subsequent kiting sessions at the event site.
If you are new to the gorge and want to make the most of your time here, I strongly recommend a lesson with Carlos at Kite the Gorge. Carlos and Spring are responsive to their students' needs and strive to create a safe and fun kiting experience.
If you are new to the gorge and want to make the most of your time here, I strongly recommend a lesson with Carlos at Kite the Gorge. Carlos and Spring are responsive to their students' needs and strive to create a safe and fun kiting experience.
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Windwing1
3 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Carlos and Spring are lifelong wind junkies here to get you on the water and get you hooked! Spring gets all your gear customized to fit you perfectly, setting you up for success and carefuly checks up on the dynamic wind forcasts to make sure you have the conditions you need. Carlos's teaching is clear, methodical and patient. He really is the kiteboarders fairy-god-father, watching and skillfully giving advice on his jet ski, there to save you if the struggle gets a little too real. I really can't recommend these guys enough.
Written June 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FamFunSpokane_WA
Spokane, WA17 contributions
Jul 2014
Have had two previous lessons, one in Hood River and the other in Maui. The lessons with Kite The George, and our instructor Hunter, were by far the best. Co-owner Carlos spent a good 20 minutes with me on the phone talking about skills and expectations. He was very clear what the lessons would involve and the cost. I highly recommend this school for your kiteboarding experience!
Written July 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave M
Los Angeles, CA9 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
Carlos and his instructors run a first class kiting school. High end Slingshot equipment, a focus on safety and self-reliance and a willingness to let you progress as fast as you can make this a great choice for new kiters.. Took my teen son and I for a 2 day lesson and the experience surpassed every expectation that we had. Nate and Jackson gave us our lessons. I highly recommend them.
Written June 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience