Historic Hood River
Hi-Wind Classic
12-29-2016
Notes
John Hardham has graciously offered to share some of his photos with us. Here’s local board shaper Bob Dill showing off one of his boards at the Hood River Marina beach during the 1984 Hi-Wind Classic. Ah, those were colorful times!
L.E.
On a windy day, they are still colorful times. Just a different form of color with kites dancing across the river.
We were invaded by color, craziness, energy, congested streets, congested Highway 14 and money.
Life for the long time locals changed. Some of us grumbled, some of us joined the color, some of us observed with a raised eyebrow, some of us sold property, some us watched our taxes go up, some of us built new businesses and some of us said, "I don’t shop in Hood River during the summer. Especially if the wind isn’t blowing!"
Nothing stays the same and this is a part of recent local history that we all view differently.
Steffen
"¦Bob, a most talented woodworker and cabinet maker has now turned those skills into making fantastic guitars, right here in Hood River…
Buzz
Boy, if 1984 is history, I’m feeling really old.
Arthur
This morning is history.
Bart Vervloet
Bob built great boards that epitomized the "gorge built" credo. All custom, all built here and did they ever last. That board may still be on the water, and more importantly, could still rip on the biggest days when the epoxy boards start to skitter. Glass kicks ass.
Buzz
You got me there Arthur.
L.E.
Buzz, my hair is not the same color as it was in 1984.
Lynn Orr
Arthur, you are prescient. The museum has recently been given 3 ‘Art’ boards created by Rick Anicker for Dill in the 1990s They will be highlighted in February when the museum opens after its January closing.. The boards are wonderfully whimsical and flamboyant! And may thanks to John for sharing.
Arthur
Bart, a while back I tried to "decommission" one of these boards. A friend from NY said that would be a sin and insisted on shipping it cross country. He named it "Pablo" because the artwork reminded him of Picasso. I’ll bet Pablo is still on the water.
The art boards Lynn mentions look like they were made yesterday. I’ve been tripping over them every time i go into the museum archives, so I can’t wait until they are promoted to front exhibit space!
I believe the plan also includes a permanent display of the "Darby board" in our collection. Along with one of Corey’s original kites, we have a pretty impressive collection which demonstrates the 1970s, 80s, and 90s really are history.
Arlen Sheldrake
"this morning is history"…..a reality that most of us don’t recognize or appreciate.
I continue to be amazed at what most of us growing up in HR cursed as the "damn always blowing wind" and how it has transformed Hood River… As with many developments, this transformation is something that I would never have guessed would happen
charlott
Soon after all this "insanity" started we were coming to Hood River to visit "the old folks at home." My husband was watching some of this going on on the river and made the comment, " well, we could have been multi-millionaires by now. Growing up in Hood River, sitting whining because the wind is up and we couldn’t water ski, when all the time all we needed was Mom’s ironing board and bed sheet."
Judy
It is too bad that our Museum is not large enough to display more items.
Local people do not see the need, I guess. Several have never visited our Museum. That is sad.
Pat McCann
I worked for the Port of Hood River in the mid ’70’s in the field. There was pretty much only one Windsurfer, Paul Julian and friends it all exploded from there.