Organizers of the 2008 Gorge Games have landed a high-profile television contract that will broadcast the games to as many as 84 million households.

The Gorge Games will appear on the 23 regional Fox Sports Networks nationwide, said Joshua Ryan, CEO and co-founder of Gorge Games LLC. Fox will show three and a half hours of the games' events.

Ryan said Fox reaches as many as 84 million households. He expects the viewing audience to exceed 5 million.

Organizers said entertainers for the games will include Storm Large, Pepe & the Bottle Blondes, March 4th Marching Band, The Ultronz and Dirty Martini. The bands will contribute to a soundtrack for the broadcast.

The games take place Aug. 18 through Aug. 22.

The Columbia River Gorge is a Mecca for Kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is a unique sport that draws influences from wakeboarding, skateboarding, snow boarding, and surfing with the added dimension of flight – catching air. While piloting a large kite, riders plane across the surface of the water and are able to perform various tricks, jumps and maneuvers.

Flowing from east to west through the majestic Cascade Mountain Range, the Columbia River creates a sea level passageway that connects the desert to the sea. As the hot desert air heats up, the cool moist air of the Pacific rushes through the steep canyon walls of the Gorge to create some of the most spectacular kiteboarding conditions anywhere in the world.

With its reliable thermal winds, spectacular terrain, and variety of conditions, the Columbia River Gorge is a popular kiteboarding destination for professional and recreational kiteboarders alike. Typically winds are 20-35 knots and water conditions range from breaking river swell, to chop and flat water. River temperatures in July are in the mid-60s and air temperatures can range from 70’s to 90’s.

Location: All Kiteboarding events will be held at the Hood River Event Site on the Port of Hood River property in Hood River, Oregon.

Freestyle: The Freestyle discipline will showcase the highest level of freestyle kiteboarding and emphasis will be on power and wakeboard-style maneuvers. Divisions: Pro Men, Pro Women and Outlaw Men, Outlaw Women

Big: The Big Air discipline will showcase riders doing various maneuvers as high in the air as possible including board-offs, kite loops and aerial handlepasses. Judges will score 70% on height and 30% on technical difficulty. Divisions: Pro Men, Pro Women and Outlaw Men, Outlaw Women

Course Racing: Course Racing is a long track race where riders must navigate around a series of upwind, crosswind and downwind marks. First rider to complete 2 laps around the course and cross the finish line wins. Divisions: Pro Men, Pro Women and Outlaw Men, Outlaw Women

Skills and Details

Who Can Compete: PRO Level men and women riders with prior high-level amateur or professional competition experience. OUTLAW division is for amateurs or aspiring pros.

Judging: Freestyle and Big Air judging criteria will be based on PKRA World Cup judging criteria. Course Racing will follow US Sailing Rules and Guidelines. There are five judges, including past pros, professional judges and kiteboarding industry members.

Time: All divisions will be held simultaneously.

Location: All Kiteboarding events will be held at the Hood River Event Site at the Port of Hood River.

All participants will receive a Gorge Games technical tee shirt, athlete’s appreciation bag, athlete’s pass to Adventure Village , Athletes Village , all Gorge Games sporting venues and all Community events. Not to mention an experience you’ll always remember!

contact

Sport Director:

David Tyburski

Phone : 541-490-6052

Email : kiteboard@gorgegames.net

Calendar of events

Schedule & Registration

Kiteboard Freestyle - PRO and OUTLAW Divisions

Date : Thursday July 17

Time : Rider's Meeting : 8:30am

First Possible Start : 9:00 am

Course Racing - PRO and OUTLAW Divisions

Date : Thursday July 17

Time : Rider's Meeting : On Call

First Possible Start : 30 minutes after racers meeting

Kiteboard Big Air - PRO and OUTLAW Divisions

Date : Saturday July 19

Time : Rider's Meeting : 8:30 am

First Possible Start : 9:00 am

Course Racing - PRO and OUTLAW Divisions

Date : Saturday July 19

Time : Rider's Meeting : On Call

First Possible Start : 30 minutes after racers meeting

** All events subject to change due to conditions.

- PRO Men and Women: $65 + $20 per additional discipline

- OUTLAW Men and Women: $40 + $20 per additional discipline

Riders must register on or before June 15th. No "day of event" Registration.

VERY IMPORTANT: To compete in multiple disciplines, you must signup for each discipline during the registration process.

Registration Limits:

- Men's PRO Freestyle limited to 32 riders

- Women's PRO Freestyle limited to 16 riders

- OUTLAW Men Freestyle limited to 24 riders

- OUTLAW Women Freestyle limited to 24 riders

- Men's PRO Big Air limited to 32 riders

- Women's PRO Big Air limited to 16 riders

- OUTLAW Men Big Air limited to 24 riders

- OUTLAW Women Big Air limited to 24 riders

- Men's PRO Course Racing limited to 32 riders

- Women's PRO Course Racing limited to 16 riders

- OUTLAW Men Course Racing limited to 24 riders

- OUTLAW Women Course Racing limited to 24 riders

Learn more about kiteboarding at :

- Royal Kiteboarding

- Kite World Tour

- NW Kite

Event Registration

You can register for this event from the main Gorge Games registration site or from the Kiteboarding registration site.