Oregon Public Broadcasting

Thousands of outdoor enthusiasts are flocking to Hood River this weekend for the return of the Gorge Games.

The festival went on hiatus four years ago after losing a major sponsor, but as Katie Arrants reports, the games are back in full force.

The Gorge Games are operating under new managers this year. 

They’ve scheduled more than 30 competitions in extreme sports ranging from windsurfing to outrigger canoeing, skateboarding to mountain bike racing.  In the new sport of riverboarding, people race headfirst down river rapids on a small board.

There’s also a 24-hour Adventure Race that requires athletes to navigate the wilderness with only a map and a compass.  Shane Gibson is coordinating the race.

Shane Gibson: “The Columbia Gorge is uniquely suited for adventure racing in general because it has just beautiful verdant forests, steep hills, and terrain and fast flowing rivers.  It’s definitely terrain that’s arguably custom-made for adventure racing.”

Organizers say the Gorge Games are also now greener than ever -- using wind power, carbon offsets, and recycling and composting services.