Mob in Hood

Having been seduced by all the talk of incredible winds and perfect conditions to be found in Hood River, Tarifa locals Nia & Leo Suardiaz and Aleks & Tom Acherer took their friend (and world champion winger) Chris Macdonald up on the offer of a visit. Turns out, Chris was not exaggerating…

Photos: Richard Hallman (unless stated)

Nicole Suardiaz (Nia & Leo's mum)

After our team trip to Brazil last winter, one day in spring we found ourselves sitting at our favorite beach bar, Tangana in Tarifa, talking about summer plans. Claus, the twins' dad, the youngsters, and I were all eager to head to Hood River. Nia had already been there two years ago, so we knew that this is the perfect place to train wingfoiling in summertime, as it´s basically windy every day. That’s how the idea for our trip started. We spoke about it with the Duotone team, and especially the US agency – which is based in Hood River – was excited to have the youngsters there for some promotion. They immediately offered to arrange a big pick-up truck to access all the spots. Nicole and Chris Macdonald, our longtime friends since the early days of wingfoil competitions, generously offered us a place to stay in their house, so it all came together nicely. I was thrilled and grateful for all the support. Especially as Leo can´t travel on his own – he´s only 15 years old – and none of the kids can drive a car yet, so one adult had to come along, which was, luckily, me! I was excited to finally experience this legendary place that I had heard so much about.

The planning began – booking flights, coordinating with Duotone USA, arranging filmmakers and photographers, and gathering all the gear. July/August is the windiest season there, so we had to make sure to take enough small boards and wings.

We kicked off our trip in mid-July – me, the twins, Nia, and Leo. The first challenge hit us in Madrid airport, struggling with five board bags, five big travel bags, and five pieces of hand luggage. As usual, we were overcharged for our excess baggage, but with the next flight to catch very soon, there wasn’t much we could do about that. After arriving in Portland airport and a one-hour drive in the direction of Hood River, I was blown away by the beauty of this spot. It was the perfect start to what would become an unforgettable adventure.

What fascinated me most was the unique phenomenon where the river flows downstream, the wind blows in the same direction, but the current pulls you the other way up when you're on your board – this was such a strange and captivating experience. The area is incredibly safe, the locals are super friendly and welcoming, and the village itself has a charming, laid-back vibe.

Nia Suardiaz

After a summer of non-stop competitions in the Canary Islands (starting with the Youth World Cup on La Palma, followed by the Big Air World Cup on Gran Canaria, and then the Freestyle and Slalom World Cups in Fuerteventura) I was thrilled to finally head to a completely different destination. Hood River, an incredible spot surrounded by nature, is nestled between the mountains of the Gorge. It was my second time there. I had already visited my friend Chris in Hood River two years ago, and I was excited to return, this time with my mom, my brother Leo, and my teammates and friends, Aleks and Tom. It was a fun team trip focused on training and shooting.

We had just arrived and were invited to join a local wingfoil competition. So, without even a day to rest, I found myself back in competition mode! It was the Bridges of the Gods comp, and although unexpected, it was a fantastic experience. The event was well-organized, and it was great to meet some of the other girls in the local wingfoil community.

One of the most exciting moments of the trip for me was learning how to ride the new Duotone Downwinder Slim board. It's a tricky and quite challenging skill to master, but after two hours of paddling, falling, and getting back up, I eventually managed to get the hang of it. I was super proud!

Staying with the Macdonald family again was also special – they mean a lot to me, and I really enjoyed their company. I enjoy training with Chris as he has a lot of experience. And it was great to meet the team from Duotone USA and help them with some demos and tests at the spot.

Leo Suardiaz

I had never been to Hood River before, but it turned out to be one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited. The Hatch, where we did most of the winging, delivered strong and consistent winds blowing almost every day. That, combined with being on the water alongside so many skilled riders, really helped me to improve my wingfoiling skills. I even got the chance to learn downwind foiling, which was mind-blowing in that perfect wind swell.

There was also a dock which was awesome for pump foiling on the rare windless days. I had a blast participating in the local competition. We did freestyle on the first day, followed by an epic 32km fun downwinder on the second day. I never did that before; it was such an unforgettable experience.

Tomas Acherer

Hood River was one of the best trips I’ve had so far. It’s such a unique spot for all kinds of water sports, and the experience was unforgettable. The waves, wind swell and the strong winds – everything there was perfect for pushing our limits. Even on the rare days without wind, there was always something fun to do like pump foiling or hiking, so there was never a dull moment. Some of my best sessions happened there, especially with my friends Nia and Leo. We had so much fun together, really sending it at the famous Hatch spot and making the most of every moment.

One of the highlights for sure was when Aleks, Chris, and I got to judge the freestyle event during the Bridge of the Gods competition. As non-US riders we weren’t allowed to compete as it was all about pushing the local community. And as reigning world champ Chris was just too good to enter. It was an amazing experience to be on the other side of the competition for a change.

Filming with our friend Javier was another highlight of the trip. We captured some amazing footage, quite different from Tarifa and the other European spots. And we had lots of fun along the way. I’ll never forget the time we spent trying to master dock starts. It sure took us a while, but we had a blast figuring it out together.

It was my first time downwind foiling, which was also an epic experience. After just a few tries, I managed to get on the foil, and it felt incredible to catch the waves and enjoy that endless glide. It’s something I’d always heard about but experiencing it firsthand was next level. And Hood River surely is the perfect spot for downwinders.

This trip left such a big impression on me, and I can say for sure that I want to go back. The place, the people, the vibes – everything came together for the perfect trip!

Aleks Acherer

Hood River was one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever had. It was epic that we all got to stay at Chris Macdonald’s house, which made the experience even better. Bridge of the Gods competition was cool, where my brother Tom, Chris, and I had the opportunity to judge the event. It was super fun but also intense – keeping track of and scoring all the tricks was not a small task – we hadn’t done this before! On the second day, we participated in the downwind race, and it was such an awesome moment when my brother Tom, Nia, and I crossed the finish line together. That feeling of accomplishment was unbeatable.

For the next few days, we made it a routine to head to the Hatch for training and getting some sick shots. We were pushing each other and really making the most of the conditions. After almost every session, we’d head to a small dock to do some pump foiling while the sun set – it was such a perfect way to end the day, gliding across the water with the golden light reflecting around us.

Towards the end of the trip, we all decided to give downwind foiling a proper try. At first, I found it really challenging and honestly a bit frustrating as I couldn’t seem to get up on the foil and stay there. But once I figured it out, it was rewarding. Flying on top of the swell felt like pure freedom, and it made all the effort completely worth it. I for sure will do more of this in Tarifa!

I can say that Hood River has left a lasting impression on me, and I surely want to go back. The combination of great people, insane conditions, and endless fun made it an unforgettable trip. I really hope to be back next summer!