Could the St. Croix be the midwest Gorge?

[cautionkid]

I recently started doing boat repair on the St.Croix and dad also owns a boat on the Croix. So over the last month and a half I have been out and around the river a lot. I haven't kited on it yet but It sure feels like the wind is much more conistent then any other place I have kited around the Twin Cities. It maybe gusty but it feels like the low end of the wind doesnt drop as much as it does on most lakes. The high bluffs may have the same funneling effect as the gorge. there could be many different directions that work depending on the launch. I know St. Marys point is one spot people kite in N/NE but I believe there are plenty more spots and directions to be kited. If anybody has any info let me know.

[tyson]

i've tried quite a few spots on the croix, and have only been satisfied with the wind on N/NE winds at St Marys point, and a straight S wind riding from the beach just north of the Hudson train bridge - but that I did as a downwinder to stillwater with a boat to pick me up when I was done. For normal sessions, the bluffs really do make it awfully gusty on anything but a N/Ne or S.

[seamonkey]

From what I gather, high bluffs and a "gorge channel" don't create a venturi effect like a tall chimney on a fireplace, which I do build for a living on occasion. The winds that come to the Hood River gorge have more to do with the hot midsummer temps meeting cooler ocean wind pressure. Kind of like how tornadoes are spawned in the midwest. Correct me if i'm wrong.

[Tighe]

Yes and no Mike.

My understanding of why the Gorge blows is because Eastern Oregon warms up and the air rises creating low pressure. It need to draw air from the cooler coast but the Cascades are in the way, cept through the Columbia River Gorge, which is like a straw. The Central corridor typically has the strongest winds because it is narrower. (think rapids as a river narrows). Having said that it still nukes sometimes way out east even as far as 3 Mile Cannon nearly 2 hours east of Hood River, sometimes when it is dead in the Corridor. I have no idea how that works.

Wind Venturis exist. The Penninsula and island create one on WBL, Cannon Lake narrows in the Middle and usually has an increase. It makes sense that there would be some locations on the river that have an increase, though there has to be good flow on both sides. I have found that you need at least 3+ miles of open river lining up with the wind for the wind to drop down onto the water. Any closer than that and you get gusty winds or worse yet downdrafts. So look for long stretches of river aligning with the wind of the day and you should be good.

Pepin can offer near Gorge conditions on big East to SE days. The river goes one direction and the wind goes the opposite, which adds to the swell (just like the Gorge)

Father Hennepin on Mille Lacs has Gorge like conditions on a NW. Instead of the current opposite of wind causing the swell, it's the water getting blown into a bay and emptying back out under the surface that jacks up some of the most beautiful rolling school buses.

Lot's of great options around the state. I'm sure there are plenty of undiscovered spots. Let us know if you discover a new one.

ride on

[Dave Z]

I grew up in Hudson and like Tyson mentioned the wind pretty much needs to be a straight N or S otherwise it comes off the surrounding bluffs and turns gusty. I have sailed a Southerly at Browns Beach when it was gusting over 40 - now that was "Gorge" like.

[Rookie Renstrom]

caution kid -

The river is nice on a southerly or northern wind, You also have to ride defensively with all the boaters around. No worse than whitebear or other lakes, but I think the alcohol content may be a little higher for the drivers, and the boats can be a little faster on the river. If you want to give it a shot let me know, It would be nice to see some more kiters on the river here.
Gary
952-936-035six