Gorge sports update for July 27, 2022

HOOD RIVER — The annual Gorge Paddle Challenge took over the Hood River waterfront park on July 22-24. Athletes from across the world came to the Gorge for one of the premier water sports events. The original Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge was started by Steve Gates in 2011 and featured stand up paddle board (SUP) races and relays. Today, the newly renamed Gorge Challenge has adapted to current times. When Gates lost his battle with cancer 2019, Byron Kurt was asked to take the reigns or let the event end.

NBA G-League Coach Mitch Thompson and his Bilingual Básquetbol program hosted its first camp outside of Irrigon on July 22 at Mid Valley Elementary.

Young athletes, ages 6-18, were invited to take part in a free, one-day clinic put on by Thompson and a handful of other experienced counselors.

The Hattenhauer Distributing Columbia Gorge Hustlers concluded an amazing season by reaching the semifinals of last week’s American Legion Baseball Single A state tournament.