A Wylde finish to this year’s Gorge Cup

The winner of the final race of the series, however, was Tyson Poor, who finished in ninth overall.

Wylde, who raced in the male grand masters category (ages 45-54) has often battled for first place with another Hood Riverite, Bruce Peterson, but has usually found himself in second at the end of the series, according to 10 years’ worth of records on the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association’s website, who run the event. This is the first time Wylde has ever won the cup, winning one individual race and garnering two second-place finishes this season. Wylde said he has worked to improve his board speed and consistency to gain an edge in what Wylde said is always a tough and tight competition.

“Bruce Peterson and Tyson Poor are the dominant racers in the Gorge right now,” he noted. “I have beaten each of them in individual races, but they are so fast and consistent that the only way to get by them is to capitalize on a rare mistake. I only won a single day of the Gorge Cup this year; the rest of the bullets went to Bruce before his injury and Tyson.”

A torn hamstring sidelined Peterson early in the series this year, according to race organizer, Scotia Bauer, opening the door for other competitors to usurp the throne, although Bauer said Peterson was still present to provide some “great announcing” for the races in which he could no longer compete.

Saturday’s race brought an end to this year’s successful slalom-style Gorge Cup series, which has been held under various names since the late 1980s, Bauer reported. This year’s consistent wind has been some of the best in recent memory, she said.

“It’s been very windy for us. Typically, we have to cancel some early season races, but we didn’t have to do that this year. We canceled one race on June 3, which we probably shouldn’t have canceled, but the forecast was so dismal that day,” Bauer explained, noting that the wind ended up, once again, being just fine for windsurfing.

In addition to having great wind, Bauer said participation was good this year, with 43 total riders who entered at least one of the six races held this season (there were originally scheduled to be seven). However, an even better statistic was the number of competitors in the field who competed in most if not all of the races, which Bauer said was around 25 riders.

The series wrapped up with a barbecue down at the waterfront put on by Dakine, as well as an awards ceremony. In addition to MacRae Wylde taking top honors for winning the overall series, Charlie Sutherland took top spot in the junior category (18 and under), Fiona Wylde (daughter of MacRae) grabbed first in the women’s category, Tyson Poor won top male (ages 19-34) finisher in the series, Tavis Perez won the male masters category (ages 35-44), and Jay Salzman wrapped things up by taking the senior grand masters title (ages 55 and above).

Bauer said many people help to put on the annual event. She thanked the Port of Hood River for being “really supportive of our series” as well as the event’s numerous sponsors, which are primarily made up of local businesses.

“It isn’t possible to do this without all of them,” Bauer said.