Big Winds: Where Wind, Water, and Community Converge
In the heart of downtown Hood River, just a few blocks from the Columbia, there’s a shop that has shaped far more than just the local gear scene. Since 1987, Big Winds has been one of the most influential forces in the evolution of wind sports, not only in the Gorge but also worldwide.
The story of Big Winds isn’t just about windsurfing, kiting, stand-up paddling, or foiling. It’s about people. It’s about the community that forms when you show up early for “dawn patrol,” high-five strangers at the launch, and trade tips over post-session burritos. For almost four decades, Big Winds has been a place where you find your gear, but more importantly, you find your people.
And it all started with Steve Gates.
A Vision Fueled by Wind
Steve Gates opened Big Winds in 1987 along with co-founder Doug Gallant, during the peak of the windsurfing craze. He saw the Columbia River Gorge for what it was, and what it could be: one of the most epic wind and water playgrounds on earth. But he didn’t just want to sell sails. He wanted to share the stoke.
His goal was simple: help people get on the water and make their next session better than their last.
That energy caught on fast.
From the early days of windsurfing to the rise of kiting, the boom of stand-up paddling, and now the new wave of foiling, Big Winds has been there every step of the way. Not just keeping up with the times and trends, but shaping them.
Through it all, Steve was at the center, smiling, welcoming, and always cheering people on. His motto? Attitude is everything.
It wasn’t just something he said. It was how he lived.
The Big Winds Tribe
Today, partners Jodie, Eddy, TJ, Mark, and Connie are carrying on Steve’s vision. Ask anyone who’s been around the Gorge for long, and they’ll tell you, Big Winds isn’t just a shop, it’s a tribe.
It’s the staff who’ve been there for decades. The summer campers who grow up to become instructors. The customers who become family. It’s the shared stories, the rigging tips in the parking lot, the early-morning texts when the wind looks promising.
Big Winds has always been about more than equipment. As team member TJ puts it, “We’re not just selling gear. We’re sharing experiences that change people.”
From the kids’ camps to intro lessons for beginners, the vibe is inclusive, energetic, and full of heart. Whether chasing your first foil flight or just figuring out how to hold a paddle correctly, you’re part of something.
Built Into the Culture of Hood River
Big Winds is woven into the daily rhythm of Hood River. It’s where new arrivals get oriented and longtime locals drop by to check out the latest gear. It’s a launchpad for adventure and a gathering place for everyone who believes that life is better lived outdoors.
Mark, who’s been with Big Winds for over 30 years, says what keeps him going is simple: “That moment when someone discovers something new, their first time on the water, finding the perfect gear. That’s what it’s all about.”
Visitors come in for gear and leave with a deeper connection to the town. Because in the Gorge, wind sports aren’t just a pastime, they’re part of the lifestyle. The freedom, the motion, the way you read the wind or chase a westerly, it gets into your soul.
Honoring Steve Gates
Steve Gates passed away in 2019, but his presence is still everywhere. In the welcoming attitude. In the shared passion. In the way the team shows up for one another, and for the next person through the door.
Steve believed that the best way to run a business was to bring people in, lift them up, and remind them why they love this life and this place. He gave Hood River a shop, yes, but he also gave it a voice, and a growing family. A spirit. A sense of what’s possible when you combine passion, generosity, and joy.
Big Winds and its team are his legacy, and the community he helped cultivate carries on.
Come for the Wind. Stay for the People.
From the latest foil tech to the best-fitting wetsuit, Big Winds has everything you need to chase adventure. But what keeps people coming back isn’t just the gear. It’s the feeling you get when you walk through the door and someone says, “Let’s get you on the water!”
It’s the energy of a place that’s built for the people who live in motion.
When you find yourself in Hood River next, don’t be surprised if you walk into Big Winds looking for a harness and leave with a new obsession and a few new friends.
Because in this town, the wind connects more than just sails to boards. It connects people.
Learn more about Big Winds and visit their website at