About New Wind Kite School
New Wind Kite School is one of the Columbia River Gorge's most respected kiteboarding instruction programs, based in Hood River and teaching on the prime launch sites along the waterfront. The school was founded by IKO-certified instructors who recognised the Gorge's unmatched combination of consistent thermal winds and flat-water launch zones as the ideal classroom for learning to kite. Their patient, safety-first approach has introduced hundreds of students to the sport each season.
Lesson packages are structured progressively: introductory sessions cover kite setup, safety systems, and basic power control on land before moving to the water for body dragging and board starts. Intermediate and advanced sessions focus on riding upwind, transitions, and jumping. All gear is provided — trainer kites, full-size kites, harnesses, boards, wetsuits, and helmets — so students don't need to invest in equipment before knowing they love the sport. Private lessons allow for fully customised pacing, while small-group formats keep instructor-to-student ratios low.
What makes New Wind stand out is their focus exclusively on kiteboarding instruction rather than trying to be a general watersports shop. This specialisation means every hour of teaching time is refined by years of kite-specific coaching experience. The Gorge's reliable afternoon thermals provide consistent teaching conditions from May through September, and the school's Hood River base puts students on some of the best learning water in North America.
