Shelley Gimbal

Name: Shelley Gimbal

Hometown: Hood River, OR

Home Beach: Swell City, WA

Discipline: Fin Swell Riding plus Windsurf & Wing Foiling

What’s in your quiver?:  Lots of small sails (3.5 to 4.7), no more racing for me!

Favorite Sail: Revos… Love my Revos!

Board/Foil Set up: TabouPocketwave 86 & 75, North Pacific 125L foil board, Fanatic Sky 95L wing-ding board. Armstrong wings (3.5to 5.5). Moses foils all the way!

How did you get into Windsurfing?: One friend took a lesson in Foster City,  CA, taught the rest of us. We made friends with the rental truck attendant, so he let us use the gear for free and we helped him lug the 50 lb. long boards and triangle sail (6.4) rigs into the truck at the end of the day. =)  Sailing and learning together was great fun! We all got hooked.

Favorite trick? Not falling off my wing board. LOL. I don’t really do tricks. I just love big swell riding on the Columbia River.

Championships:  West Coast racing (slalom, course, & formula) for almost 20 years:  US Windsurfing National: Top 5 finishes. Gorge Cup women’s champion for 10+ years.

What’s your pre-ride ritual: Sunscreen up while watching the conditions. Chat with a few friends about their gear choice or about the launch (at a new site). Make my own rig choice and then get on the water within 10 minutes-  ‘Ya just gotta go to know’ folks.

Favorite Post-Ride Snack: Peanut Clif bar with a Hood River Valley apple.

Life outside of windsurfing?:  Anything I want- I’m retired now. Haha! Cycling, hiking, photography, and music.