Surfin’ the Hood

I enjoyed your article on Hood River, Ore. (“Tales From the Hood,” July 1) and the surrounding country.

You missed only what, to me, is the most interesting aspect of windsurfing the Columbia River: Conditions there allow you to surf all day, every day, and keep your eye on your car the whole time. This is because the river flows west, and as the desert air heats and rises, the marine air as far away as the Pacific Ocean flows in to fill the void. This easterly flow of air, coupled with the river’s westerly flow, allows for a stationary ride.

It’s this quality, not the 50 mph winds, that attracts the surfers.

SHANNON M. SMITH

Pasadena