TAHOE DOWNWIND Championships -Tahoe Waterman Paddle Racing 2023

WHERE: Lake Tahoe Watermans Landing

WHEN: August 26, 2023

DISTANCES: 1 Mile (GROM) - 3 Mile - 9 Mile

The Kaspian Downwinder is a classic downwind run for the Team Tahoe Waterman crew, whenever the wind allows. Lake Tahoe is a sleeper downwind destination. The lake has a big fetch with afternoon high winds, a great combination for riding bumps and gliding across pristine waters.

The prevailing winds at Lake Tahoe are out of the southwest, although you do see some variation throughout the day. In the summer, morning winds tend to “clock around” from light and easterly to southeasterly to southerly and finally over to southwesterly not long after 1:00 in the afternoon.

The winds at Lake Tahoe are also a little flukey, because of the tall mountains that ring the lake, the elevation (which, at 6,229 ft. above sea level, means the air is about 17% less dense than at sea level), and the narrow canyons along the west shore that tend to funnel the wind in a noticeable way in the afternoons. Cold fronts coming in from the Pacific also tend to bring powerful, gusty conditions, and it’s not unusual to see 25+ miles per hour winds gust on the lake when one of these storms hits the Sierra Nevada.

The afternoon canyon winds, especially Blackwood Canyon on the west shore of Lake Tahoe are relatively predictable and enjoyable, especially when you’re up for a little adventure. The numerous canyons on the west shore focus and accelerate the wind, providing great downwind conditions for miles of exhilarating rides.

We will be checking the wind forecast during the week of the race and give updates as the week progresses. If the wind does not come we will still be racing and having a beautiful paddle on the 9-mile course in the late afternoon.

The grom event and the short course paddle will take place in the morning for optimal padding conditions.