Big vision, Big names: Inaugural SUP-only Gorge Ultra Distance 2026 is already catching wind – Interview with Bodie Von Allmen

The SUP calendar has never been more dynamic – but every so often, an event comes along that places stand-up paddling firmly and unapologetically at the heart of the experience. That’s exactly the vision behind the inaugural Gorge Ultra Distance, a 17-mile endurance challenge held on 12 July and set against one of the world’s most iconic downwind playgrounds: the Columbia River Gorge.

“We’re bringing the focus back to totally SUP (pun intended) by running a SUP-only event,” says Bodie Von Allmen – elite racer, next-generation waterman and now freshly minted owner of Stoke On The Water. It’s a statement that cuts through the noise at a time when paddle festivals increasingly blend disciplines and formats. The Gorge Ultra Distance is going all in on SUP: high stakes, raw endurance and a platform built purely for the sport.

Born in San Francisco and raised on Oregon waters, Von Allmen has long been one of the most exciting names in U.S. SUP racing. Still in his teens, he was already lining up against senior pros instead of staying sheltered in junior divisions. Part of a new generation raised entirely inside modern SUP race culture, he now steps into a new role: athlete and organiser.

We caught up with Bodie to talk about the ambition behind the Gorge Ultra Distance, why the Columbia River Gorge remains the ultimate proving ground for downwind paddling, and why he believes SUP deserves its own uncompromising stage.

Image source: Gorge Challenge

Hi Bodie, last time we checked you were travelling the world as an international SUP racer – now we find you as the owner of Stoke on the Water and an event organizer as well. What have you been up to lately, and what is the scope of your activities?

I am incredibly excited to have taken over as the new owner of Stoke On The Water (SOTW) at the start of this year. Joel Yang, the previous owner and founder, has been a mentor and a massive supporter of mine over the years. I feel honored to have the business passed to me, and I honestly couldn’t be doing any of this without his continued guidance.

While SOTW remains a downwind guiding service, I have expanded our scope to offer clinics on boat wake riding, flat-water technique, and surf lessons. On top of that, we’ve been pouring our energy into a major project since last year: the Gorge Ultra Distance.

You’re now launching a brand-new race on the Columbia River Gorge in your home state of Oregon called the Gorge Ultra Distance. Can you walk us through the full project?

A huge amount of my focus over the last six months has been on planning the Gorge Ultra Distance. This is a brand-new race with a brand-new course.

It’s a 17-mile endurance challenge designed to test paddlers of all levels to their absolute max. Although it’s just a stone’s throw from Oregon, the race is actually held on the Washington side of the river, starting at Home Valley and finishing at the Bingen Marina.

Image source: George Downwind Championships

What sparked the idea behind this race? Was there a specific moment or gap in the SUP calendar that pushed you to create it?

We have sadly watched the Gorge Paddle Challenge – now called the Gorge Challenge – fade as a dedicated paddling event. In recent years, SUP has felt like a “miscellaneous” class rather than the main focus. We are changing that.

We’re bringing the focus back to totally SUP (pun intended) by running a SUP-only event. We want to give the sport the undivided attention it deserves. Strategically, we’ve scheduled it the day before the start of the Downwind Championships, making it easy for paddlers to attend both.

For most paddlers, the Columbia River is synonymous with downwind runs, but the name “Ultra Distance” suggests something different. What kind of format and experience are you designing for athletes?

The Gorge is hands down one of the best downwind locations in the world; many would say the best. On top of that, July 12 is in the heart of the most consistent time of year. With that said, the “Ultra” in the name refers to the 17-mile distance of the race.

The course will not change regardless of the conditions, so participants need to be prepared for a wide variety of scenarios. There might be no wind, or it might be gusting 50 mph+, and we could have everything in between.

Are there already some big names showing interest or confirming their participation? Can we expect to see top riders like your 404 teammate Danny Ching or Connor Baxter on the start line?

Yes, both Danny Ching and Connor Baxter are confirmed. We also have international talent coming in, including one of Italy’s top paddlers, Tommaso Pampinella. Michael Booth has shown interest as well but looks like he is thinking next year.

Connor Baxter and Bodie Von Allmen at the 2022 Gorge Challenge

The timing seems to align closely with the famous Gorge Downwind Championships, a major event for outrigger and surfski paddlers. Are you aiming to attract a multi-craft, cross-discipline field with this race?

The timing allows those who paddle multiple crafts to compete in a dedicated SUP race before switching to their boats for the Downwind Champs. In the past, SUP paddlers who also race OC1 or Surfski often chose their boats over their SUPs at the Champs because the boat fields are more competitive at that event.

The Gorge Ultra Distance is the solution – it gives them a high-stakes, SUP-only platform to race their boards before the big boat races begin. For that reason, I expect the event will appeal to multi craft paddlers although it is a SUP only event.

Image source: Gorge Downwind Championships

Looking ahead, you’ve hinted at building a larger vision around this, possibly a multi-event, three-week tour in 2027. Can you tell us more about that long-term plan and what it could mean for the sport?

The Pacific Northwest has so much potential. We have such diverse water conditions within close proximity that it’s easy to create a tour that offers a little bit of everything. For 2027, the plan is to link two more races to the Gorge Ultra Distance: one through the city of Portland and another on the coast. I originally wanted to call it the “Oregon Tour,” but since the Gorge Ultra Distance is technically on the Washington side, we’re going with The Pacific Northwest Tour.

Image source: Gorge Challenge

It’s going to be a game-changer for the region and the US as a whole where competitive SUP races are lacking. A tour that includes a race at a world class downwind location, a flat water race through the second biggest city in our region and a finale event ocean racing on the Oregon coast checks all of the boxes making it a fair and competitive series for paddlers with a variety of strengths, weaknesses and preferences.

Visit the Gorge Ultra Distance event page and REGISTER for the event here 

*In the run-up to the Gorge, Bodie Von Allmen and Connor Baxter will be hosting a 3-day downwind camp in Portland, Oregon (July 8–10). Spots are limited and will fill fast — to secure your place, contact info@connorbaxter.com and bodie@stokeonthewaterllc.com

Follow Gorge Ultra Distance and Stoke on the Water LLC on Facebook and Instagram

Follow Bodie Von Allmen on Instagram

*Images courtesy of Bodie Von Allmen