Katie Noblett
Katie has been kiting for 15+ years and taught in Long Beach, CA., and Punta Chame, Panama before deciding she belonged in the Gorge. She started teaching at Cascade in 2014 and also took on the role of scheduling/admin. In early 2021 Katie took ownership of Cascade, and she is stoked to carry on the legacy that Tonia created!
Though she doesn’t teach much anymore, you might see her filling in for beginner lessons on occasion when she’s not running things at the school. If she’s not at Cascade or out kiting, you can find Katie somewhere in the mountains, baking delicious treats in the kitchen, planning for Halloween, or hanging with Ty and their pups Finn and Bear.
Ty Graves
Ty is the other half of Cascade, and he is the go-to guy to get things done! He started his kiteboarding journey in Hatteras, NC, and it was there that he actually became Katie’s instructor many many years ago before eventually becoming her husband. Yes, you heard that correctly!
Though he does not teach much anymore, you can find Ty at the school most days helping to ensure everything is running smoothly. When he is not working, you can find him shredding on his strapless surfboard in the river swell, biking in Post Canyon, or doing anything active!
Eliotte Walsh
Born & raised an Oregonian raised by skiers and windsurfers, Eliotte knows her way around the river and the mountains. She began her kiteboarding journey four years ago at Cascade Kiteboarding (Payton was her instructor!) and immediately fell in love with the sport.
In her free time, Eliotte enjoys going for a Post Canyon bike ride, playing lacrosse, and chasing pow on Mt. Hood. She aims to spread her love of kiteboarding by someday becoming an instructor. For now, you will likely chat with Eliotte if you stop by the school, give us a call, or shoot us an email!
Rowan McKenna
Rowan joined the team this year and has quickly taken on the role as one of the admin/shop gals! There is a good chance you will chat with her if you give us a call or stop by the school on any given day. If something needs doing at Cascade, Rowan is there to help out and bring positive vibes daily!
Rowan grew up with the Gorge as her playground, giving her a love of all things outdoors. In the summer you can find her learning new tricks in the river, hitting up the trails in Post Canyon, training for lacrosse, or playing with her dogs. In the winter she travels all around the PNW for skiing. No matter how busy things get, she is stoked to be a part of this crazy windsport community!
Payton Bunch
Payton is all about stoke! Born and raised in Hood River, she grew up with an affinity for the outdoors. Introduced to kiting at a young age, Payton joined World Class Kiteboard Academy and spent her sophomore year of highschool studying and kiting around the globe.
Currently, Payton is living in Hood River, and she splits her time working at Cascade and Pure Stoke, where she sells wind, water and snow gear. During the off season you can find her on the mountain exploring the backcountry, riding the slopes, or racing on her nordic skis. Payton enjoys people and loves sharing her knowledge and passion for kiteboarding.
Meliz “Mel” Sousa
Mel was born in Brazil and moved to the US when he was 10. When he was 23, he took his first kite lesson and the rest was history. Shortly after, he quit his job at a hospital and started teaching kiting in the summers and working park crew for ski resorts in the winters. Before joining Cascade, Mel taught in Aruba and back home in Massachusetts.
Mel is happiest when either participating in or talking about board sports, kiting, snowboarding, surfing, and most recently, skateboarding.
Mike Haase
Mike has 20+ years of kiting experience, and a majority of that time was spent kitesurfing the waves of Tampa, FL, Mexico, and Maui.
After receiving a degree in Civil Engineering, he moved to the Gorge to pursue his passion for strong winds and exploring the great outdoors. He now spends his summers teaching kiting, and during the winter you can find him teaching snowboarding up on Mt Hood. There is rarely a day that goes by that Mike is not teaching or shredding somewhere in the Pacific Northwest!
Erik “Thor” Jensen
Erik is a dynamic watersports instructor specializing in both kiteboarding and wingfoiling. With a background in competitive sailing, Erik brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his teaching. He was born and raised in Central CA, and it was there that he fell in love with the freedom of being on the water at a young age.
Erik is dedicated to providing personalized coaching to each student’s goals and needs. Whether you’re a beginner looking to ride for the first time, or an experienced rider aiming to perfect your aerial maneuvers, Erik’s patience and passion will help you reach new heights on the water. When he’s not teaching, you can find Erik exploring new kiting and winging spots around the world, always eager to share his love for adventure with others.
Tanguy De Valkeneer
Born and bred in Belgium, Tanguy embarked on his professional kitesurfing journey nearly a decade ago. With a global teaching résumé that spans countless locales, he's amassed a wealth of knowledge waiting to be shared. Ever the supportive mentor, he's dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, while his infectious passion and unwavering joy for watersports set him apart as a truly special figure in the community.
Shea Hall
Shea was born and raised in the gorge, and now splits his time between Hood River and Bozeman, Montana. When not studying at MSU he can be found on some kind of adventure, whether it’s camping, kiting, mountain biking, or skiing, you get the point!
Shea spends a lot of time on the water between paddle boarding, swimming, kiting and boating. He is calm and patient, likes to work hard and play harder, and is always up for a good time!
Nadja Bianchet
A natural teacher, Nadja was in the Alpine in Austria teaching snowboarding and skiing at the age of 15. During the summers she was on the water everyday wakeboarding until 2009 when she learned to kite. Then Nadja was on the water everyday either teaching kiting or kiting or both!
Nadja has several fitness and health certifications, which equips her well to teach individuals concerned with minor injuries, health concerns or back issues. In case the wind doesn’t blow you’ll most likely find her tumbling upside-down on a pole or silk. Her tumbling skills translate well to the water as well.
Molly Kissinger
Molly started teaching kiting in Baja way back when in 2010, when her three children were wee little ones. Having spent more than 20 years living an “endless summer” splitting time between Hood River and La Ventana, she is your Baja-Gorge kite connection!
She is a passionate and professional year round IKO certified kite instructor, and she also has 30 years of experience teaching yoga and group fitness and wellness classes. She is currently super enthusiastic about mastering a new sport: wing foiling! When she’s not on the water you can find Molly with her family, enjoying friends, playing ping pong, walking, or riding her bike!
Kathy Kaimaktchiev
Kathy grew up with the Gorge as her backyard. She learned to kite at the age of 12, and hasn’t looked back since. She spends her summers in the Gorge teaching kiting and winging, and the rest of the year she can be found in California studying at Berkeley.
When she’s not on the water, you can find Kathy skiing, surfing, camping, or mountain biking. Basically doing anything and everything outdoors! She is looking forward to sharing her love of the water and wind with everyone who wants to learn this summer.
Wyatt Duce
Wyatt was born and raised in the Gorge, and has been kiting for close to 10 years. He now spends his summers teaching for Cascade, and heads south to La Ventana, BCS during the winter months where he also teaches kiting.
When he is not kiting, you can still find him out on the water pursuing his other long-time passion of fishing, which he has been doing since he was 5 years old. The only time Wyatt really leaves the water is to eat and sleep!
Jake Noblett
Jake has been kiting for 15 years and still brings the stoke with him during each session. Like his big sis, Jake spent years teaching in Long Beach, CA before deciding Hood River was the place to be.
When he is not teaching, you can find him shredding on a surfboard in the riverswell, hitting up the kite park, or fishing on a SUP board right in Nichols Basin! You can also find him working at Gorge Greenery, where he brings just as much stoke. Yew!
Bo Graves
Bo is a wind-sport enthusiast who embarked on his kiting journey alongside his siblings in Hatteras, NC in 2009. Over the years, he has honed both his kiteboarding and more recently wing foiling skills in the Dominican Republic and the Phillipines. He currently resides in the windy paradise that is the Gorge, where he spreads his love of watersports by teaching newcomers how to kite or wing.
Bo’s dedication, combined with his patient and friendly demeanor make him an ideal instructor for beginner and intermediate kiters and wingers of all ages seeking to further their progression. When he’s not on the water, you can find Bo hiking or mountain biking throughout the Gorge, or cooking up something delicious in the kitchen.
Tonia Farman
Tonia started Cascade Kiteboarding in 2007 after conducting kite nights for girls around the Gorge to get her girlfriends to kite. Once certified, she bought a jet ski to teach with and the rest is history. In Spring 2021, Tonia sold the business to staff instructor and admin manager Katie Noblett and her husband Ty Graves to carry on the Cascade commitment to safety and fun for years to come!
Please note that selecting an instructor when booking a lesson via our website does not guarantee you will be with that instructor. If you would like to request a specific instructor you can do so by calling us or sending a follow up email. Thanks!