Aaron Sales and Matt Sweeting, gearing up for the Gorge Mai Tai.

Used to be, business execs would head to the golf course to do the deal.

Times change. Thanks to the efforts of Hood River kite-a-lysts Aaron Sales and Matt Sweeting, a bunch of people in the high-tech and venture capital worlds will converge on Hood River Aug. 9-12 for a combination of kiting, biking, business presentations and networking.

It’s called Gorge Mai Tai, the latest landing zone for a global series of events organized by Bill Tai and Susie Mai (Mai Tai … get it?).

Sales, the former editor of the former Kiteboarding magazine, says interest (600-person wait list) in the Mai Tai network exceeds capacity (150 members).

Sales and Sweeting have engaged the Gorge Technology Alliance in planning the Gorge event. Attendees will alternately kite and attend sessions under a big top down at the Event Site. One day will be spent in the Stevenson area.

Attendees will have a chance to make brief presentations, sort of “Pub Talk” style, in search of money or expertise.

Ten pro kiters will be flying in to aid that side of the event. Kite gear makers will be on hand to demo equipment. In addition to kiting, there will be mountain biking and standup paddleboard sessions. Local shops will be helping provide gear for all activities.

On top of business and play, the Gorge Mai Tai has a green side, raising funds for Friends of the Gorge through gear auctions and other fund-raisers.

The event is a rollout for Sales and Sweeting of a new business, Global Sessions, which aims to manage destination events with multi-sport orientation.