SandFest is facing a strong wind in getting the event’s first year under way on Coos Bay’s North Spit.

In fact, high winds in the first three days of the six-day sand celebration caused problems with vendor tents. They even forced organizers to cancel a few all-terrain vehicle events Thursday evening, when most locals would think the wind would have died down.

“People who have ridden here every year said they have never seen wind like this,” event Coordinator Mary Olson said.

Otherwise, the SandFest is going well with strong participation in the activities, Olson added. She isn’t sure of attendance numbers yet.

As vendors were closing up shop in one of the vendor areas just off TransPacific Lane on Thursday night, the constant wind whipped up white caps on the bay. Stronger gusts were making a go at tearing the sides off the tents.

The wind prompted the group to cancel the high-flying Bomb Squad freestyle ATV practice show scheduled for 7 p.m. at the main stage

Bomb Squad sales, marketing and booking manager B.C. Vaught said too much wind makes it too dangerous for the jumpers to land. The crew brought in a 16-foot, 1,600-pound landing platform instead of building a sand landing to the site. But he feared wind would push the riders off course once in the air.

Squad members will give it another try tonight in a different location — right in the middle of the vendor area. Vaught said they will haul in the ramp and landing platform right into the middle of the zone and do the show right there. They will push back the start time, maybe to around 8 p.m., in hopes the wind will subside a little by then and allow the riders to jump safely.

“Here you land on the landing or you land in the flat rocks,” Vaught said.