The surfing industry is going CFC-free
‘Climate death’ is riding the wave: in the early nineties, it became clear just how harmful CFCs were – a substance that also plays a key role in the manufacture of surfboards. “A disaster for an environmentally friendly sport,” writes editor-in-chief Gerd Kloos in his editorial, even though the industry accounts for only a small proportion in relative terms. Two years earlier, *surf* had already called for alternatives to the “stratospheric troublemaker”. At the time, CFCs were mainly used in the cheaper boards to press the foam into the blown shells. HiFly was one of the first manufacturers to attempt to do without the harmful gas and tested various other options. After a few setbacks, they began experimenting on their own. With success: not only was another gas ten times less harmful, but the boards actually became 1.5 kg lighter. HiFly even offered to share its know-how with the competition. However, whilst Fanatic has since gone CFC-free, Tiga and Bic still rely on the ozone-depleting substance.
Surfin’ USA: The America Special featuring all the windsurfing spots
In its major America special, *surf* magazine showcases the best windsurfing spots in the land of (as it was then) unlimited opportunities. In the internet age, it’s easy to forget that information on windsurfing opportunities in what was then the ‘land of dreams’ for many Germans was scarce. We start in San Francisco, at the legendary Crissy Field right next to the Golden Gate Bridge – the starting point for a trip towards Oregon. The cold Pacific and the warm hinterland reliably produce wind; even Robby Naish raves about the secluded spots along the coast, such as Pistol River. “I’ve never once looked over my shoulder before jibing to see if anyone’s coming,” says one of the very few locals. They are exceptionally friendly and curious about all visitors. This also holds true further south, at “California’s super wave” on Waddell Creek. The conditions here, however, are less inviting: “The locals [...] consider a water temperature of 13 degrees to be warm”, and on top of that there’s a fierce shorebreak and sharks. You can also surf in Las Vegas, on Lake Mead, which is dammed by the gigantic Hoover Dam. And even though it belongs to Mexico, Baja California is part of the west coast scene. Windsurfing is as much a part of Florida “as Don Johnson is to Miami”. In contrast to the Caribbean spots there, Corpus Christi in southern Texas is well-known, but overcrowded and dirty. The tour of surf spots concludes with the legendary Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod on the east coast, before moving on to some tips for River Gorge.
The Speed Channel in France
In the nineties, Saintes Maries de la Mer had a name just as promising as Lüderitz does today: here, in the south of France, there used to be an artificially dredged channel that allowed windsurfers to reach top speeds. In the Rhône delta, amongst a multitude of étangs (small lakes), the wind blows unhindered out to sea, making the area a speed mecca. Initially, people rode out on the open sea, before hotelier Michel Rousselet came up with the idea of digging a canal in 1986. The loamy sand was perfect, and in 1988 the world’s first ‘surf stadium’ was opened, measuring 800 metres long, 20 metres wide and one metre deep. The channel is positioned so that four wind directions blow broad reach, and in the years that followed, records were set one after another. Later, the course was extended to 1,100 metres; the local council and the Ministry of Sport in Paris provide strong support, yet the canal still fails to turn a profit due to its high running costs. When, from 2007, the Canal in Lüderitz As it is being built, St. Maries de La Mer is being overshadowed by the canal in the Namibian desert.
You can browse through the whole magazine in the gallery above!
What else is going on?
- In the book *Über die Ostsee in die Freiheit* (Across the Baltic Sea to Freedom), author Bodo Müller recounts stories of people fleeing the GDR on surfboards or sailing boats. *surf* had already reported on the Dirk Dekkert and Karsten Klünder’s successful escape reports.
- Does neoprene make you ill? Apparently, there is an increasing number of skin problems caused by the ‘explosive’ proliferation of bacteria in the pores of the neoprene. surf is calling on readers to report their experiences to the editorial team
- Surfer Curt Carlsmith died in an accident on Maui’s North Shore; *surf* has come under criticism because a photograph was published in February showing Carlsmith, shortly before his death, hanging from the skid of a helicopter during the rescue operation. Photographer Sylvain Cazenave explains that Curt had grinned at him, prompting him to take the photo. Shortly afterwards, he suffered a cardiac arrest and fell to his death.
- “For once, it’s not a cigarette brand”, but a perfume label that intends to invest ten million dollars in the World Cup over three years as a tour sponsor.
- As a bonus for new subscribers, we’re offering the ‘surf’ card game featuring watercolour designs.
- Under the heading ‘New Inventions of the Season’, surf showcases not only an emergency fin that is stowed in the mast protector, but also North’s ‘Ergo Trim’: a lever that allows the luff strap to be pulled through the cleat with minimal effort – essentially the forerunner of the Power.XT!
- With the Ergo Trac, North has produced a combination of a seat harness and chest harness designed to prevent back problems. It was not included in the major harness test.
- From the World Cup to the One Hour: surf covers all the major regatta series for beginners and newcomers
- Advertising gems: A legendary image that has adorned countless walls: the Quiksilver advert featuring Robby Naish on a gleaming silver wave as he performs a bottom turn
You can browse through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
Tobias Frauen
Editor