July 2006, does that ring a bell? That's right, the whole country was in summer fairytale fever during the World Cup in Germany. Those who didn't forget windsurfing between Poldi, Jogi and Ballack got a big package of great topics in the July issue, still highly interesting almost 20 years later! Spot guides on the North Sea (back home for kick-off!), Steve Chismar on the trail of the legendary Bay of Pigs, windskating for the half-time break or a windsurfing trip to Oman, which is guaranteed to be football-free.
The most legendary "signature moves" in windsurfing history
Everyone knows Charlie Chaplin's waddle or Elvis' hip swing, writes surf author Steve Chismar, and many outstanding windsurfers also have that one move that is unattainable for others in terms of style and radicalism. No matter how hard they try, it will always be an imitation. The then still young Boujmaa Guillol and Victor Fernandez were known early on for their curved jumps and the pushloop table top respectively. But almost every windsurfing grom still knows the legends' signature moves today: who hasn't dreamt of a bottom turn a lá Polakow? He turns "a standard move into fireworks", enthuses Steve. Josh Angulo practically invented the signature move with his one-handed aerials and this is the name for what Robby Naish already had with his tweaked table top. The next generations have followed suit since this story: Philip Köster's fearless pushloop forwards, Marcilio Browne's double loops, Morgan Noireaux and his 360s - each leaving their own signature.
The Bay of Pigs myth
We late-borns only know the Bay of Pigs on Lake Garda from stories (those in Cuba, on the other hand, from history books). Steve Chismar set out in 2006 to explore the myth of the almost inaccessible bay on the western shore. It established its reputation in the golden age as the "Hookipa of Lake Garda", this is where they all were, where the wind was accelerated once again, where Mike Eskimo rode the first Duck Jibe in Europe. Those who wanted to take part not only had to climb down a steep rock face, but also prove themselves on the water in front of the sworn Schweinebucht community: "Anyone riding boards over 250 centimetres should step on the gas and surf Torbole," recalls Schweinebucht legend Hänsen Vogelsammer, only real sinkers were allowed. "The guys who rode bigger boards were called raftsmen." There wasn't much space down on the gravel, with 15 rigs stacked on top of each other. Some slept right downstairs, others in their buses right next to the busy road, the parties were long and loud. In addition to the story that the Bay of Pigs was named after its Cuban model because of its remoteness, there are other explanations for the name: the surfers lived there like pigs (which everyone denies), the nearby hotel disposed of its waste in the bay ("it was always spotlessly clean here") or the name comes from the fact that all the "poor pigs" were driven there from the pier: "It was the last beach until the Ponale, the last rescue from the eternal rock!"
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- A new freestyle talent? The 16-year-old Brazilian Ian Mouro Lemos makes quite an impression - but then just as quickly disappears into oblivion again
- Frenchwoman Raphaela le Gouvello crosses the Pacific on a "surf yacht" (a kind of habitable board) and is about to reach her destination of La Reunion in June 2006.
- The surf festival oval on Fehmarn offered the full programme of partying, testing and watching. Among others, Taty Frans, Kiri Thode from Bonaire, racers Greg Allaway and Nik Baker and Björn Dunkerbeck - who only came second behind Helge Wilken in the race around the island.
- Gemini: Starboard brings a new tandem, in the new wide shape style and with EVA deck to take surf students with you
- For its 25th anniversary, F2 is launching a new Sunset in a limited edition: a modern freerider with the legendary name - which is back in the F2 programme even after the relaunch. There is also extra clothing for the anniversary
- We are in the Thommen era: After leaving F2, Dunkerbeck founded his own brand T1 together with shaper Peter Thommen, and in 2006 a complete range was launched on the market. The label has since disappeared and Thommen builds early planing boards under his own name
- Surf tester Jonas Holzhausen tries out the Buhala board, the "jeep among skateboards", and shows off some moves on the beach
- Daily Dose was one of the pioneers of windsurfing on the internet. Jürgen Schall, a DWC rider and soulwave winner, is behind the site; surf author Claudio Koch introduces the visionary. "Theoretically, you could work and publish from anywhere in the world," says Jürgen, who at the time was already managing his site "on the move" for around two months a year.
- A private Airbus, five spots all over the world in 20 days: Surf & Action is offering the ultimate surf trip for November 2007, which will take you to Oman, Japan, Maui, Baja California and Brazil - Björn Dunkerbeck will also be part of it. Costs a whopping 12,000 euros.
- Wild North Sea or shallow water biotope: In the Spot Guides surf shows Oldie but Goldie St-Peter-Ording in summer 2006 and as a protected alternative the Meldorf Speicherkoog ("Hate me or love me") - here you can find the latest spot info: Windsurfing and wingfoiling in the Meldorf Speicherkoog - North Sea area with shallow water
- "Germany's most peculiar surfing water", Lake Elfrath near Krefeld, receives a visit from surf editor Alois Mühlegger. The quarry pond with its many right angles and "basins" is home to the Krefeld Windglider Club.
- Flo Jung and Andy Pusch explore Oman - and find great surfing conditions and very hospitable people
More surf reviews:
- surf 4/1977
- surf 6/1977
- surf 6/1978
- surf 4/1979
- surf 9/1980
- surf 11/1980
- surf 4/1981
- surf 5/1982
- surf 6/1982
- surf 4/1983
- surf 10/1983
- surf 9/1984
- surf 12/1984
- surf 8/1985
- surf 8/1986
- surf 9/1986
- surf 2/1987
- surf 5/1987
- surf 8/1988
- surf 5/1989
- surf 7/1989
- surf 4/1990
- surf 3/1991
- surf 6/1991
- surf 3/1992
- surf 10/1992
- surf 9/1993
- surf 10/1993
- surf 4/1994
- surf 7/1995
- surf 6/1996
- surf 11-12/1996
- surf 7/1997
- surf 8/1998
- surf 9/1998
- surf 4/1999
- surf 7/2001
- surf 5/2005
- surf 3/2006
