Squabbling at official level: F2 has left the World Cup pool and founded its own "Association for the Promotion of Surfing" in which seven German manufacturers are represented. Fanatic, on the other hand, refuses to join. In separate surf interviews, Peter Brockhaus and Udo Schütz take issue with each other - very entertaining to read, even if the points of contention are no longer relevant. Brockhaus denounces the fact that the World Cup does not care about the grassroots and that "several very stupid decisions" have been made. He suggested fewer factory riders, but instead amateurs and qualifiers from lower-level regattas such as the Euro Funboard Cup. Fanatic boss Schütz, on the other hand, accuses Brockhaus of "small-minded parochialism", saying that the newly founded association does not represent the surf industry, but only a small part of it, due to the entry restrictions. F2, on the other hand, "no longer wants to co-finance Robby Naish's success" and doubts that the World Cup will produce boards that are in line with the market, surf summarises in a question. Schütz counters: "Then I wonder why he needed the Racy Cat for a comparison test all summer to tune his Lightning!"
Is Arnaud de Rosnay still alive?
One of the most mysterious stories in windsurfing history to date: Arnaud de Rosnay disappeared a few weeks before it was published. The French baron famously wanted to surf from China to Taiwan on a peace mission and disappeared without a trace shortly after the start. surf author Angelika Schäfer reconstructs the last days and hours before his disappearance. Rosnay sets off without a permit, travelling as a tourist and choosing his starting point so that he is out of reach of the warships at the nearest military port. He therefore has to set off without an escort boat. His two companions, a photographer and a NeilPryde equipment specialist, travelled back to Hong Kong immediately after the launch. The Baron was supposed to arrive in the late afternoon, but the agreed call from Taiwan failed to materialise. However, three days later, the official authorisations from the Chinese and Taiwanese governments arrive. Shortly afterwards, Rosnay was reported missing and an extensive search operation was launched on the sea and hundreds of uninhabited islands. Neither board nor rig nor any other clues were found. But in February 1985, there was still hope that Rosnay would reappear, as a personal text from a companion makes clear. Today we know: Arnaud de Rosnay disappeared without a trace - without a happy ending for his wife Jenna de Rosnay and daughter Alizé.
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- Excitement just before boot in Düsseldorf: a new DIN standard stated that harnesses must have a buoyancy of 7.5 kilos. Many brands rushed to create new models.
- An enterprising surf reader has made a "cover" with which you can enlarge a funboard by 25 cm and about 30 litres. The strap-on bow is fastened with straps.
- Legendary today, embarrassing back then: the answer to a surfing puzzle was "Lee vor vor". Quite rightly, there was a flood of letters to the editor
- With questionnaires and tables, you can use surf to find out how good you really are at windsurfing. The magic word is "excess volume"
- Surf test in Israel: Four new series "guns" are pitted against the F2 Sunset. Verdict: Fast boards, but hardly suitable for the masses
- Advertising pearls: "Surfing is too expensive!" "Everyone has the right to a board that suits them!" - what sounds like headlines from the "Bild" are slogans from surf brands
- surf sheds light on the scene in Salzburg: Pioneer Bertram Glaser got his contract as a windsurfer importer just 14 days after Calle Schmidt from Sylt, Alpha was founded in the area and the folding centreboard was invented.
- Test again: 295s are booming as a good compromise between sportiness and sufficient volume. The test findings still apply today: "Wide tail glides early", "Little rocker good for speed" and "Wide tail, more edge pressure". Every test report is labelled with the note "Attention, this board requires a high level of riding ability!"
- A classic: surf presents the spots around Hood River. At "Lake Garda to the power of two", a World Cup had to be postponed shortly beforehand due to too much wind (!)
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
Tobias Frauen
Editor
Tobi is our digital man, he looks after the surf website and social media channels and gets on everyone's nerves every morning by asking for more pictures and videos. His surfing CV includes all the famous choppy water spots: As a teenager, he went from his home in Münsterland to the Ijsselmeer or the Brouwersdam, and during his civilian service on Sylt, after countless washes on the west side, the Königshafen became his preferred spot. After studying in Kiel and Heidkate, he was supposed to go to Hamburg “only for a short time”, but this short time has lasted for over ten years and has made him a “weekend warrior”. He goes on tour with his family and camper van as often as possible, often to the Baltic Sea, SPO or Denmark, but also likes to go to Finland, Sweden or Sardinia.
