"There is one place in this world that will never let me go," writes Andy Wolff about the Tahitian island of Tubuai. After meeting a Tahitian at the beginning of his windsurfing career and visiting him at home, Andy fell in love with this almost untouched paradise. Now he made his way to the archipelago of the Austral Islands, which are said to be caressed by the trade winds and somewhat spared from civilisation. There is a boat from Tahiti's capital Papeete, but it takes a week. It took a lot of persuasion to convince the airline that serves the islands to squeeze windsurfing equipment into the small propeller plane. But the effort was worth it: Andy, Levi Siver and Jerome Boldoires found a true paradise. The locals are enthusiastic about windsurfing, but don't want to try it out themselves. They didn't want to embarrass themselves, "after all, it was important to preserve the reputation of the Polynesians as virtuoso sailors." There was plenty of surfing, the pictures in the story speak for themselves!
From prototype to series board
Stephan Gölnitz has analysed the development of new boards using three brands as examples. In addition to the big players Fanatic and JP-Australia, HiFly is also involved with shaper Klaus Jocham. He tests all the boards himself, has more than 20 years of experience and has normal surfers in mind when designing the boards. At JP, the main focus is on figures: Test results, market analyses and the direct competition are taken as a basis to fill the specifications of new boards. Specific riding characteristics are worked on with determination, and meticulous comparison rides are used to highlight the differences between prototypes. "And your tests," says JP shaper Werner Gnigler with a grin to surf, "also save me a lot of work, of course. I could never organise and test so many boards." Anyone who buys a wave board from Fanatic in 2002 gets an original Goya. Together with shaper Sebastian Wenzel, the wave world champion develops the shapes, which go into production identical down to the last detail. Isn't a board from the style guru too radical for the average Baltic Sea rider? "My boards also have to work in all conditions," assures Francisco. "I use them everywhere, I don't differentiate between onshore and sideshore areas." Thanks to the faster wave style of the pros, the boards have also become easier to ride for hobby surfers.
Maui with a difference
Werner Hickel is a passionate windsurfer like so many others and has fulfilled his Hawaiian dream. But Maui is much less glamorous away from the professional videos. In surf, he describes his life in a shared flat full of surf freaks with an adventurous lifestyle, vermin and cheap noodles in packs of a hundred. Maui on a budget can be tough. A cheaply bought board turns out to be stolen, luckily the rightful owner is reasonably peaceful - in contrast to other locals who shout wild curses and slash car tyres in the line-up. Why would anyone take this upon themselves? A session in Hookipa then puts the windsurfer's life back in perspective: the wave, left to him by none other than Francisco Goya, turns out to be the ride of a lifetime. Werner then manages his first real front loop. "It's pretty rough here for paradise," summarises Werner. "It has its price, the immeasurable grace and intensity of Hawaii. Whether the islands shine in their mystical, unrivalled light or not is always up to you."
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- Christina Rau, the wife of the former Federal President and therefore First Lady, describes herself as an "enthusiastic fan" of windsurfing. On holiday on Spiekeroog, she is back on the board regularly after a long break; Rau learnt to windsurf back in 1978
- American Express advertises with Ramon Fenoll, a surf shop owner from Tarifa: "He knows how to [...] surf. He teaches you for American Express travellers cheques", accompanied by an inviting look with a Kojak look.
- After 48 units, Cobra discontinued the production of hollow boards for quality reasons. However, around 15 to 20 units of a 5.3-kilo freestyler are said to have made it to Europe.
- Björn Dunkerbeck was unable to be on Sylt because he had shot himself in the foot with a harpoon.
- The graphic design of the JP boards comes from Gudrun Geiblinger, who received an award for the design of the F2 Axxis back in 1993. Geiblinger's designs are often radical with skulls or the like. Only one snowboard with a vibrator design was banned by the Salzburg state school board "for the protection of young people".
- With the Hypersonic, Starboard is launching a board that should be the right choice for all conditions on the regatta course. Short, wide, flat and with cutouts, it is clearly reminiscent of today's freeracers. Only the 2.5 cm (!) deep concaves look special.
- One of the most legendary adverts in windsurfing history came from NeilPryde: an empty giant wave breaking off Oahu, accompanied by the slogan "The wind can tell the difference". It hung as a poster in the author's room for years.
- surf tests various roof boxes for equipment to create more space in the car. Also included: a roof tent - another way to create more space in the car
- Dr Michael Sachweh explains the wind systems at the most important spots in Europe and how the forecasts are produced. This in short form - the meteorologist then gave very detailed explanations in 2022 in our big wind special
- Vincent Langer was introduced as an up-and-coming talent in 2002. Even then, course racing appealed to him more than freestyle. The goal: to become a professional! As we all know, it worked out, Vinc has been busy collecting titles
- Riding the wrong way round: Matt Pritchard shows the most spectacular outhaul forward moves!
- At the Funboard-DM on Norderney, Andy Laufer narrowly misses out on his first title, which is won (of course) by Flessner, despite F2 sponsorship and travelling with a Fanatic board. André Paskowski wins Wave/Freestyle - and has to shave off his long, blond hair
- Dream conditions at the Freestyle World Cup in Canada: In the little-known area on the Magdalen Islands between Newfoundland and Quebec, however, there were hardly any professionals at the start.
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
Tobias Frauen
Editor