Funboards in the test
surf tests eight new fun boards off Gran Canaria, i.e. sporty boards for gliding, jumping and more. Included: the Mistral Take Off as a world premiere, although it suffers from its immature fin folding system. The Bic Show is the "ugly duckling" and not very popular with the testers. It was only after test director Wolfgang Windhager put his foot down that Kutte Priessner got on the board - and blew the others away. The TenCate ("the egg from Holland") fails completely, the Point Rainbow suffers from the miserable rig: "This cloth can hardly be described as a sail!" The spoon-shaped Dynamit impresses with its outstanding speed, but is otherwise barely rideable.
15 years of windsurfing
In the May 1982 issue, surf celebrates the 15th birthday of our sport - recognisable by the special cover and many additional pages. Inside: a great story about how Jim Drake invented windsurfing, a big photo story with pictures from every year, a portrait of German surf pioneer Calle Schmidt and the best patent circumventions. In addition, surf turned five at the same time and showed the highlights of the history so far.
The discovery of Tarifa
Nowadays almost every surfer knows Tarifa, but in 1982 the surf author still had to be persuaded to take a look at this relatively unspoilt tourist area. Having travelled here in the hope of discovering Andalusian authenticity, he was at first disillusioned by the bed castles of Torremolinos on the journey from the airport - only to be delighted by Poniente. Back then, there was only one station on the beach, which stocked specially made 3.8 square metre storm sails and boards from Hawaii. Safety is a top priority and all customers are given a flare, aluminium foil in the harness for radar detection and a detailed information sheet on the water. The masts are also transparent so that any hairline cracks can be recognised quickly. Apart from surfing, there is not much going on: "There is no telephone or television, and at ten o'clock José, the bar boy, who is visibly tired himself, sends his guests to bed without further ado."
"Duck-necking" and Wing-Urahn at the PanAm Cup
The PanAm Cup on Oahu was considered the toughest race in the world at the time, but instead of spectacular races on the triangular course in 1982, there were only short races through the surf. As expected, the winner was Robby Naish - even though the then 18-year-old spent a sleepless night in hospital in between because he was there for the birth of his daughter Nani. Some participants show "the new duck jibe (dug-gybe), where the sail is swivelled over the head". and shortly before, Jim Drake had been spotted on Oahu with a new invention, a horizontal rig, similar to today's wings and a predecessor of the "Wind Weapon". With adjustable base plates and profile inserts on the mast sleeve, other riders are also keen to experiment.
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- With the "surf Computer Buyer's Guide", readers can "programme" their own request for the most suitable material: answer 18 questions, write the respective answers as numbers on a postcard and send it in, then the computer spits out the ideal board!
- In this issue alone, there are four reports on lawsuits brought by Hoyle Schweitzer. The patent holder, who is keen to sue, does not have to "tolerate" Olympic races on wind gliders, he prohibits the same company from selling boards and rigs "together" (!) and sues various associations for damages. In England, however, a court declares his patent null and void.
- surf reports on extensions "in all common diameters" and the many non-compatible mast base systems from different manufacturers. This makes us happy about today's standardised systems and sizes.
- surf shows the new swimwear trends for 1982 in a large photo series. "Topless" is out, bikinis and swimming costumes are the order of the day to "stop your curves rolling uncontrollably"
- To coincide with the big funboard test, Philip Pudenz shows the right funboard riding technique in a surf series. It starts with the beach start.
- A major issue back then, but fortunately no longer today: water pollution. surf shows a large map with the water quality of almost all German rivers. "The Elbe is a fountain of youth. One sip of it and you won't get old." Unfortunately, this was especially true in Hamburg in 1982, although there were a few windsurfers who ventured onto the river despite the ban on swimming. However, it was not only industrial waste that was often disposed of recklessly in rivers and lakes; discharges from sewage treatment plants were also a problem at many spots.
More surf reviews:
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1979
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1981
- These were the highlights in surf 9/1984
- These were the highlights in surf 8/1986
- These were the highlights in surf 8/1988
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1990
- These were the highlights in surf 3/1992
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1994
- These were the highlights in surf 11-12/1996
- These were the highlights in surf 7/1997
