"Remember the name Polakow!"
"Robby is at a loss, the scene is speechless, Björn is burning for revenge," write Björn Schrader and Andreas Erbe in their report on the Maui Invitational off Hookipa. In a place where locals and perhaps Björn Dunkerbeck are usually allowed to win, a 19-year-old from Australia blew everyone away. His name: Jason Polakow. Back then, the event announcer still struggled with the unfamiliar sound, but today almost every windsurfer knows JP.
His career is also almost legendary today: Because his parents forbade him from riding motocross, Jason ended up windsurfing. No fear paired with creativity make for spectacular images, but Polakow can also perform with pinpoint accuracy in the contest. His goal: world champion. Back then, Jason also competed in the slalom, but he doesn't want to start in the course race - the boards are too big for him. One expert predicts: "Robby was the dominant wave surfer in the 80s, Jason will be in the 90s!" And even today, Jason Polakow is still one of the best wave surfers in the world and hardly ever misses a big swell.
Stunt kites as flaut killers
As early as 1977, Peter Brockhaus wrote in "Windsurfing Magazin" about stunt kites as the "ideal toy for windsurfers, their brides, wives and children". In 1991, windsurfing brands such as F2 and NPU also had stunt kites in their range, and Björn Dunkerbeck can also be seen flying them with his sister Britt: "I relax with a stunt kite in two Beaufort winds. It makes the wait fly by." surf presents 15 models - all designed for use on land only. Nobody was thinking about surfing with a kite in 1991.
Spot guides for Cologne and Hamburg, shortcuts for Munich
The Renesse and Brouwersdam spot guide gives rise to the suspicion that this is a district of the Rhine metropolis: not only because of the infamous "Cologne Bay", but also because it is "like the Müngersdorf stadium". But those who prefer "Bach to BAP" will also find quieter spots. Back then, there was no surfing infrastructure, but today the Brouwersdam surf centre is perfectly positioned.
For Hamburgers, the potential choice of spots is even greater: surf shows lots of places to go in the Hanseatic city. In addition to classics such as St. Peter-Ording, Heidkate and Heiligenhafen, there are also more unknown spots such as Sahna near Großenbrode, as well as inland spots such as Plöner See and Oortkatensee.
"Climbing instead of biking" is the motto for alternative routes for the Lake Garda trip from Munich. surf shows "shortcuts" across the Alps, with spots for spontaneous sessions along the way.
Britt Dunkerbeck - more than just "the sister of"
When she entered the World Cup at 17, Britt Dunkerbeck had to deal with immense pressure simply because of her surname. "I was shy at first and was under pressure to succeed. If I was interrupted just before a start, I didn't react very favourably." This earned her a reputation as a moody diva, but in 1991 things were very different. After winning three world championship titles, Britt became more self-confident and relaxed, as surf author Andreas Erbe writes in his portrait entitled "Britty Woman". Björn is her training partner and benchmark, and Britt also "doesn't go into a competition to come second!".
In terms of prize money won, the then 21-year-old was in fifth place in the men's competition, the dream being all eight titles for the Dunkerbeck family. The unequal treatment of women and men in the World Cup was already a big issue back then: there was no equality in terms of the conditions in which they competed, prize money or media attention. Britt likes to spend her own prize money on shopping trips, and she also likes the dress code at the award ceremonies: "A lot of people don't stick to it. I think the PBA should penalise this more severely!"
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- In a shoot for NeilPryde, the riders are given the task of destroying five sails as spectacularly as possible. Björn Dunkerbeck, Rush Randle, Mark Angulo and Laird Hamilton "jumped the sail tops off the mast in rows". This was to become a cherished tradition in the years that followed.
- F2 has a life-size cardboard stand-up of Björn Dunkerbeck on offer for 99 marks
- According to a survey, windsurfing is the most popular water sport, ahead of sailing, motor boating/water skiing and canoeing/paddling/rowing
- ZDF wants to show more windsurfing and is producing a Robby Naish portrait and a report for the culture channel 3sat
- The raceboard is dying out: More and more professionals are riding large slalom boards in light winds. Shaper Peter Thommen says: "We would have been able to build slalom boards that glide even in three wind forces for a long time. It's just that rig development hasn't got that far yet."
- The legendary bagpipe advert, which appeared in the surf for decades, prompted one annoyed reader to call out "Buy it at last!" The seller, on the other hand, wants to continue advertising, as he has already sold several copies
- surf has developed its own DIN-certified method for measuring the hardness of masts and shows which masts are suitable for which sails.
- "What's more strenuous than windsurfing? Putting on and taking off the wetsuit!" That's why surf gives you instructions on how to slip in and out of your wetsuit
- The classics in the area of riding technique: fast tack and water start - the latter also with mental training to overcome fears
- Windsurfing camps are also popular in 1991: Ian Boyd organises a wave camp in St. Peter-Ording, and surf also visits some "yatties" ("young action travellers") at youth camps. Everyone is enthusiastic, the only drawback: "Unfortunately, there aren't enough cavaliers here to carry the board to the beach for us," say participants Nathalie and Johanna.
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 5/1982
- 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
