Another huge magazine! From the mid-nineties, surf was available in an almost daily newspaper-like format, with each page easily three centimetres larger than later formats.
Lake Garda, the surf behind the burner
surf dedicates a highly detailed spot guide to Lake Garda. You might think that everything has been said about this area, but you can only get so many insider tips in one place late at night in the taverns of Torbole - and their truthfulness decreases as the number of per mille increases. "Between the Torbole marina and the gallery, thousands of Tedesci have learnt what a spinout is and have made themselves at home in the foot straps on the promenade in the Hotel Pier," writes editor-in-chief Gerd Kloos about the Germans' love for the lake. Even Goethe was full of praise for "the land where the lemons bloom". For us, the reliable wind system is much more appealing, although locals swear that it used to blow stronger. "Former strong wind with three letters?" is a running joke among surf instructors back then. "But that was back when they would have given a six-and-a-half sail to the Gorch Fock," Kloos continues. At the pier, every board over 250 centimetres was mistaken for a jetty and the building was evacuated within a few minutes with the words "The Ora is coming!".
Everyone just wants to glide and nose dive
The surf test focusses on the central theme of all funboarders: planing. With extensive comparisons, surf finds out: The best planing board is 2.90 metres long and has 120 litres. Smaller boards have too little buoyancy, larger ones too much mass. There are also tables for the optimal fin size and a spacey 3D graphic in a nineties design to help you find the right sail size.
Lots of riding technique in one magazine: the race jibe is shown as a classic move - still an eye-catcher today! Worldcuppers Nik Baker and Natalie Siebel show how to land after jumps. Tail first is the safe classic, a nose dive looks more spectacular, but also takes a lot of effort. The big guide on how to get back home on a small board when the wind falls asleep is much more practical. Everyone has probably had to take part in this wobbly doddle at some point.
The sails are getting bigger
Bernd Flessner wins the Windsurf Cup on Fehmarn thanks to the "wonder weapon" VX from sail sponsor NeilPryde. The sails in general: in the mid-nineties, manufacturers and riders increased the sizes in light winds. "Anyone who could, rigged a 7.8. Didi Kornelli even went for an 8.3" wrote surf. A 7.8 is now as easy to ride as a 7.0, states Knut Budig, and Andy Laufer - who found the whole event "a bit boring" - sees the 8.5 coming next year.
Francisco in a hurry
"I like winning, but you should still have a good day and not be too tense" - this is what Francisco Goya says when he is introduced as a newcomer by surf author Bernd Zerelles in 1995. Even back then, the Argentinean's calm, reserved manner was just as impressive as his style on the wave. "I think everyone who rides around here in Hookipa has the dream of being waveriding world champion one day. Everyone," he admits - and we know that Goya's style shaped an entire generation and that five years later he would fulfil his dream.
Francisco's journey from a river in Argentina, the jump to Maui, where he first had to make ends meet with part-time jobs, and the first sponsorships from Naish and Chiemsee reads like a fairy tale. Today, after winning the world championship and founding his own company, Goya is one of the most influential people in the surf business. But he also says at the time: "I don't want to be a leader. You lose too much: people get jealous, are no longer open to you, always expect the right answer and want to follow your lead. No, I don't like that!" His success and the great reputation he enjoys proves him right!
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- For statistics fans: The "Federal Association of the German Surfing Industry" reports that larger boards between 276 and 290 centimetres were bought 3 per cent more often than in the previous year - "delicate indications that the sport is returning to our inland lakes".
- Pearls of advertising: "Drinking is the laughter of the gods!" - Fortunately, this slogan is not used to advertise spirits, but mineral water
- Jenna de Rosnay designs women's neos for NeilPryde, as a promotional campaign she has a neo bodypainted on her naked skin and is photographed wearing it
- The decline of the PBA: According to Chairman Phil McGain, 300,000 dollars in prize money has not been paid out so far, the tour is shrinking, sponsors are dropping out - the dodgy President Christian Herles is said to be to blame (see surf 3/1992). One year later, the successor organisation PWA is founded.
- Jaws unveiled! For years, everyone puzzled over the exact location of the legendary big wave spot. Gerry Lopez reveals how to get there in the "Surfers Journal"
- In the USA, there is a new "wind call": a service hotline calls when there is wind at the home spot
- The market overview of the summer Neos is a flashback to the nineties: What the models are showing off, somewhat over the top, can at best be described as "garish". Apparently the poor pelican on page 52 was also narcotised by the colours - we hope he was okay!
- Longboards: Large overview of fun makers for beginners and light wind tricksters
More surf reviews:
- These were the highlights in surf 6/1978
- 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 8/1985
- These were the highlights in surf 8/1986
- These were the highlights in surf 5/1987
- These were the highlights in surf 8/1988
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1990
- These were the highlights in surf 6/1991
- These were the highlights in surf 3/1992
- These were the highlights in surf 9/1993
- 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
- These were the highlights in surf 4/1999
