Review: These were the highlights in surf 8/1978

Patent thriller in Munich with Hoyle Schweitzer

In the June 1978 issue, it was announced by hand-typed breaking news that Hoyle Schweitzer had been granted the patent for the windsurfer (see review 6/1978In the summer, the licence haggling got into full swing. surf was up close and personal, even chauffeuring Schweitzer and his wife from the airport to the hotel and providing information about the US American's availability. What can then be read in detail in the September issue seems bizarre - probably not only from today's perspective: Schweitzer holds court in Munich, the board manufacturers are given audiences to beg for a licence ("a degrading situation"). Schweitzer presents himself as a protector, he wants to protect Jim Drakes and his invention from profiteers and "force German manufacturers to produce better board designs". To this end, he also uses the surf test but sympathises with the "Solar Star", which failed across the board (see letter to the editor below). Even surf author Ulrich Stanciu can't quite figure out Schweitzer, who on the one hand wants to grant licences ("about a dozen by the time the patent expires in 1987"), orders demonstration models and appears jovial, but on the other hand plays manufacturers off against each other, keeps blacklists and has apparently almost scared off patent partner TenCate. Over the course of the Schweitzers' four-day guest appearance in Munich, the phone rang repeatedly in the surf editorial office, manufacturers enquired about Schweitzer and in some cases set off directly to get a meeting with the patent pope. In the meantime, he visits a surf shop in Munich, is surprised by the progressive appearance and almost signs the wrong board. Schweitzer assures us that he will make decisions and draft letters on his return flight, but none of the licence applicants had heard back by the editorial deadline. Only Mistral, one of the candidates on Hoyle's blacklist ("for reasons related to Peter Brockhaus"), received a letter from Schweitzer's lawyer. After examining the catalogue, he promptly filed a lawsuit. The patent was to keep the industry in turmoil until well into the 1980s, when the funboard wave took the wind out of Schweitzer and his lawyers' sails.

The invention of foot straps

"New hit from Hawaii: straps on the board" announces surf on the cover. The "greatest surfing invention [...] since the harness strap" thrilled everyone who had the chance to try out the new "loops". "How could we ever surf without them?", "best control", "like fifth gear" raves the Hawaii gang. However, the "new-fangled foot straps" are not only useful for jumping in the surf, but also for preventing catapults. For those in a hurry, here are the first brief instructions for laminating the nylon strap. However, due to the risk of injury, surf only advises "real experts" to surf with straps "until someone redesigns the surf binding as a safety binding".

Windsurfing in Thailand

The fact that Thailand has not really established itself as a surfing destination seems surprising in light of the raving article from 1978, despite its dubious image ("Neckermann jumbos with destination Bangkok have a bad reputation: Bumsbomber."). The Siam Cup has put the country in the spotlight of the surfing community; excellent food, hospitality and plenty of culture are appealing to all those who "don't just want to fry on an island in the Caribbean or the Bahamas". There is also wind, four or more gusts in the "cooler" monsoon season, if you can bear the frosty 25 degree air temperature. It is emphasised that it is very easy to hire surf equipment locally: "The rental boards are built in Thailand and could anticipate a development in Europe: They weigh less than 15kg and are still robust." This is advertising on its own behalf - a few months earlier, author Bert Morsbach had co-founded Cobra, now the largest manufacturer in the world.

A portrait of Jürgen Hönscheid

"The greatest thing about the whole thing" is the surf: In one of Jürgen Hönscheid's first portraits, "Germany's best surf surfer" enthuses about windsurfing in the waves. At the beginning of 1978, Hönscheid came fourth in Hawaii behind locals such as Robby Naish, and in 1975 he had already become European wave champion. But it was a rocky road for the 23-year-old until then. Having grown up as a surfer on Sylt and become really good in the surf of Biarritz and California, the new windsurfing quickly caught his attention. Hönscheid describes the surfing course at Calle Schmidt's legendary school in Munkmarsch "today with a great deal of understatement as 'brief instruction'". He works as a lifeguard, moves to the "inland" (meaning Morsum and Tinnum) and feels his way around the surf, always with great respect. "I don't take every wave," says Hönscheid, "you have to know what you can trust yourself to do." A visit from two Hawaiians opens his eyes and shows him the possibilities in the waves. He is supported by ski manufacturer Marker, for whom he is to develop a board. On the side, he offers "surf safaris" on Sylt, where the best conditions and the "optimal slide through the surf" are sought.

You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!

And what else?

• Due to safety deficiencies, some boards are to be taken out of circulation by the Düsseldorf Trade Supervisory Office. The reason: the stand surface is "too roughened and therefore prone to injury"
• The manufacturer ENV ("playmate of the leisure generation") protests in a public letter against the result of the surf test from the Issue 6/1978 (you can read it here). The text, almost a page long, contradicts numerous statements about the "Solar Star" board (with a fixed, sloping keel instead of a daggerboard) from the test, calls for a new test and concludes with the pithy words: "We know that in a test of this kind, the 'Solar Star' can only receive the overall rating 'Best build quality, an excellent all-round board, especially suitable for beginners'." A succinct reply from the surf editorial team: "ENV would be better off spending more energy on correcting the handling characteristics of their board."
• "Bavarian suckling pig food and beer" was the Naish family's favourite thing about their first visit to Munich, a surf author claims to have observed, "Randy (17) in particular immediately took a liking to the dark Munich beer". 15-year-old Robby signs autographs on a surf poster, and four-year-old Rolly is also busy signing. Then it was off to Sylt, where Robby was a "guest instructor" for Jürgen Hönscheid.
• The first surf calendar was published in 1979. It is still a real hit every year - and with much sharper images than the 1978 advert on page 30/31.
• The classic combination of long john and bolero dominates the large neoprene test, the only model with a zip at the back is described as "taking some getting used to". Also included: a neoprene self-assembly kit.
• First appearance of a legend: The Mistral Competition in its first test. What enraged Hoyle Schweitzer (see above) was to become a bestseller for many years to come.
• DIY tip: A lost fin can be replaced with an old tin can that has been hammered into shape and soaked in resin, writes one reader. The whole thing is firmly laminated into the fin box and has "still proved its worth after the holidays".

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