How do the graphics get onto the board?
In the September issue, surf focuses on board design. And that doesn't just mean the shape (more on this later), but also the graphics. Back then, the industry was switching from bright, colourful designs to a reduced - some say boring - white look. surf visited the graphic designers of the major brands and philosophised with them about the appearance of the boards. F2 - which had recently had a huge flop with a Gorbachev portrait - favours a technical, dynamic design to emphasise the brand's sporty image. Brand manager Martin Brander had tests and surveys carried out so as not to take any risks. Graphic designer Gudrun Geiblinger created a spacey design with many shades for the 94 boards, which prevailed over a pastel pink-green colour and an Andy Warhol soup can homage, among other things.
Mistral is more conservative; for some years now, the boards have been decorated with an "elegantly shimmering and sophisticated colour gradient". This was well received at the launch and has changed very little since then - just as the older target group likes it. The trend in 1993/1994 was for white boards with little decoration. This imitated the technical look of the World Cup custom boards and drove some designers to despair: Fanatic graphic designer Werner Richter found the standard white colour "totally boring", but didn't want to buck the trend. Gudrun Geiblinger from F2 takes a completely different view: "Anyone who doesn't know which way to go has to go with the flow. [...] Before they do something wrong, they'd rather do nothing at all!". The white trend also suits HiFly, who select their designs without extensive testing and questioning. The smaller boards are thus visually closer to the less sporty, blown boards, which are only decorated with a sticker for cost reasons. And which design is the best? surf readers can decide and vote for their favourite board in a competition.
No Nose is good nose
In the summer of 1993, a trend emerged that would last for much of the 90s: The first brands start to include cautious no-nose shapes in their programmes, and the "Hinkelstein boards" are already widespread in the World Cup. Before the 94 models hit the market with a flood of no-nose boards, surf explains the shapes and what's behind them. Briefly summarised: The widest point moves back behind the centre of the board, the tail becomes wider and the volume in front of the base plate is significantly reduced. As a result, the boards are supposed to turn like on a disc and become faster. In August 1993, it was also advertised that the boards were easier to ride and at best "took some getting used to" - from today's perspective, you have to feel sorry for countless amateur surfers who fought a rodeo with the stubborn high-tech boards for years and were often left on land annoyed.
The new shapes were only made possible by good fins and modern sails with a twisting top and a relatively stable centre of effort at the front. The shapes are sometimes extreme, especially in the World Cup. Whilst Dunkerbeck does not want to risk his success, Patrice Belbeoc'h is more courageous and has been experimenting with no nose shapes since 1991. His success prompted other shapers to jump on board, but Jutta Müller, for example, preferred to continue using conventional boards after her first test runs. And even surf still shows a little scepticism in 1993: Sheet starts and tacking are much more difficult with the new boards, and the thin noses can break easily.
Gu-Ru Mark Angulo
He invented the Gu Screw, better known today as the Wave 360, and was regarded as the new Robby Naish. But Mark Angulo didn't get on well after his first successes in Hawaii at the World Cup and quickly acquired an extremely negative image. In the early 90s, at the age of 25, he lived in seclusion on Maui and planned to go on a world tour with his band. Along the way, he pushed his little brother, a certain Josh Angulo: "He'll be the best waverider in the world one day, I promise!" Josh was able to keep his promise in 2003 and became world champion in 2009 - although he had severe drug and alcohol problems beforehand.
Dreamland New Zealand
188 days a year with gusts of seven or more, 41 days with upwards of 50 knots: Wellington in New Zealand is not for the faint-hearted. surf editor-in-chief Gerd Kloos travelled to the other end of the world in 1993 to take a look at the windsurfing scene there. In view of the exorbitant wind statistics, 3.0s are standard, and locals recommend familiarising yourself with the reasonably moderate spot Tangimoana before venturing to the wave spots in the north: "Not suitable for flat-water riders and slalom fuzzies!" The locals promise better waves than in Hawaii, but unfortunately a little colder. "To make the water feel a bit warmer in winter, the freaks go snowboarding on Taranaki in the mornings." In general, New Zealanders are extremely hospitable, open and optimistic. Even on the South Island, where there are also spots for "slalom fuzzies".
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
And what else?
- Injuries caused by cuts to the fin are increasing, surf measures: The tear-off edge of a G10 fin is just 0.3 millimetres thick, only 0.1 millimetres thicker than a kitchen knife!
- More than 20,000 surf stickers have been sent to readers who want to take part in the "surf im Segel" campaign. Action pictures with stickers can be sent in, and 200 marks are awarded if they are printed
- In the gallery of ISPO innovations, the trends described above are extremely clear: almost only white, narrow boards and sails made entirely of transparent mono film...
- "From lifeguard to board hero": surf gives tips for the perfect surfing career, from teenage hotspur to seasoned surfer over 40.
- The World Cup in Pozo is a slalom-only event, but many pros still resort to the waveboard in the over-hack in order to have any semblance of control. But at the subsequent Wave World Cup on Tenerife, there is only half a metre of wave, but they still start - much to the displeasure of the riders. Jutta Müller celebrates a comeback in the double elimination, Bernd Flessner and Robby Seeger meet in the men's competition.
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 8/1985
- 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 6/1991
- 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
