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One can say the history of windsurfing is short. The sport came about around the mid-20th century. However, when looking back at the real history of boardsailing, it begun in 1884 with the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer along the Mississippi River on their sail boats in searching for freedom, friends and fun.
In his search for freedom and fun, in 1964 Sidney Newman Darby, a sign painter, made his sailboard that is widely acknowledged as the first windsurfing piece of craft. Caught between his life as a passionate artist and his trying to raise a family, he did not have the money at the time to patent his design. His wife, the photographer Naomi Darby, was the first woman windsurfer. Mr. Darby was rightfully given the title “the father of windsurfing” and Mrs. Darby won the prize of the First Lady in the sport.
Wind in the hair, salt on the skin – freedom! That was the motto that the engineer Jim Drake and the surfer and sky-diver Hoyle Schweitzer loved. Being good friends, they spent a lot of Californian summer nights together with a glass of cold wine or Bourbon. In 1967, Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer patented their design for a sailboard later trademarked as a windsurf board. The breakthrough came with their invention of a universal joint that allowed the sail to be attached to the board for a flexible movement. Those were introduced into mass-production in the 1970s and with Schweitzer’s marketing efforts, they soon became extremely popular in Europe.
The first world championship was held in 1973. In 1984 windsurfing was approved as an Olympic sport. The first gold medal in windsurfing went to the Dutchman Stephan van den Berg. Since then, sailboarding has always been part of the Olympic sailing competition. The first ever Olympic sailboard was the Windglider, the one-design windsurf board manufactured in Europe by Fred Ostermann.
When it comes to windsurfing, all you really need is wind and water. But there are several outstanding windsurf spots on the planet whose windiest bays deserve to be explored.
Maui – the “Windsurfing capital” of the world, the place where professional windsurfers converge.
The Greek Islands – Naxos, one of Europe’s top windsurfing destinations. It is exposed to the full force of the local Aegean winds called Meltemi which create ideal sailing conditions during summer.
Rhodes – a perfect spot for beginners in the morning and a playground for freestylers in the afternoon, when the winds pick up.
Fuerteventura, Spain – in the summer the trade winds provide perfect slalom conditions and in the winter, there are swell waves.
Cascais and Guincho – Portugal’s windiest spot and a windsurfing paradise
Boracay, Philippines – turquoise waters, palm-fringed beaches and laid-back atmosphere.
Back to Europe. Only 45 minutes from Vienna every spring you can meet the best windsurfers in the world at Neusiedler See. We asked Georg Kloibhofer, the organizer, to tell us a few words about Surf Worldcup Neusiedler See:
“The Surf Worldcup has been in existence since 1998. It started in Podersdorf am See with a few wine taverns, a lot of free beer and the surf contest. And now it is one of the largest windsurfing events in the world with an average of 80,000 visitors at two weekends, with live concerts, wild parties and much more. It’s the opening of the summer season at Neusiedler See, for most spectators it is also the first time of the year at the lake. People enjoy the warm weather and those emotions one can relate to the beach only, some summer drinks with friends while watching the best windsurfers.”
We asked three windsurfers about the Freedom, Fun and Friends!
Dobo is 41, currently based in Austria, Neusiedl am See. The words that go best with his description, according to him are: wind, water, safety first. He works as a Yachtmaster Instructor. His hobbies are windsurfing, extreme sailing, and meteorology.
Q: How did you come upon windsurfing? What was your inspiration, your first hint?
A: I first fell in love with sailing in Bulgaria. My parents had a motorboat, but it wasn’t dynamic enough for me. I was 9 when I started windsurfing.
Q: Why are you so passionate about windsurfing? What does it give you?
A: It makes me feel good and it relaxes me. It gives me the feeling of satisfaction and freedom. I really like the harmony of the wind with the ocean.
Q: Were you hooked from the first second on or did it take some time?
A: It was love at the first sight.
Q: How long have you been windsurfing?
A: 30 years.
Q: Your favorite waves on the planet?
A: ABC islands – Bonaire, Fuerteventura
Q: Your favorite windsurfing move?
A: Back loop.
Q: Do you prefer being alone in the water on the windsurf or with friends?
A: With friends.
Q: What would you recommend to a friend who starts with windsurfing?
A: Never give up!
Q: Is windsurfing a lifestyle?
A: Yes, Yes, Yes!
Q: What does Neusiedler See mean to you and what are its specific characteristics for windsurfing and for you?
A: Neusiedler See is my Austrian sea. If you can surf on Neusiedler See under difficult conditions, then you can surf anywhere.
Q: Your favorite lake in Austria?
A: Neusiedler See.
Michi Czech is 26, based in Vienna. He would describe himself as mindful, patient, kind, down to earth. He works as a (ghost)writer and a windsurf coach. His hobbies are sports, nature expeditions, photography, landscape design, and gardening.
Q: How did you come upon windsurfing? What was your inspiration, your first hint?
A: I spent every childhood summer in a windsurf community in Greece where my family and everyone around was living and breathing through windsurfing. At the beginning I enjoyed being in that atmosphere and eventually, I wanted to fly as fast as them. That image of the guys racing out in full speed next to each other, hanging on their sails ever so close to the water is still engraved in my memory.
Q: Why are you so passionate about windsurfing? What does it give you?
A: What I get is a constant challenge that triggers ambition, determination and persistence in the most fun way I can imagine. Fighting fear, speed and adrenaline have to do with that, plus being part of an amazing community. I love it because it gets me both mentally and physically engaged almost in a meditative state. This is pretty much the same for every windsurfer, independent of their level, so the connection you get when you share that in any part of the world is just amazing.
Q: Were you hooked from the first second on or did it take some time?
A: It took some time. When I started at age of nine, everything was really heavy and difficult. And I wasn’t fast. It all changed after planning (going fast) for the first time two summers later.
Q: How long have you been windsurfing?
A: For 17 years
Q: Your favorite waves on the planet?
A: Maui, Hawaii.
Q: Your favorite windsurfing move?
A: Forward loop.
Q: Do you prefer being alone in the water on the windsurf board or with friends?
A: With friends.
Q: What would you recommend to a friend who starts with windsurfing?
A: Take an introduction course to get a grip on the basics. Then spend as much time in the water as you can and don’t hesitate to ask any windsurfer for advice on equipment, conditions, how to improve etc. and then go where it takes you. Or hit us up at Windsurfclub Seewinkel.
Q: Is windsurfing a lifestyle?
A: Yes, since you depend on the weather and other conditions that you can’t control and that change quickly, you really develop a lifestyle if you choose to follow that. I think that’s what connects us.
Q: What does Neusiedler See mean to you and what are its specific?
A: Neusiedler See means windsurfing with my best friends at home and seeing all the local kids progress and falling for the sport. I’ve been to prettier beaches and seas that have more to offer windsurfing-wise but the most fun memories were made here. The conditions are ideal to make the first steps into windsurfing since it’s basically like a huge shallow lagoon. But then, it’s also one of the windiest lakes in Europe so it turns into a perfect playground and training ground when the wind is on.
Q: Your favorite lake in Austria?
A: Definitely Neusiedler See since it’s the windiest lake in Austria.
Karlo Grawallsky 44 (but looking like 32), lives close to Vienna, Austria, He would describe himself as tough, persistent, and passionate.
Q: How did you come upon windsurfing? What was your inspiration, your first hint? Were you hooked from the first second on or did it take some time?
A: It was an opportunity I got while on vacation. More or less a coincidence. I was in Mauritius and I was enjoying my days off away from work and stress. On the other hand, I wanted to do something good for my body, but since the Stand-up Paddle was occupied, I grabbed the board with the sail on it. It was a good decision. As to your second question, in Mauritius you have an open sea and therefore a current. In the beginning I often failed, almost incessantly. The surfboard wasn’t my friend yet, I had to fight a lot. The first two days of our relationship, my board and I always drifted out into the sea, though I didn’t long for a secluded togetherness with it. The lifeboat often had to bring us back into safe waters. That annoyed me a lot, I couldn’t feel much joy as yet, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. That was my fuel to keep me going. So it happened. To put it biblically, on the third day I rose from the dead and celebrated my first small successes on the board. The rest of the vacation I trained hard daily and in the following spring I completed a course at Lake Neusiedl with my friend Spooky. The initial courage turned into fear, fear turned into anger, anger turned into hate, and this ultimately led to unspeakable joy (which I now enjoy on the board).
Q: Why are you so passionate about windsurfing? What does it give you?
A: It is this absolute feeling of freedom on the water. You are all alone, surrounded only by the two great powers: water and wind. The best thing is the transformation from wind to thrust and that immediate feeling of being part of this transformation. If a lightning rod had feelings, it would probably feel that way. It goes through you and you feel the unfolding strength. I would describe myself as an amphibious surfer because I mount my sail on a self-made device on my skateboard and I set off. However, the necessary skills in water are more difficult to learn than on land.
Q: How long have you been windsurfing?
A: Since Mauritius, 2017
Q: Your favorite waves on the planet?
A: The feeling of freedom you get in the sea is of course bigger than the one you get in a lake, but gliding quickly on a lake with good conditions also has its advantages. My favorite destination of all I have visited so far is Pula (Croatia).
Q: Your favorite windsurfing move?
A: Since I would consider myself an advanced beginner, my best move is to turn around and sail home. Ha-ha. For me, the coolest effect is when you go from slow moving into gliding and the board comes out of the water. That catamaran effect, I don’t know how to call it, actually.
Q: Do you prefer being alone in the water on the windsurf board or with friends?
A: In the water I prefer being alone, at the beach I’d like to be in the company of friends.
Q: What would you recommend to a friend who starts with windsurfing?
A: You should have a certain amount of patience and a dose of perseverance on the board. Success will not come immediately, but therefore it will be all the sweeter. The Neusiedler See is ideal for beginners, as you can stand in the water in most places.
Q: Is windsurfing a lifestyle?
A: Not for me.
Q: What does Neusiedler See mean to you and what are its specific characteristics for windsurfing and for you?
A: Neusiedler See is my home port, so to speak. I can get there within an hour by car and indulge in my hobby as quickly as possible.
Q: Your favorite lake in Austria?
A: Neusiedler See (the only one I’ve surfed in).
When I come to think of it, we are all surfers in life. We are faced with challenges, massive waves demanding courage and agility. We can let the wave drown us, we can let it crash before us, while sitting at the shore and doing nothing, but we can also ride it. Riding the fear of falling is probably the best thing that can happen to any of us. Not losing yourself on the slope of the wave gives us that freedom of being in control of our destiny. They call these sports extreme, but there is nothing extreme in fighting for the most natural of feelings – freedom.
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