Anybody into Windsurfing

[Campfire]

Guys,

I was a huge windsurfing fanatic in my teens and 20's, and remembering the 80's & 90's the sport was pretty popular.

Just curious if there are any old or current sailboarders amongst the swaggers group and if so what kind of rig/ set up

Cheers

Campfire

[singo-26]

I've still got my old windsurfer and use it occasionally. I had a south pacific but someone wanted it more than I did.
I'll keep looking on ebay for another similar to the south pacific as it was great fun.

[Nomad]

I grew up surfing in the age between windsurfing and kite boarding, windsurfing seemed out of fashion because of set up time and carrying all the Shit around, kite boarding seems a bit the same, and I have said i learn to kite but I'd still rather go for a surf. I took a windsurfer over the Caloundra bar once and it was pretty good fun. But i'd rather watch this sort of stuff being done....no matter how out of fashion this is watch from about 1.15 and that pretty awesome work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpZeI-h3mBA

[whitey1]

I windsurfed back in the late 80s and 90s. I had a Bombora Tri fin. Haven't been on one since then although I'd like to. And I was told once that kiteboarding was easier.

[LeighC]

As with you, used to windsurf in the 90's, mostly on the Swan River, Applecross WA.  I've still got the board same board now, Bombora Astrotoy (hows that for a 90s name ?), although replaced the sail quite a few years back.  I used it a few times last year and probably will get out again this year.  I sure did find my fitness (or fatness) had me going for a few more breaks to catch my breath.

[singo-26]

I grew up surfing in the age between windsurfing and kite boarding, windsurfing seemed out of fashion because of set up time and carrying all the Shit around, kite boarding seems a bit the same, and I have said i learn to kite but I'd still rather go for a surf. I took a windsurfer over the Caloundra bar once and it was pretty good fun. But i'd rather watch this sort of stuff being done....no matter how out of fashion this is watch from about 1.15 and that pretty awesome work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpZeI-h3mBA


Thanks for the video link, It put a smile on my face on what has been a pretty bleak day.   

[aus155]

Yeah still into windsurfing...love it... looking at building a rack on the camper so i can carry my gear when we go away, i prefer the safety factor of windsurfing over kite surfing (i have done both) if your in the middle of the bay and you crash a kite and cannot relaunch or the wind drops your in the s**t, on the sail board at least i can paddle back, kiting is fun too though. Maybe should have a sailboard get together...
Cheers Trent

[WilSurf]

When I was 16, my parents gave me a choice: getting a 49cc moped or windsurfing gear.
Guess what, I took the windsurfing.

First started on lakes in Holland where it was very popular. Anyone remembers Stefan van de Berg?
Then we went on holiday to the North Sea. The first day I was tired as a dog without having surfed 1 meter. Couldn't get through the waves as the wind was landward. :-)
The next day I tried again and I haven't looked back. Surfing the waves was great!
In the end I had 2 boards and 4 sails.
A Wayler 390 board (I know very old) and a PR custom board 290 which was fast.
After my motorbike accident where I lost my control over my right arm, it was finished. No more windsurfing although I did teach my niece on a flat lake with little wind.

[95cruza]

I've still got mine in the shed collecting dust - entry level 360 something?  Started in the late 80's was good fun, had a mate who was really into it with race boards etc that was a fantastic feeling going fast on one of those- especially out from Port Vincent and Stansbury.  Yeah Wilsurf I remember that name it was a fairly popular sport back late 80's early 90's had mags and all.  Must go for blast one day !! Prolly not here in Coober though ( although there is Lake Eyre) 165kms away, it's always a nice day trip to William Creek for a beer and feed.

[WilSurf]

I should have known that you were in Coober, we were there not that long ago.
Yeah, Stefan was of the same era as Robby Naish and Bjorn something from Sweden.

[Crookedpete]

I was a mad windsurfer in my late teens and early 20's. Started on an original windsurfer longboard, before graduating to a variety of short boards.

Frequented all the local Se Qld spots - the train, currumbin, vic pt, wello, manly, redcliffe, caloundra, cootharaba etc. Used to skip uni if there was the slightest hint of wind. Even if there was not enough wind I'd still rig up, and hook up the rig to an oversize skateboard with golf buggy wheels and then sail around the carpark.

Eventually moved up north where there never enough wind and gave it away.

 About 18 months ago, I bought a board and couple of sails on flea bay for about $500. Well I thought the board would float. I was wrong.

Still love it, but there just aren't enough hours on a weekend.

Pete

[WilSurf]

Well I thought the board would float. I was wrong

Is it the board or is it the driver? 

[Campfire]

I actually remember an Australian Movie made about a wave rider which was in the movies around 1989-90. I remember seeing it on my Birthday, I think it might have been called waverider or windsurfer or windrider or something like that.

I remember the cult following of Bombora and all my highschool mates riding boards like the Bombora Tri Fin with it's kangaroo tail skeg, Awsome board, not sure what happened to the Bombora brand and Mark Paul, kind of wish it was still going.

My first board was a Windsurfer One Design, then I went to a Bombora Zot.

Bombora had some great boards.

Cheers

Campfire

[Crookedpete]

Is it the board or is it the driver? 

Definitely the driver. I ain't as fit as I used to be. Was getting such a fright every time I stood on the scales, that I gave it up.

I should have actually spent a few dollars more and got a modern shaped high volume short board, rather than the old flea bay special.

[LeighC]

.....  Must go for blast one day !! Prolly not here in Coober though ( although there is Lake Eyre)

Cruza - I went windsurfing in a lake outside of Kalgoorlie many years ago, it was after a cyclone / tropical low had dumped a pile of water in a salt lake north of town, King of the West.  I spent most of the time pissing myself laughing at the concept of windsurfing 600km's away from the coast.

[WilSurf]

It has all changed.
In my time it was about the length of the board, now it is the volume.

[Stozz]

We're both regular windsurfers - spend much of summer travelling up and down the WA coast and camping in some pretty windy places.

It does complicate the packing up of gear. Last summer we managed to pack into the car and camper - 5 boards, 10 sails, 4 masts, 3 booms and all the associated bits n pieces, along with 2 kayaks, 2 SUPs and fishing gear - luckily only one destination for that trip!

And yep, you're right - windsurfing gear has come a really long way in the last 20 years.  I have heard so many people say, "yeah, I tried it once (in the '80s) and I went out on this really big board, couldnt turn around and the sail was so heavy to pull up out of the water"...

I wish all those people would have another go now as gear has changed for the better - especially the boards and sails for beginners.  It's all about volume, width, rocker and rails rather than the length of those giant One Design boards...

Anyway, we have both stuck with it and while our bodies have aged and the recovery from a good sail takes longer, we still love the buzz. Hope to see some of you on the water.

[Campfire]

Call me old fashion or going on a nostalgia trip but I would prefer the boards of the 80's than those of today, I love the idea of getting back onto the board I was riding in my teens, to be able to ride the exact same board 20 years later in the same location to me would be like " going to that childhood happy place" I figure when Im due for a midlife crisis my highschool 80's era windsurfer found on eBay will cheaper than Harley Davisdson.

Now to find a classic Bombora Tri Fin or a Windsurfer One design.

I love the 80's era Windsurfing Culture........

Cheers

Campfire

[WilSurf]

Sorry, too late: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUP-bombora-tri-fin-/130540559424

Sold. :-)

[Nomad]

I grew up surfing in the age between windsurfing and kite boarding, windsurfing seemed out of fashion because of set up time and carrying all the Shit around, kite boarding seems a bit the same, and I have said i learn to kite but I'd still rather go for a surf. I took a windsurfer over the Caloundra bar once and it was pretty good fun. But i'd rather watch this sort of stuff being done....no matter how out of fashion this is watch from about 1.15 and that pretty awesome work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpZeI-h3mBA


Thanks for the video link, It put a smile on my face on what has been a pretty bleak day.   

No problems........Anyone willing to do that Shit is worth watching........hope your week improves.....

[sschmez]

Great thread
So many names I haven't heard for so long.

I learnt to windsurf as school sport every Wednesday down at St Kilda (where they teach kite surfing now).1983-4. Got my practice and learnt to do it properly during school holidays on the farm where we'd head down to Shallow inlet after we knocked off.

Loved it and had a great time. Bought a couple of boards later in life for lilydale lake and aura vale lake and have often thought about having a go at kite surfing. Dunno how a big guy would go ... love wakeboarding just hard to get good air

Stevo

[Stozz]

"going to that childhood happy place"

I'm hearing you Campfire. Awesome memories of the old boards certainly take you to that 'happy place' and the 80s windsurfing culture.  Inspired this short trip down memory lane... including the Ledge to Lancelin Ocean Classic in ~ 1988 and my first 'short' board, The Cordingley...
(do you all recall the excessive use of fluro colours??)



Cheers
from The Nav

[Campfire]

I remember all those crazy colours, the magazine adds too

Board brands like:

Bombora New Toy
Bombora Antartica
Bombora Tri Fin
Bombora Astro Toy
Bombora South Pacific
Bombora Big Toy
Bombora Capricorn
Bombora Zot
Bombora Xit

Mike Davis Boards
Maddog boards
Bic
Mistral
Windsurfer One Design
Tyronsea

Guys these are the one I remember, I hope I have the list, mind you back in the 80's I was a MAD fan of the whole BOMBORA range by legendary designer Mark Paul. Loved the colours and the graphics.

How exciting would it be to pick up any of those legend boards now from the Bombora range and pick up again exactly where you left off as a youth in the 80's

If there was an 80's retro Windsurfing Club, I'd join in a heart beat.

Great to read all your thread responses guys, takes me back to great memories, and yes I am serious looking for an old classic rig to take me back to those days.

Cheers

Campfire

[Stozz]

I had a Surfrider and at one stage a Mistral Stinger - no rocker, dead flat and went like a rocket.

The other half had an "Astro Rock"...  We recently found one on a roadside rubbish collection. We picked it up and brought it home then later gave it to someone who was looking for a cheap learner rig!

[95cruza]

Wilsurf, I remember those names NAISH was making big money as a pro back then - thanks Campfire for reminding me that my board was a Tyronsea 360 I couldn't think of it for the life of me (my board is back in the Barossa at our other house).  I was always intended to get a Bombora or Mistral race board.   
Was all good fun - might just have get it all out and have another go this summer - when I'm not in Coober!
Wilsurf hope your time in Coober was good - did you go the Old Timers Mine - it's an interesting place for a day or two.