The Original Windsurfer (Photo: Jean Souville)
It’s never really been out of use in Australia. The Australian manufacturer of the Windsurfer One Design (Windgenuity, Sydney) reports interest from Italy & USA. I have also received queries from these areas in the last few months. In the latest issue of Windsurfing (US), Winter 2009 (Aug), p46 states: The Original Windsurfer was the board that started it all – and now you may be able to by one. Ted Schweitzer, son of Original Windsurfer founders Hoyle and Diane Schweitzer, has plans to reintroduce the board to the US market. “I can’t believe how many people have expressed interest in ordering, sight and price unseen”, says Schweitzer.
Photo: Michael McGrath
Some of us can remember sailing the original craft – dacron sails, teak (square-ish to rounded) booms, and manual adjust centerboard (pictured top). Following the Perth worlds in 1985, a new board was introduced, and it’s still in production today. The new board (see right) has a shorter aluminium boom, retractable centreboard and mylar sail. For more info, see our windsurfer page.
1985 marks the beginning of the funboard era. About that time, alternative boards began to move into the Australian market. The longboard era lasted into the early 2000′s when Formula Windsurfing took over. Longboards, and the Windsurfer one-design are making a comeback as the noughties close…
What about wavesailing… that’s never gone out of fashion!
In 2009 there will be a “Longboard Windsurfer Festival” running from Jan 23-26 @ Salamander Bay, Port Stevens in NSW (north of Newcastle). This event will include the Oceanic Championships for the Raceboards as well as the Windsurfer One Designs. There will a class for the Kona One and also include a section for longboard wave sailing. 80 – 100 competitors are expected. For more information, see the 2mb 
