Interesting to see the fat tail on this board. From this period onwards the tails became progressively thinner, probably at the expense of early planing.

No manufacturer (that I am aware of) ever went back to a wider tail on raceboards, in spite of this.

The batwings on the phantom raceboards are in many ways a return to this general principle, while still having the "pintail" appearance that was expected of longboards.

The way certain design ideas come full circle is interesting.

Clarence

I started a year after this video was shot. Incredible that windsurfing was so popular back then considering how rudimentary the gear was. The fun factor is much higher these days yet sadly less people are getting into the sport.

Gotta disagree a bit on the fun factor being more now. What we lacked back then compared to current technology was way out weighed by enthusiam, everybody wanted to have a go, friends, family, strangers on the beach. Few lessons to be had, trying to learn from a book, we crashed and burned all over the place and couldn't wait to do it all again, man did we laugh at ourselves, something people don't do so much these days...

Was a lot less intimidating to learn back then when everybody was at the same beginner level.
Now days it's a beach full of experts that have been doing it for 30 years.

Interesting that this is a F2 promo video and Jurgen is using Mistral sails which was F2 main competitor.

Select to expand quote

slalomfreak said..
Was a lot less intimidating to learn back then when everybody was at the same beginner level.
Now days it's a beach full of experts that have been doing it for 30 years.

I believe nowadays we have more choices in terms of equipment and of course, money. Jet skis, ATV, etc. are just some of the "fun" machines money can buy.

Another reason is people are more incline to want instant success. To learn how to windsurf, it takes a hell of a lot of time and efforts. The learning process also often resulted in frustrations, anger, despairs, and above all, humiliation I recall being blown off shore on an lonely inland lake, all by myself. Repeated uphauling only end up drifting further and further away from shore. I swore loudly thinking (1). It will wash away the pain, and (2). Nobody is around.

Guess what? A speed boat turned up from nowhere with an adult and two young children I was embarrassed for my constant swearing, especially in front of the children. The man offered help, I declined as I was just too stubborn. That stubbornness probably is one of the prerequisites for learning how to windsurf.

If anyone gets turned off for fear of being show up by the so-called experts, then perhaps there is an attitudinal problem there. I mean, how does one get to be an expert without first being a total loss cause As I said earlier, just about anyone can ride a jet ski, or an ATV. They are more loud and capable of kicking up more sprays to impress the females too.

I love the new gear but am sort of glad I learnt on the old jurassic period stuff. Now I have a collection of old and new boards ranging from a Fanatic gecko 2014 to an early 90s Hi fly race board that lives down at my dad place in vic. I still get out on it on the bay and it's a blast. That said I wouldn't go back to old sails. Have to agree with smithy about the fun factor being just as high the old days. Love the cheesy music in the vid. Thanks!