Not sure if it has been posted here before but this is a very good summary of the history of the sport:

That`s awesome! Good find.

that's the best thing I've watched in ages.........

More of the story.

In a galaxy not that far from here there was a tribe led by a "Daffy". In other tribes around Terra Australis were a "Firie", a "Decrepit" and several others who gathered to worship the wind god Huey. These folk were a strange group obsessed by the wind and the pursuit of the ultimate nirvana named "2 second". A mythical beast with an odd entourage of the following of "5 x 10", "hour", "Alpha, "Nm" and "Distance".
There descendants are still flourishing today under the global clan "GPSTC".

That is very cool indeed.

Wow that brought back memories...

can anyone remember when windsurfing came to Australia? I started back in 80-81 but can't say I remember seeing much before that time. Only 2 boards available at the time, and scarce as rocking horse poo, the original windsurfer and the dufour wing. My windsurfer cost me $820 complete and I thought how good is this, everything I will ever need, I will never need to spend another cent...

I bought it from the Yatch Shop in Oakleigh Melbourne, no one could show me how to set it up so they threw in a book which was my only reference, no interweb back then... I still have an original windsurfer amongst my gear to this day. Spent a hell of a lot more money on the sport since then including trips, cars, trailers and moving to the beach. Definitely a way of life not just a sport...

Select to expand quote

ka43 said..
In a galaxy not that far from here there was a tribe led by a "Daffy". In other tribes around Terra Australis were a "Firie", a "Decrepit" and several others who gathered to worship the wind god Huey. These folk were a strange group obsessed by the wind and the pursuit of the ultimate nirvana named "2 second". A mythical beast with an odd entourage of the following of "5 x 10", "hour", "Alpha, "Nm" and "Distance".
There descendants are still flourishing today under the global clan "GPSTC".

I first started sailing in 1984/85 and racing in 1990 and I've passed Daffy maybe 5 times. I keep hoping that the older we get the slower he'll get.....hasn't happened yet and I hope that it never does

Thanks Peter Nitschke for bringing sailboarding to Australia. Fond early 80's memories of mechanical and rope universals and the prussic knot to attach the boom.

Hope you can still remember how to tie that prussic knot birthday boy. I know you showed me in around 89-90, but I have forgotten.

Select to expand quote

ka43 said..
In a galaxy not that far from here there was a tribe led by a "Daffy". In other tribes around Terra Australis were a "Firie", a "Decrepit" and several others who gathered to worship the wind god Huey. These folk were a strange group obsessed by the wind and the pursuit of the ultimate nirvana named "2 second". A mythical beast with an odd entourage of the following of "5 x 10", "hour", "Alpha, "Nm" and "Distance".
There descendants are still flourishing today under the global clan "GPSTC".

Reminds me of the 80`s movie Tradewind.
"The emergence of a new sub-species called Homowavesailor"
Probably not cool to call somebody that these days! - If ever!

Great stuff thanks for sharing !

Select to expand quote

Smithy said..
Wow that brought back memories...

can anyone remember when windsurfing came to Australia? I started back in 80-81 but can't say I remember seeing much before that time. Only 2 boards available at the time, and scarce as rocking horse poo, the original windsurfer and the dufour wing. My windsurfer cost me $820 complete and I thought how good is this, everything I will ever need, I will never need to spend another cent...

Peter Nitschke brought back some boards around '75, I think. In 1976 Sailboards Australia/Dulmison really kicked it off by becoming official importers and manufacturers of the original Windsurfer. The first nationals were later that year, at Belmont and it showed some incredible tricks, like Mike McGuire's rail ride, which blew everyone's mind.

As early as January/February 1980 we had events like the Wrigleys Windsurfing Surf Series, which included Robby Naish, Cort Larned and Mike Waltze racing "ins and outs" (sort of like surf slalom) and which was about the second "funboard" event ever in the world. By '78 you could also buy the incredible high-tech Bombora Chopper, which was a one design with extra scoop, straps and the back couple of feet cut off to create a lightweight wavejumping machine......ahhh, the memories.

I have a copy of the original patent from Schweitzer and drake for the first windsurfer, really good read.