Windsurfing
Windsurfing (formerly also called board sailing or standing sailing ) is a water sport in which, while standing on a surfboard , you use a sail to move . The sail can be rotated and tilted with the board, which enables spectacular maneuvers and tricks. The sport developed in the USA has become a trend sport and has established itself worldwide.
Development of windsurfing
invention
Windsurfing arose from surfing and sailing : The use of the power of the wind made it possible to save the tedious paddling against the waves. In November 1964, Newman Darby drew his Darby Sailboard and published an illustrated self-assembly instruction for his sailboard in Popular Science, which had a circulation of 1.5 million copies in the USA. He used a sail similar to a children's kite, in which a mast was movably connected to the surfboard and a horizontal spar was used to hold the sail. Newman Darby built several of these sailboards and films exist about his sea trials.
The American Jim Drake , engineer at the US Department of Defense, fitted a surfboard with a sail to avoid the annoying paddling through the waves and developed the windsurfer's construction principle with a "pair of curved trees that run across the spar and between them Hold sails ”, as the boom is described. The project was financed by his friend at the time, Hoyle Schweitzer, with whom he applied for a patent at the US patent office in 1968 . Drake started in Jamaica Bay in New York on May 21, 1967 for the first time with his windsurfer "Old Yeller". Before him, the Englishman Peter Chilvers had toyed with the idea of combining a surfboard with a sail. However, Drake finally had the decisive idea of tensioning the sail with a boom and using modern materials for the board, mast and sails. On January 6, 1970, the patent application "for a wind-powered vehicle" (US Patent No. 3487800) was granted by the USPTO.
Hoyle Schweitzer recognized the economic possibilities of windsurfing and pushed the development forward. Together with his wife Diana he founded Windsurfing International Inc. and in 1973 also took over Drake's shares in the patent rights. One year after windsurfing became an Olympic discipline for the first time - to everyone's astonishment on the German Windglider - the patent expired.
In Europe, the patent was restricted in infringement proceedings before the Munich Patent Court. Originally, Schweitzer and Drake protected the universal joint of the mast base and the rig (the unit made up of sail, mast, mast base and boom). However, the court praised the earlier invention of Newman Darby, who had already connected his sail to the board in a moveable manner, and only allowed Schweitzer to patent the boom, since the boom was a significant improvement in contrast to Darby's child-like kite sail with only one spire. The patent for the boom was enough for him to be able to collect licenses in practically all patented markets.
In summary, four people were significantly involved in the development of the sport: Newman Darby as the actual inventor of the sport, Jim Drake as the inventor of the boom and Hoyle Schweitzer, who developed windsurfing into a spectacular trend sport and was thus economically successful. In addition to the Americans, the German Fred Ostermann had also developed a board, the Windglider , which dominated the markets in Europe and later all over the world. The Windglider became the only approved surfboard for the first Olympic windsurfing competitions at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Fred Ostermann is also the inventor of tandem surfing.
Further development
In the following years, parallel to new materials and innovations, the new sport became very popular. "Windsurfing Hawaii" set significant milestones in the years 1976–1977 with the development of the trapeze to relieve the hands, foot straps for greater stability on the board, light and agile boards that made jumps possible, and shorter booms. Parallel to these early funboarding activities in Hawaii, a growing community of longboard enthusiasts formed in Europe in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For example, could the Windglider Board of Fred Ostermann , was sailed on the later (1984) to Olympic gold or the Mistral Competition contribute, which was one of the best-selling surfboards with 270,000 copies to the fact that in Europe the mid-eighties about 2 , 8 million surfers indulged in their sport. The mother of all trend sports was born with it.
Windsurfers were surrounded by the image of freedom and closeness to nature. There was a real cult around windsurfing and its idols from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. The surfer type was associated with pretty girls, their own fashion and attitude to life. The trend sport was marketed very well and found fans all over the world. Own magazines such as “ Surf ” and “Stehsegelrevue” spread the latest trends and information in the German-speaking area.
Switch to the short board
This heyday of surfing as a mass sport was a short one, because the one-sided reporting in the specialist magazines about the short board scene (English funboard ), which spilled over from Hawaii to Europe in 1980–1983 and made Jürgen Hönscheid the first German windsurfing professional in 1982 , overwhelmed many longboard surfers in Europe. Hardly anyone wanted to be seen as a "stand-up sailor" when others jumped over meter-high waves. In 1986, 180,000 surfboards were sold in Germany. Since then, the number has steadily declined to this day. In 2005 only 9,000 surfboards went over the counter in Germany. Then as now, around 40,000–50,000 people learn windsurfing (as evidenced by the VDWS, Association of German Windsurfing Schools), with the difference that in the 1980s practically all newcomers stayed “on board”, whereas today 95 percent of beginners follow give up this sport again after acquiring the “windsurfing basic license”. That doesn't happen in any other sport.
This is seen by critics as a signal to the industry to again design surfboards that are desired by the masses or that help them stay in the sport. Retailers and manufacturers counter this by stating that beginner models are available, but hardly sell because every athlete switches to the short, light and agile boards as quickly as possible. However, these are much more difficult to handle than the earlier longboards, it takes much longer and the athletic requirements are much higher to be able to surf properly with them. In addition, more wind is required to fully utilize the performance of the short board. All of this has resulted in less athletic or less patient surfers giving up the sport.
At the same time, the sport owes breathtaking acrobatics and completely new riding techniques to the funboard, such as the fascination of "gliding" and mastering the waves.
Top speed
Surfboards usually glide over the water at 30 to 45 kilometers per hour . The record speeds of over 90 km / h are only achieved in strong storms on very smooth water with special, approx. 25 cm wide surfboards (so-called speedneedles ). The short-distance world records are usually set on an artificial water surface on the beach of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the French Camargue ; A 1,100 m long and 15 m wide canal ( le canal , also known as French Trench ) was specially created there in order to almost completely prevent the formation of waves on the water, which reduces speed, even at high wind speeds.
The absolute speed record has been held since March 6, 2008 with 49.09 knots (90.9 km / h) by the Frenchman Antoine Albeau . In October 2004 the Irishman Finian Maynard set the world record for sail-powered watercraft over 500 m from the trimaran Yellow Pages Endeavor to the surfers. On April 10, 2005, he improved his record to 48.7 knots (90.2 km / h), which was ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council on April 11, 2005. The fastest sailor on this route is the trimaran L'Hydroptère with 44.81 knots; Unlike the surfers, the Hydroptère does not set its records on artificial, optimized water, but in coastal waters with natural waves.
Maynard also held the world record for sail-powered watercraft over a nautical mile (1852 m) from October 15 with 39.97 knots. On October 31, 2006, previous world record holder Bjørn Dunkerbeck took over the record again with 41.14 knots. On April 24, 2007 the trimaran L'Hydroptère brought the record back to the sailors with 41.69 knots per nautical mile.
From October 28, 2010 to November 16, 2012 the kite surfer Rob Douglas (USA) was the new world record holder. During the Lüderitz Speed Challenge (Namibia) he drove 55.65 knots, that is 103.06 km / h, but Paul Larson brought the speed record back to the sailors. With the Vestas Sailrocket 2 he reached a top speed of 63 knots (117 km / h) and drove at an average speed of 59.23 knots (110 km / h) over a distance of 500 m. 10 days later Paul Larson broke his own record again, setting a new record at 65.45 knots over 500 m.
In November 2012, the French windsurfer Antoine Albeau set a new world record for windsurfing over 500 meters in the Lüderitz Canal in Namibia with 52.05 knots (96.39 km / h). The British windsurfer Zara Davis reached 45.83 knots (84.87 km / h) there, making her the female speed record holder. In 2015 Albeau improved his record to 53.27 knots (98.66 km / h), in the women Karin Jaggi reached 46.31 knots (85.77 km / h).
Offshoot
From windsurfing and wakeboarding is kite surfing originated. It has been widespread in Central Europe since around 2001 and was invented in the USA around 1995. The sail is replaced by a large stunt kite . The surfboards for kiting, the so-called kiteboards, are much smaller and hardly have any buoyancy. They most closely resemble wakeboards when water skiing . Another variant that combines elements of windsurfing and kitesurfing is wingsurfing , where you hold an inflatable wing in the wind while standing on the surfboard.
Windsurfing today
In the new millennium, the media hype about the sport has decreased. On the one hand, the kite surfers have overtaken the surfers in the audience, on the other hand windsurfing was not an attractive sport for spectators. The dependence on wind and weather made it difficult to plan live broadcasts on television and the on-site viewers often did not hear much of what was happening on the water on the beach. In addition, windsurfing is one of the sports that are difficult to learn, which keeps the number of people practicing within limits and prevents windsurfing from becoming a mass sport. Windsurfing is not a hobby that is learned on the side, such as cycling or running. In particular, the perfect mastery of modern surfboards is difficult to learn in contrast to windsurfing with the training boards.
But windsurfing has long since become a popular sport and fun sport . Communities have developed at the surfspots across all occupational and age groups - from 10-year-old schoolchildren to 75-year-old pensioners . However, it is noticeable that a good 90 percent of the sport is practiced by men.
In Germany, Peter Raatz founded what is now the world's oldest windsurfing club in 1972 (WSeV Berlin). This club established windsurfing as a sailing discipline in regattas. In 1984 and 1988 the club provided the German participant in the Summer Olympics.
In 2011, the Professional Windsurfers Association introduced live ratings and commented live streaming for the World Tour events. Both on the beach and on the Internet, viewers can thus better follow what is happening on the water.
Material and accessories
surfboard
The sports equipment consists of a streamlined float, the surfboard, the volume of which depends on the athlete's ability and weight. Since smaller boards are less stable and more voluminous are less maneuverable, the volume of the surfboards is usually between 65 and about 225 liters and is selected depending on the purpose. The board length is between 2.2 and 2.80 meters, with a width of 48 to 101 cm. For inexperienced athletes, the surfboard should have as much volume and buoyancy as possible in order to be particularly stable.
The variations in board shapes have increased significantly since the beginning around 1975 - boards have been developed for almost every conceivable area of application. Until the mid-1980s, the displacer types with a weight of around 20 kg and some with a keel, otherwise with a sword, were common. These were quickly replaced by small, slippery types that only weigh about 7 kg. Light and very stiff materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic ("carbon", "carbon fiber") or plastic reinforced with aramid fibers "Kevlar" have also found their way into production here.
Almost all series boards are now manufactured in a Cobra plant in Thailand, the rest are often made in Vietnam or Tunisia.
Rig / sails
The mast on the surfboard is a freely movable connection - the Power Joint - with the rig connected. The rig consists of a bendable mast (with a mast extension if necessary ), a boom to hold on to and the sail. While the mast and boom were initially connected by rope , a quick release connection with the brands ART and Fanatic was introduced to the market by Schütz Werke GmbH & Co. KG, Selters, based on an invention by Karl Robert Kranemann. Kranemann also granted Mistral a license. The quick release connection has established itself in the further course and is standard today.
The mast is made of glass fiber reinforced plastics and can be reinforced with carbon to save weight . The key figure IMCS ("Indexed Mast Check System") of the mast describes the mast hardness and rigidity and must be matched to the specifications of the sail manufacturer. The lower the value, the softer the mast. Depending on the sail, masts from 360 cm to 580 cm in length are usually used.
In addition to the SDM mast ( Standard Diameter Mast ), there have been significantly thinner masts since 2000, which are known as RDM masts ( Reduced Diameter Mast ). The RDM masts are characterized by a reduced radius and increased wall thickness. An SDM mast has an inside diameter of 48.5 mm at the mast base, and 33 mm for the RDM mast. With the same rigidity, the smaller diameter requires a greater wall thickness of the mast, which makes it heavier.
Example:
- RDM mast: 430 cm, 100% carbon, IMCS 21, weight: 1850 g
- SDM mast: 430 cm, 100% carbon, IMCS 21, weight: 1480 g
The main advantage of an RDM mast is the better flow of air towards the sail. Many windsurfers also appreciate the better "flex behavior" during freestyle maneuvers.
The boom consists of aluminum or carbon spars and is used to stretch the sail and as a handle for the athlete. The length of the boom can be adjusted and locked so that the sail can be optimally adjusted.
A modern windsurf sail consists of monofilm (transparent polyester film, Mylar ) and Dacron (woven polyester), some of which are Mylar-coated. Depending on the price range of the sail, particularly stressed parts are reinforced with Kevlar fabric . For better propulsion and a stable pressure point, they have several, partially continuous, battens . Very powerful sails have cambers with which the battens are supported on the mast. This further increases the pressure point and shape stability; however, the handling in maneuvers deteriorates. The sail area can be between 1.5 m² (for children) and 12.5 m² and depends on the body weight, ability and, to a large extent, the strength of the wind .
Learn to windsurf
Problem
The main difficulty with windsurfing is the ability to control the balance of your body with the position of the sails to the wind. In surf schools today, windsurfing can be learned in appropriate courses in as little as 10-12 hours. This is made possible by special beginner material. Boards for beginners today offer a high degree of stability against tipping, which makes it easier for the student to concentrate on controlling the sail.
For a beginner, a board with a sword is the better choice, as it provides better stability and prevents drifting to the leeward side. On smaller boards you only find the fin , as the sword interferes with gliding and reduces speed. More experienced windsurfers usually choose a surfboard that is as small as possible with less buoyancy, as it is more maneuverable. The buoyancy can be less than the weight of the athlete, so that the board is only lifted to the surface of the water by the dynamic buoyancy and glides on it. Such small boards are also known as sinkers . Understandably, it is no longer possible to pull up the sail through the start sheet (pull-up line) with sinkers, so you have to master the water start on these small boards (see chapter start technique ).
Driving technique
The basic techniques of windsurfing are taught in surf schools in just a few days, so that a beginner's board can be safely steered in light winds. The correct use of foot straps and harnesses can be learned in advanced courses and is more time-consuming. The highest skill level is achieved by mastering the short board.
Change of direction
To influence the direction of travel, the sail is tilted forwards or backwards. When leaning forward (falling), the bow turns away from the wind and vice versa when leaning backward (luffing) the sail into the wind.
When the sail is in the middle position (neither forwards nor backwards), the pressure point of the sail is above the pressure point of the sword, as is the case with entry-level boards. If the sail is now tilted forward, the pressure point (wind force) of the sail moves in front of the pressure point of the sword (water resistance) and the wind force causes the surfboard to turn with the tip away from the wind. On the other hand, if the sail is tilted backwards, the pressure point of the sail is shifted behind the pressure point of the sword and the surfboard turns with its nose against the wind. The inclination of the mast boom together with the sail is possible because it is attached to the board with a joint (the so-called power joint). This possibility - tilting the mast - distinguishes the surfboard from the normal sailboat. In contrast, the normal sailboat has a rudder for steering.
At higher speeds, when the board is on plane, the direction of travel is controlled almost exclusively by tilting the board with the feet. By immersing the loaded board side deeper, the flow resistance increases on this , while it decreases on the opposite side. This braking effect causes the surfboard to turn in the desired direction. This creates spectacular maneuvers such as the cut back, especially in the wave .
Boom, harness and foot straps
Surfers reduce the strain on the arms when holding the sail on the boom with a harness. This is either a compact hip belt or a type of seat holder with a metal hook attached to the front. This harness hook, which is open at the bottom, is hooked into a short rope - the harness rope - which is attached to the boom and absorbs most of the pulling force of the wind. To unhook the harness, the boom is briefly pulled towards the body so that the rope falls out of the hook. With the right trim, the hands on the boom are only used for corrections and maneuvers. And to ensure a firm footing, there are three to six firmly screwed foot straps made of soft material at the rear of the board, into which the feet are inserted up to the instep .
The surfer is connected to the sports equipment with his hands, hips and feet and can assume a stable and relatively energy-saving position.
Starting technique
As a beginner, you first practice the sheet launch. Here, the sail is Lee and the board, preferably on half wind course , to windward. Standing on the board, the rig is pulled out of the water with a thick (non-slip) plastic rope, the starting sheet. This is very strenuous as the sail is pulled up against the wind force and the board begins to drive uncontrollably due to the increasing wind pressure in the sail. The moment when the end of the boom jerks out of the water and the sail swings leeward, it is important to balance. The controllable forward movement of the board begins in a coordinated sequence of grabbing and setting the mast, pulling the boom up and shifting weight by changing the position of the feet, all depending on the wind strength.
The beach start is taught as a follow-up technique. The board lies downwind and ideally on a half wind course in order to be able to control the sail pressure as easily as possible. The rig is held in the driving position and the surfboard is climbed from knee to waist-deep water from windward in the direction of the mast foot with the back foot first. Here you work with the wind and not against it, as with sheet launch. The deeper the water, the more wind is needed to let the wind pull you onto the board.
As an advanced (and only possible for sinkers) starting method, one learns the water start. As a rule, more wind is necessary here than with a beach start, but experienced windsurfers can also master the water start at wind strengths that are just enough to lift the rig out of the water. The alignment of the board and sail must be done while swimming when starting the water. If the position is correct, you can catch the wind by turning the rig, first place your back foot on the board, shift your body weight as much as possible onto the mast foot and let yourself be pulled out of the water by the sail. When there is little wind, the rig is set up as vertically as possible and the surfer pulls himself up in a kind of chin-up, with higher winds it is necessary to shift the body weight away from the mast base.
While you are now picking up speed, the harness hook is attached and first the front, then the rear foot is placed in the loops.
When starting the water, it can be helpful to put the sail with the boom on the stern of the board, as it is then easier to lift out of the water against the wind. With more modern boards, however, the mast foot is usually placed so far back that you can only place the boom on your forearm while your hand grips the stern of the board.
maneuver
The first maneuvers to be learned are turning and jibing - most windsurfers are then completely satisfied with this level. To learn the windsurfing maneuvers of freestylers or professionals, a lot of practice and a certain talent are necessary.
The maneuvers, called moves by surfers , are divided into the following categories:
- Basic maneuvers (basics) required for take-off and change of course.
- Old school are freestyle maneuvers that were invented by the early 1990s. These are spectacular loops and jumping tricks.
- New School are the more artistic freestyle maneuvers; people and / or material rotate near the surface of the water.
- In addition, there are many maneuvers that are only possible in the wave, such as the cut back , double front loop or the one-handed tabletop off the lip .
Trim for maneuvers
So that the components of the sports equipment function optimally, the trim is of particular importance. There are essentially the following setting options:
- The position of the foot straps is adjusted to the height and weight of the athlete. Racers, however, are further back and out than freestylers.
- The shape and position of the fin affects maneuverability and top speed.
- The position of the mast foot is adjusted in the mast track approximately in the middle of the surfboard. The larger the sail, the further the mast foot has to be adjusted forward to prevent luffing .
- On the clew , the sail is tensioned by means of ropes so that the battens can take their position in relation to the mast as intended by the manufacturer. Here, a compromise is usually sought between bulky and strong versus flat and stable.
- The luff is stretched to the base of the mast over rope and bends the mast as far as specified by the sail manufacturer. The uppermost, aft part of the sail should be folded so that the sail can absorb gusts of wind . The technical term for this is loose leech , which means something like "loose sail top ".
- The tension of the battens determines the wing profile of the sail and thus stability and propulsion.
- The position of the trapeze ropes on the boom and the position of the boom on the mast determine the lever with which the athlete's body weight counteracts the wind pressure.
Classic mistakes
In the so-called spin out , the water flow breaks off at the fin and air bubbles form turbulences that no longer guarantee the direction-stabilizing effect of the fin. For the athlete, this has the effect that the board suddenly slips sideways when gliding. This makes the surfboard uncontrollable, which often leads to a fall. The cause is excessive pressure on the side of the fin. As a countermeasure, a larger fin can be installed, the mast base can be moved forward or the driving style or course to the wind can be changed. With a bit of skill you can get the board back on course with a "spin out" if you jerk the tail towards you with your foot in the rear foot loop and shift your weight towards the mast base, which could lead to the following error.
In strong winds there is a risk of a slinging fall if you stand too close to the base of the mast and are thrown over the surfboard with the rig by a sudden gust . You will u. U. lifted out of the foot straps, but you can no longer detach yourself from the trapeze. In order to prevent head injuries when hitting the boom, mast or board, do not let go of the boom and keep your arms outstretched in the event of a fall. This mistake mainly happens to inexperienced and inexperienced windsurfers, with an advanced level you only experience a sling fall as a consequence of a failed maneuver. The so popular front loop is nothing more than a controlled sling fall.
Fallback rules
In the area of inland waters and the BinSchStrO , windsurfers are classified as “small craft under sails” according to § 1.01 No. 14 BinSchStrO. They are therefore equated with sailing boats. You have to dodge:
- Vehicles of the public security services when they are in use (flashing lights etc.): Police, port authorities, rescue services, fire brigade, customs and others
- Priority vehicles and vehicles that are difficult to move (ships of the line (green ball), ferries and others)
- Commercial fishing vessels (license plate in Austria: white ball)
- Large vehicles (i.e. vehicles over 20 m in length) must be given the necessary space, they are not required to give way
- The alternative regulations between sailing vehicles apply to sailing vehicles
Priority is given to small vehicles with a motor drive and small vehicles that neither drive with a drive machine nor under sail.
In the area of the SeeSchStrO , according to Section 31 (2) SeeSchStrO, water sports equipment (tow boats for water skiers and water sports attachments, water scooters, kite surfers and sailing surfers) must avoid all other vehicles. The general rules for preventing collisions apply to the water sports equipment. On the maritime waterways, windsurfers are therefore obliged to avoid:
- Vehicles of the public security services when they are in use (flashing lights etc.): Police, port authorities, rescue services, fire brigade, customs and others
- Priority vehicles and vehicles that are difficult to move (ships of the line (green ball), ferries and others)
- Commercial fishing vessels (license plate in Austria: white ball)
- Rafting
- Sailing vehicles
- Rowing vehicles
- Excluding vehicles with machine drive (vehicles according to numbers 1 to 3)
- Floats, except rafts.
Compared to other windsurfers and kite surfers, the rules of evasion between sailing vehicles apply :
- In the case of oncoming surfers: Obligation to maintain course for those with the sheet to port , obligation to evade for those with the starboard sheet. In windsurfing, sheet refers to the rear end of the boom, the clew . So if the right hand is closer to the mast, you have to stay on course and if it is the left, then you have to avoid it. When kiting, sheet is understood to mean the position of the kite in relation to the longitudinal axis of the board. Memorandum: "port sheet before starboard sheet" or "starboard bow gives way to port bow".
- In the case of a collision course at an acute angle on a similar course: Course maintenance obligation for those who drive downwind, evasion obligation for the surfer in windward direction. This is because the surfer driving leeward has the surfer driving upwind behind him and can hardly see. Memorandum: "Lee before windward".
- If possible, overtaking is always done on the windward side. The overtaken must be given the option of falling , for example for the jibe. Memorandum: "Passing on windward".
- In the port entrance: Entry before exit so that surfers with damaged equipment or with physical problems can reach the safe harbor unhindered. Memorandum: "First in, then out".
Competitions
General
Official windsurfing competitions are only held from a certain wind speed (e.g. 10 knots). The wind limit is set in such a way that the courses can be used sensibly with the permitted material. In the case of a slalom 42, for example, the wind must be strong enough to allow the boards to glide and jibes that have been slipped through.
Freestyle (variety, originality and artistic design elements such as loops, twists and jumps) and Waveriding (jumping over the waves and descending the waves) are rated by judges competitions. Olympic class , Formula class , course races and Slalom 42 are races in which many participants complete a set course. Indoor are indoor competitions and Long Distance are long distance races.
Olympia
Windsurfing became an Olympic discipline for men in Los Angeles in 1984 , followed by women in Barcelona in 1992 .
The equipment of the Olympic class is the same for all participants. At the IYRU (International Yacht Racing Union) for the 1984 Olympic Games, the German Windglider was the only approved type of surfboard to prevail over the world's most popular windsurfer . In 1996, 2000 and 2004 the windsurfing frigates were driven on the Mistral One Design. At the ISAF Annual General Meeting 2005, the Neilpryde proposal " RS: X " was chosen as the new Olympic board for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Nationally and internationally important RS: X regatta dates and results can be called up at the DWSV.
In May 2012, ISAF announced that it would replace windsurfing with kitesurfing after the 2012 Olympics. This decision was withdrawn 6 months later.
World and European championships
Every year, the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) hosts the Windsurf World Cup in the disciplines of Wave, Freestyle and Slalom 42. World champions for speed, racing and the formula class are chosen by other organizations.
There are also the European Freestyle Championships, held by the EFPT (European Freestyle Pro Tour) .
In German-speaking countries, competitions take place on Sylt and Podersdorf . The Windsurf World Cup Sylt is the world's largest event of its kind.
Trends
The speed sailing is considered to be formula 1 of the wind-driven watercraft. At high wind speeds, a course of 250 or 500 meters must be traveled as quickly as possible. A well-known competition is the Dunkerbeck GPS Speed Challenge, which is open to all age groups and in which certified GPS data loggers can also be used locally.
The windsurfing Foiling is a racing discipline that can be discharged even at two to three winds. From a certain speed, the athletes glide on a sword-like extension with an underwater wing ( foil ) in the fin box. The board is lifted out of the water by the foil and due to the low water resistance it glides faster than a normal windsurf board. There are no preliminary or intermediate runs in this race discipline. A maximum of four races per day and a total of 15 during a World Cup may be held. In 2016, a World Cup prize money was awarded for the first time on Sylt (€ 7,500).
The Red Bull Storm Chase (RBSC) is a global competition in which storms from wind force 10 and a wave height of at least 4 meters are ridden from January to March. As with the wave discipline, wave rides and jumps are scored. The four finalists of the last RBSC are automatically placed, four other participants can apply online. The warning time for drivers is 120 hours. Participants can travel to the venue at least 60 hours before the event.
Well-known athletes
The legends of the sport include the American Robby Naish and the 42-time Dutch-Danish world champion Bjørn Dunkerbeck as well as the Moreno Twins for women. In addition to their successes, they have made a significant contribution to the further development of the sport and material. The most famous German drivers in the 1990s were the multiple German champion Bernd Flessner and former world champion Jutta Müller . In the last ten years the German wave rider Klaas Voget and Steffi Wahl have made a name for themselves in the World Cup. With four World Cup titles, Philip Köster is one of the great young talents.
See also
Web links
- Link catalog on windsurfing at curlie.org (formerly DMOZ )
- German Windsurfing Association , DWSV
- Association of German Windsurfing and Water Sports Schools V. , VDWS
- 50 years of windsurfing "Holding the wind with your hands" , commented photo series, one day , May 24, 2017
- Wind Legends - The History of Windsurfing : Part One , Part Two , Part Three , YouTube , English
Individual evidence
- ↑ gazette - European Patent Office staff magazine. September 2010, p. 5.
- ↑ United States Patent and Trademark Office: Patent Number: US003487800
- ↑ 500 Meter Records , World Sailing Speed Record Council, accessed November 26, 2015
- ↑ New Female World Speed Record - Karin Jaggi 46.31 knots , Boardseeker Magazine, November 2, 2015
- ↑ About the WSeV Berlin
- ↑ http://www.jp-australia.com/2009/index_old.php?id=46 ( Memento from November 1, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Surf magazine : Board production for almost all brands: Cobra , August 14, 2007, accessed on September 5, 2017
- ↑ Utility model G 84 18 494.9
- ↑ regattakalender.org , German Windsurfing Association
- ↑ ISAF Selects Kiteboarding For Rio 2016 (May 5, 2012, accessed October 21, 2013)
- ↑ ISAF Flip Flops and drops Olympic Kiteboarding (accessed November 25, 2012)
- ^ Association of German Speedsurfer e. V.
- ↑ Dunkerbeck GPS Speed Challenge , English
- ↑ Press release on the Windsurf World Cup Sylt ( Memento of the original from October 12, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , 9pm media GmbH, September 29, 2016
- ↑ RBSC 2017: 1 STORM, ONE MISSION AND 8 DRIVERS! , Windsurfers, October 2016
- ↑ RED BULL STORM CHASE , Red Bull
