The first round of votes are in for the Inaugural PWA Windsurfing Hall of
Fame. There were 64 nominations in total. The PWA would like to thank the
selection committee for their very informed choices.
We have taken the top 7 nominees and sent them back to our selection
committee for the final voting. They will make their final choice of 3
names who will be inducted into Windsurfing Hall of Fame for 2002. The
results will be announced at a later date.
The top 7 nominees for 2002 Windsurfing Hall of Fame, they are as follows
(alphabetical order):
Jim Drake
Robby Naish
Arnaud de Rosnay
Hoyle Schweitzer
Barry Spanier
Mike Waltze
Ken Winner
(You may notice a predominantly high percentage of US citizens in the top
seven Hall of Fame nominations. This is primarily due to the fact that in
the days of windsurfings infancy the US was at the forefront of
windsurfing invention and subsequent development. Nowadays it is a truly
worldwide sport and we are sure, in years to come we will see a more
global representation of our windsurfing heroes.)
Hall of Fame International Selection Committee:-
MAGAZINES: American Windsurfer – John Chao, Boards – Bill Dawes, Freesail
– Michael McGrath, Surf [Holland] – Onno de Boer, Surfers – Dirk Herpel,
Wave Sardegna – Pietro Porcella, Windsport – John, Bryja, Windsurf Poland
– Mark Kasprowicz, Windsurf Italia, Kiki Guindani, WindSurfer – Ken
Ikenoya, WindSurfing – Eddy Patricelli, Surf – Steve Chismar & Alois
Muehlegger, Funboard – Ovidio Ferrari. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Darrell Wong, Eric
Aeder, Jono Knight, Sylvain Cazenave, John Carter, Eric Sanford. SAIL
DESIGNER: Geoff Bourne
JIM DRAKE
FATHER OF WINDSURFING. On May 15 1967 in Marina del Rey, California, Jim
took the first step on the first windsurfer that he designed and built in
his Santa Monica garage. Born 38 years earlier in Hollywood, California,
he graduated from Stanford University to become an aeronautical engineer
for what was then called North American Aviation. His carrier took him to
the Pentagon, the Rand Corporation and lastly R and D Associates, a
technical studies firm he help found. He, with help of course, developed
the first designs of what became the X-15, the B-70 and the cruise
missile. Now retired, he still consults with the Pentagon but more
importantly with Starboard where the concept of the ultra-wide short
board, known as the Formula, was born. He and his late wife, Wendy, bore
six children. He and his second wife, Sam, have between them eight
children and six-teen grandchildren. They now live in North Carolina but
travel frequently to Bangkok, Paris, Rome and Hawaii in pursuit of his
technical infatuation with water borne, wind powered sports.
ROBBY NAISH
Born 23rd March 1963. Living Legend? He is the true windsurfing
ambassador. Robby has won multiple world titles over the years (world
champion 1983-91). He is still pushing the limits of windsurfing today
with new moves like the "table top push loop". Robby has shown us
time and
time again what it takes to be a consummate professional. Robby Naish is
also owns of Naish International manufactures of Windsurfing and
Kitesurfing equipment.
Results:
World Champion 1983-87 (Pre PWA)
Wave results: 1997 Ranked 2nd
1996 Ranked 6th
1998 Ranked 4th
World Champion 88,89,91
ARNAUD DE ROSNAY
The adventurer. Arnaud de Rosnay was ahead of his time, a man with vision,
not afraid to take risks. He was the forerunner to all traveling
windsurfers, he showed us the freedom and possibilities windsurfing can
bring to us all and will always be remembered.
Arnaud¹s official website: http://arnaud.derosnay.com
HOYLE SCHWEITZER
Born April 8 1933, Los Angeles, Ca. Graduated Pomona College, B.A.
Economics, 1955. Married to Diane Pardue.
Hoyle co-developed the sailboard with James Drake in 1967. He is known as
the man who brought windsurfing to the masses. He manufactured the
Windsurfer and was the first to promote one design racing. Hoyle will
always be known as the joint inventor of the windsurfer and the man who
brought windsurfing into the public eye. He is now retired and living in
Maui and Georgian Bay, Canada.
BARRY SPANIER
Born July 30th 1946. Barry Spanier is renowned throughout the world of
windsurfing and beyond as one of the greatest and most innovative sail and
equipment designers, having created many ground breaking prototypes and
quantum leaps for this progressive industry.
Over the years the sails that Barry has developed and designed have been
used by hundreds of thousands of recreational sailors and professional
sports people alike, with equal ease.
From speed sailing and course racing, to the wild and wide requirements
of successfully completing freestyle and wave maneuver’s, Barry’s
attention to refinement and sail details ensure that every discipline is
developed to its utmost premium.
MIKE WALTZE
The first person to sail a short board? Mike is widely recognized as
holding this title, he attached a sail to a surfboard (Ken Winner was also
there that day). By taking this momentous step he changed the sport of
windsurfing forever. We could say he took "One small step for himself and
one giant leap for Windsurfing!" Mike also brought Hookipa to the
windsurfing world by being the first guy to sail it. Mike Waltze now owns
his own film production company and is a professional waterman. Mike was
also a very competitive windsurfer winning the mistral worlds and placing
in the top three in all National one design events from 1970 1981. Mike
has two girls age 4 and 6.
Further information on Mike Waltze:
Started windsurfing in 1969 with Matt Schweitzer / taught by Hoyle Schweitzer
Began competing in 1970 (10 years old)
Placed top 3 in all national and international one design events from 1970
to 1981
Won first national championships in 1976
Won mistral worlds in 1978
First person to win all 3 disciplines at windsurfer worlds in Okinawa
freestyle, racing, slalom
First windsurfer on Maui with Ken Klieg in 1978
First to sail Hookipa in 1978
Experimented sailing on a surfboard in the waves in 1979
Held the first windsurfing wave event on Maui in 1979
Began the Tow in Surfing craze with Laird Hamilton, Kalama, Cabrinha,
Angulo and friends in 1994
Began Kitesurfing with Laird on Maui in 1994
Today, have 2 girls age 4 and 6
Part owner of Namotu Island resort in Fiji
Favorites sports today, Surfing, Tow in Surfing at Jaws, and Kitesurfing
and Foilboarding
still windsurf but away from crowds on other islands
Involved in Film, commercial, and television production on Maui, operate
broadcast equipment, film cameras and Avid Editing.
KEN WINNER
Former windsurfing world champion.
Born May 4th, 1955, He has lived in Hood River, Oregon, USA for the last
fourteen years. Ken has been involved in windsurfing since 1975 and has
participated in many aspects of the sport and business. He built the first
adjustable boom a feature found on virtually all windsurfers. He also
designed the Mistral WindGlider, the biggest-selling sailing craft in the
world. He built the first foot-adjustable mast track a feature found on
most longboards and all Olympic boards. All in all Ken Winner has made a
significant contribution to the sport of windsurfing. Ken now designs
Kites for the North.
Further information on Ken Winner:
Competition
1997 Overall US national champion
1996 Placed second in US nationals
1986 Finished forth in World, retired from pro racing
1984 Ranked 2nd in world
1983 Ranked 2nd in world
1981 First place, heavy-weight division, Olympic class US nationals
1981 First place, heavy-weight division, open class, US nationals
1981 First place, med-heavy division in Windsurfer class, US nationals
1981 First place PanAm Cup (World Cup predecessor)
1980 First place overall at Windsurfer World Championships
1980 First place in division in US national championships
1979 Freestyle Windsurfer world champ
1978 Overall US national champ
1978 Second overall at world championships
1977 Overall world champ
1976 First place in division in US national championships
Innovations
2002 Designed the North Toro kiteboarding kite.
2001 Designed the North Rhino kiteboarding kite. Set several trends in
kite design: Dacron construction, tip battens, segmented construction.
1999 Co-designed the "Longhorn" carbon kite control bar, one of the
most
popular high-end bars on the market.
1999 Produced the first serious kiteboarding how-to video.
1997 Designed, raced and promoted the first modern wide, short boards,
precursors of the current Formula boards.
1995 Developed and patented the anti-ventilation skirt, a device that
improves the speed of shortboards in light to moderate winds.
1990 Together with brother Karl Winner, developed an automated,
computerized speed trap for windsurfers.
1986 With Larry Tuttle developed "pointer" fins, the first
spinout-resistant, highly efficient racing fins. This basic design won the
pro worlds in ¹86 through ¹89.
1985 With Larry Tuttle developed the Tuttle box, fin box of choice
among racers
1981 Built some of the first "sinker" wave boards first to sail them
at Ho¹okipa, the sport¹s premier surf-sailing venue.
1980 Co-authored a popular windsurfing how-to book.
1980 Developed the carving jibe a maneuver currently used by all
intermediate and advanced windsurfers.
