Login or Register
Windsurfing Headlines
- Calema Midwinters Windsurfing Festival Gets Underway March 4Th
- Jimmy's Beach To Host World-Class Windsurfing Competition
- Gabriel Browne Wins 2009 Fortaleza Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix
- Ali Master Wins National Windsurfing Title
- Mark Taylor Dominates Windsurfing Race In Exmouth
- Windsurfing Trend Aims High In Sweden
| Windsurfing Trend Aims High In Sweden |
 |
 |
 |
| Sports - Windsurfing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Anonymous | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 23 July 2009 13:39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
It was a very bold move, but quickly proved to be a success, and sports windsurfing became a recognized sport in Sweden as one of the first countries in Europe. Clas Haglund won the 1976 Europeans sports surfing competition. Sweden established several World and European sports windsurfing champions like Johnny Myrin, Christer Swedberg, Guy Liljegren and Thomas Persson in the 70's and early 80's to stand out like one of the Worlds best windsurfing nations.
The original sports Windsurfer had grown to be the biggest "yachting" class by far, with 500 or more windsurfing competitors at major international events. Windsurfing became an Olympic sport in 1984. But, several manufacturers "joined the party" and the original windsurfing One Design class faded - and so did the popularity of the long boards. When short boards were discovered, sports windsurfers began leaving the sport in droves as it went to a wonderfully different sailing sport enjoyed "wherever there was wind and water" to a new, high-wind, specialty species that only the young and "hip"could now do-and in high wind conditions only, meaning 20-plus knots and up.In earlier years, on the longer boards, it was easy to learn windsurfing and you only needed one board and one sail-and a small bit of gear. One would sail in light and medium winds, as you might find on a nice calm day at the beach or on a lake. With this new, short-board breed of sailor, you had to be more athletic and have the coordination of a unicyclist to master several techniques. These tiny "sinker" boards would actually submerge under your weight unless you were on a constant plane. The ability to start when first positioned in the water was one of the most difficult skills to be taught of any sport. Over the years however, this short-board, high-wind sport evolved into high-tech boards, high-tech, light gear. Everything became lighter and faster-and more expensive. The entire sports windsurfing industry almost killed itself, but following trends, and removing the sport from its original core. Lets Fast-forward windsurfing to 2009. Windsurfing is definitely back, and so are the long boards, especially in Sweden, thanks to another bold business man named Joachim Larsson. Joachim who was a keen windsurfing competitor himself in the 80's, quickly saw the need for an accessible, economical and strict One Design windsurfing board - that once again could cater to the windsurfing masses. A French manufacturer had re-developed the concept in 2006 and this time with modern materials and design features. The Kona as it's called is a modern design longboard and is extremely easy to sail and learn on, although still challenging for more experienced sailors. After visiting and competing in the very first Kona Worlds Windsurfing in Thailand in 2006, Larsson "went to work" and imported 100 boards to Sweden, where we can openly admit that the market was literally zero. However, thanks to communication skills and contacts Larsson quickly succeeded in creating a community of ex- sports windsurfers and beginners of all age groups - and racing in big fleets had commenced already in 2007. Ex Olympian Bjorn Holm among several other skilled windsurfing veterans joined the class and the competitive sport level increased. Holm won the Kona Worlds Windsurfing in 2008, and was decided that the 2009 Worlds should be hosted in Motala, Sweden from August 13-16. Over a hundred windsurfing competitors from around the world are expected to take part. The sports windsurfing class has been recognized by the Swedish Sailing federation, and also appointed the official windsurfing class for the Swedish Championships this year. It is correct to say that sports windsurfing again is on its way to becoming a major sport in Sweden and much thanks to the amazing achievement of a single person, Joachim Larsson from Motala. Windsurfing is a wonderful sport and now accessible to those of all age groups and skill levels.
Our ArticlesAdditional Information
Latest PhotosOur Ads
|
0 Comments