PWA Announces The 2003 Windsurfing Hall of Fame Top Three
The 2003 PWA Hall of Fame inductees have been decided. Like last years Hall of Fame nominees, this years inductees are pioneers of the sport. All three are responsible for the advancement to of windsurfing but in very different ways.
Arnaud de Rosnay - the selection committee has honored Arnaud de Rosnay posthumously, he was the adventurer of our sport, his cavalier attitude and search for discovery took him to places that no windsurfer had ever been. Eventually this is what took his life while attempting to cross the South China Sea sometime in November 1984.
Mike Waltze - is the “waterman” of our three, free and stylish in his sailing he was a true pioneer in the wave sailing discipline and is the man that brought Hookipa and Maui into the international spotlight during the 80’s. He continues to live on Maui.
Ken Winner – Professional Windsurfer, one of the first truly pro- windsurfers, he was a technical expert, his talent, intense dedication and attention to detail won him a racing world title and numerous US national titles. He developed the business of pro- windsurfing and paved the way for us to follow. He continues to follow this path of technical innovation and is the designer for North Kites. He lives in Hood River, Oregon.
Mike Waltze
Mike is widely recognized as holding the title of the first person to sail a short board; 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 5 and 7.
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 Klied 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 Kite-surfing with Laird on Maui in 1994
Today, has two girls ages four and six
Part owner of Namotu Island resort in Fiji
Favorites sports today, Surfing, Tow in Surfing at Jaws, and Kitesurfing and Foilboarding
Still windsurfs but away from crowds on other islands
Involved in Film, commercial, and television production on Maui, Operates 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
First place, heavy-weight division, Olympic class US nationals
1981 First place, heavy-weight division, open class, US nationals
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.
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 kite boarding 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 short boards 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 ’86 through ’89.
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 Ho’okipa, the sport’s 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.
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. “Keep on riding Arnaud.”
Arnaud's official website http://perso.club-internet.fr/ader/
Photographs of Ken Winner & Mike Waltze, Courtesy: Darrell Wong