PWA Announces Windsurfing Hall of Fame Top Seven
PWA Announces Windsurfing Hall of Fame Top Seven
The first round of votes are in for the Inaugural PWA Windsurfing Hall of
Fame.
Friday May 31, 2002
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.)
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.
Overall World Champion 1983-87 (Pre PWA)
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.
Arnaud_s official website: 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.
First person to win all 3 disciplines at windsurfer worlds in Okinawa freestyle, racing, slalom.
Mike has two girls age 4 and 6.
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. First place overall at Windsurfer World Championships 1977, 1980.
Ranked 2nd on the World Cup 1983, 1984