It was a great honor for me and the Windsurfing Hall of Fame to be recognized by these young hipster hosts for the second editon of Windsurfing TV! Bjorn or Robby? That was actually their fun play to get people onboard (clickbait, right, kids these days), before having to listen to a lesson the history of our sport. Discussed what the WHOF was all about, how to join in on the popular vote (FB Group, Windsurfing Hall of Fame... vote ends Sept 23 2023), and then a bit of rambling by the guest about all the great legends of our sport. Bjorn or Robby? How can one choose? Both legends in their own right. Baited!

And here is an excerpt from my film, Double or Nothing. I'll have to dig to find the whole deal. Paul's favorite! Or just blowing smoke up? 

Below you will find all Candidates who were nominated by their peers for the Windsurfing Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

The balloting results were comprised of a popular vote from the Windsurfing Hall of Fame FB Group, a closed group of selected windsurfing veterans of at least 20 years of experience which counts for 30% of the vote. It was conducted through a FB Poll. The other 70% of the weighted vote came from an elite voting body composed of current WHOF Inductees. This was done through a Survey Monkey link sent out via email to all Inductees.

Best of luck next year to the candidates who did not get in! This was the Year of the Internationals, so the focus was indeed taken off the many great wavesailors in Hawaii and beyond. 


WHOF Class of 2023 Candidates
Rider's Hall Men (5)
Antoine Albeau – France – by Cliff Webb
Mickey Eskimo – Austria – by Jonathan Weston
Brian Talma – Barbados – by Alex Williams
Robby Seeger – Germany – by Jonathan Weston
Scotty H O'Connor – Australia – by Andrew Dolly Divola/Jonathan Weston/Dick Lamb
Erik Beale – UK/France – by Agostina/ Jonathan Weston
Nik Baker – UK – by Joanna Robbins/Cliff Webb/Ant Baker
Cesare Cantagalli– Italy – by Marcello Rivalta/Pietro Porcella
Erik Thieme – France – by Sébastien Ruyant
Rider's Hall Women (3)
Alessandra Sensini– Italy – by Bryan McDonald/Pietro Porcella
Natalie Simon – France – by Jonathan Weston
Tomoko Okazaki– Japan – by Sonja Evensen/Jonathan Weston
Andrea Livingston-Barbara – USA – by Annie Gardner
Inge Bouwmeester – Netherlands – by Michiel Bouwmeester
CarollAnn Alie – Canada – by Bryan McDonald
Julie deWerd (RIP)– USA – by Joel Eser Richman
Craftsmen (Shapers, Sailmakers, Innovators) (3)
Hugues de Turckheim – Shaper – France – by Jean-Paul Riou
Kevin Wadham – Sailmaker – Australia – by Stuart Gilbert
Mike Zajicek – Czechoslovakia – by Skip Boman
Ben Severn – Sailmaker – Australia by Jonathan Weston
Willem Blauw – Sailmaker – Netherlands by Jonathan Weston
Neil Pryde – Hong Kong – by Nils Nils Axel Rosenblad
Charchulla Brothers – Innovators – Germany – by Chad Lyons
André Lefèvre – Sailmaker – France – Sapina Michel
Media (Photographers, Filmmakers, Journalists) (3)
Cliff Webb – Photojournalist/Video Producer – UK by Jonathan Weston/Niklas Salzmann-Webb
Taki Takiguchi (RIP) – Photographer – Japan – by Darrell Wong
Kazuhiro Shimokawatoko – Journalist – Japan – by Darrell Wong
Eric Sanford – Photojournalist – USA – by Jack Hennessy
Jace Panebianco – Filmmaker – USA – by Jonathan Weston
Brian Caserio – Filmmaker – USA – by Larry Stanley
Alex Williams – Photographer – UK – by Jonathan Weston
Pioneers & Promoters (3)
Michiel Bouwmeester – Netherlands – by Stefania Poli/Inge Bouwmeester
Greg Johns – Australia –by Scotty O'Connor
Peter Brockhaus – Germany – by Steve West
Glenn Taylor (RIP) – USA – by Dick Lamb
Martin Spanjer (RIP) – Netherlands – Dick Lamb
Colin Perry – USA – Dick Lamb
Alan Parducci (RIP) – USA #3 – Jonathan Weston
Bep Thijs – Netherlands – Jonathan Weston
Susie Swatek – Jonathan Weston
Ernstfried Prade – Jonathan Weston
Jaap Van Der Rest – Holland – Jonathan Weston
Serge Griessman – France – Jonathan Weston
 

Pitchforks! Run for the hills! 
 
I found it funny that I've had so few arguments over sailors chosen for the Rider's Hall of Fame. Hardly a peep out of anyone for both Class of 2021 nor 2022, just announced. I only get one vote as member of the WHOF Selection Committee, but I also weigh in heavily, after discussion with the SC, on how many get in. But this is not about that. It's about the newly developed categories, the first to be announced in particular:
PHOTOGRAPHERS, FILMMAKERS, JOURNALIST. 
 
When I posted the inductees on FB Group WHOF, a lot of hands went up. What about this guy? What about that guy? Every pond has its pontificating pontif! Everyone gets a prize! 
 

​Why not EVERYONE GETS A PRIZE? For one, it takes a great deal of computer hours to wrangle and write content, graphically design bio pages and individual plaques. It's my free time gone to hell. I have a regular job and three book projects in the way. There are steep web hosting and computer/software expenses (my job won't let me use theirs anymore), with very few people pitching in with support. For two, it waters the golden waters down. There are a couple of guys I put in because I feel they deserve to be there, have dedicated their lives to the sport. Though I may not judge their imagery to be on par with those top shelf guys, who am I to judge? Longevity and passion for the sport are key to entry. 
 
One other criterion was, How did they influence others to enter the sport, or changed their lives with their imagery or wordsmithering inspiration? Okay, not a word. There a couple of guys with their picture on that wall that were not really in it for the passion of the sport. It was more of a side gig to surfing and a way to make money. But they recognized the beauty of the sport and had a great INTERNATIONAL impact on others. A few like Tonix were late to the ballot due to drained memory cells, but those guys had passion and skills.
 
Here's my consolation prize: I will create a list that follows those portraits titled, OTHER GREAT CONTRIBUTORS to the sport, and if you think so strongly about it, you should have campaigned ahead of time on WHOF FB site. I called for it, nothing but crickets and Buelhler's.

Better yet,  put your money where your mouse is and donate to the Windsurfing Hall Of Fame. Without your support, the whole thing will be gone with the wind. Thanks for reading and your passion, your participation.

Jonathan Weston
Founder/President
Windsurfing Hall Of Fame

​What's new with the Windsurfing Hall of Fame? A lot going on here I can tell you, so why don't I begin with the Facebook Windsurfing Hall of Fame page Nationality Polls. Each day, I've been posting a poll for a new nationality (and in some cases, grouping nations so this doesn't take all year). Those playing along can add names by scrolling down and using the Options field. The criteria of the candidate being at least 50 years old, not already in the 2021 WHOF Class, and unless otherwise stated, born and raised in that country. 
 
What will become of these polls? Is this just a game? This particular group is an Open FB group, therefore the audience is not vetted based on their experience and knowledge of the spor (only recently were the animals herding into the barn given a door full of questions). The younger body of voters leans toward who they have been exposed to. That said, this is a hall of FAME, therefore, many names still in the limelight seem to be rising to the top. However, it is also evident that many incredible sailors that should be at the top are garnishing only one or two votes.  So the answer is yes, it's just a game. So why do it?
 
The original intention was to shed light on the people from all nations, that may not have ventured onto the international stage.  Unfortunately, some of these incredible sailors who have long been retired or fled to ahem, other sports, feel slighted by the results. This is the downside of running any poll, and my apologies to them. They most likely will see themselves on the official ballot regardless of these "fun" polls, which are not fun to all. 
 
The results are there to see for all members of the Official WHOF Voting Body and WHOF Selection Committee. There are two separate, closed and private groups. And...those that are receiving a ton of votes will most likely be seen on the official ballot. Their names are not surprising, and they do have a ring of Fame to their names.
 
Currently, the newly selected Selection Committee are voting on opening up pages for categorization of the WHOF: Photographers, Media, Sailmakers, Innovaters, Shapers, Pioneers... to name just a few. 
 
Stay tuned!

​JW

The following criteria will be used to select the Windsurfing Hall of Fame Class of 2022:

1. All candidates must be 50 or older as of 2022.
2. There will be up to 15 candidates inducted, based their achievements, sport longevity
and character.
3. The candidates will be officially nominated by the WHOF Voting Body, presenting the top 3 vote winners in one of each of the following categories to the Selection Committee. Here are the categories being presented to the Selection Committee:

• Wave Male
• Wave Female
• Racer Male
• Racer Female
• Speed Male or Female
• Adventurer Male or Female
• Supporting Cast, Tech (Sailmaker, Rider)
• Supporting Cast, Tech (Board Shaper, Rider)
• Supporting Cast, Media (Photographer*, Filmmaker, Journalist)s
• Pioneer Rider Male
• Pioneer Rider Female
• Olympian Male
• Olympian Female
• Freestyle Female

4. The Selection Committee will decide close races, with the option of a Selection Committee runoff poll.
5. The Acting President gets one final pick.
6. The FB page, Windsurfing Hall of Fame will be used to place candidates on the ballot. 
8. Campaigns will close on Aug. 1, with Voting Body voting to take place Sept. 1, Selection Committee voting closing by Oct. 1, Announcement of WHOF Class of 2022 on November 15. May the best win!

Just in case you wingers don't know your history, the same man who designed and co-developed the original Windsurfer, also designed the first wing. Don't have to read German to know that this man is hall of famer Jim Drake. Jim was the first person selected by the original PWA HOF. Looking at the logo, the sail was sewed by none other than RN's sailmaker of original choice, Andre Lefevre, and the rider, none other than poster boy Pete Cabrinha. Also involved in this project was Surf Editor, Ulli Stanciu. Thanks to Surf Magazine and photogs John Speer, Kaoru Sorihata, and Gerd Kloos, and to David Drake for the discovery.

​Of course, looking back on things, Hoyle was the great promotor (Diane the media master) who made the original Windsurfer fly. If together, they had entrepreneurial interest in this project as well, perhaps winging would have taken flight much sooner. Conjecture! In the end, it wound up being Pete and many others who would Duo profit from the unpatented design, eventually developing kites and wings cha-ching. Read more in Surfer Today.