WINGDINGS

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.