Beginning windsurfing in 1972, Jonathan was one of the first windsurfers on the East Coast, and self-proclaimed first redneck to windsurf. Lake Lanier, Georgia. Photo Dad
Also one of the first handful to windsurf on Maui, he began as a board shaper for Town&Country, later sponsored by UP SPORTS, It wasn't long before he picked up a camera (after dropping out of Brooks Institute of Photography to go windsurfing!)
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 Jonathan getting ready to follow pro rider at Ho'okipa with a helmet mounted 16mm movie camera for his film, Impact Zone. This was the first attempt at capturing POV (point of view) footage of windsurfing, pre GoPro.
Jonathan Weston
Jonathan Weston founded the Windsurfing Hall of Fame and serves as President. Involved in the sport since 1972, when he first lifted teak booms out of the water, he followed the development of the sport to Florida, California, and then rode the second wave of riders to Hawaii. As a photographer, he was winner of the 1990 NPPA, Canon, Kodak, and Sports Illustrated Picture of the Year, becoming a pioneer of POV filmmaking (what people now know as GoPro), the first person to windsurf Ho'okipa with a movie camera on his helmet. He is the creator of films such as Impact Zone, Double or Nothing, and WIND LEGENDS, |
Started with a whisper. Evolving from VHS full deck in backpack to the 16mm, the making of Impact Zone. The movie helped place windsurfing in the public limelight.
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His book, Impact Zone, sold out of 10,000 copies quickly in 1986, and can be found in 600 libraries around the USA.
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Jonathan worked on many other promo films, including for Simmer Style, Gaastra, and Neil Pryde, working for/with some of the top producers of the sport like Robert Masters.
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While filming Double Or Nothing, Weston survived a helicopter crash at Sprecklesville.
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Though a water photographer and POV filmmaker at heart, a chance heli shot captured Mickey Eskimo, winning Top Ten Sports Illustrated, and NPPA, Canon and Kodak Sports Picture of the Year, 1990.
WIND LEGENDS, produced by Jonathan Weston, premiered at Lake Garda to over 1,000 attendees. It can be seen for free at www.mauiglorydays.com/videos
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Jonathan with one of his favorite subjects, Mickey Eskimo.
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A story about the beginning days of high-performance wave windsurfing on Maui, growing to the heyday, the Glory Days – "in the wink of a young girl's eye." Click here for more info or order on Amazon.
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Married with children.
Today, the author resides with his family in North Carolina, where he has gone full-circle on the Windsurfer LT.
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