30+ Sail & Board brands you may not have heard much of

[geohaye]

Want to trip out?

For the sake of appreciating the many colors of windsurfing:

Here's an intriguing list of production board makers & sail makers (most of these brands are foreign, but not all) that many in the USA have never heard of -- or at least they're not in the very first bunch of mega-major brands that most people think of. (In fact, I've been asked to add a few brands lately that are arguably not obscure at all, but they are OK on this "lesser known brand list" because at least they're not mega-major brands.) (Note: one or two of these brands appear to be deceased.):

If anyone has a sail or board maker to add to this list, or if there's something on this list that I should update, hit me with a PM.

Sails:

AL WINNER (http://www.al-winner-sails.de/)
BLADE (http://bladesails.com/site/)
BRIDGMAN (http://www.bridgmansails.com/)
BULL (http://www.bullsails.com/content_english/sails/sails.htm)
CHALLENGER (http://www.challengersails.com/09/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=111&lang=en)
DEMON (http://www.demonsails.co.uk/)
GUN (http://www.gunsails.de/en/kat.php)
HANSEN (http://www.hansensails.com/)
KA (http://www.kasail.com/windsurfing/index.html)
LEFEBVRE (http://www.lefebvre-sails.de/)
LODEY (http://www.lodeysails.com/windsurfing_frame.htm)
POINT 7 (http://www.point-7.com/)
SAIL LOFT HAMBURG (http://www.sailloft.de/)
THE LOFT (http://www.loftsails.com/)
TORERO (http://www.torerosails.com.br/projetos_xokleng.htm)
TUSHINGHAM (http://tushinghamsails.com/)
ULTRA (http://www.ultrasails.com/)
VANDAL (http://www.vandalsails.com/)

Boards:

7TH WAVE (http://www.7th-wave.com/gama_cast.htm)
AB+ (http://www.abpluswindsurfing.com/)
AHD (http://www.a-h-d.com/)
AIR INSIDE (http://www.airinside.ch/uk_home.html)
ANGULO (http://www.angulosurf.com/)
BUHALA (http://www.buhalaboards.com/v5/world/news.htm)
CARBON ART (http://www.carbonart.co.nz/)
CASCADE (http://www.cascadeperformancefiberglass.com/sailboard.html)
D'LIGHT (http://www.dlight.net/html/windsurfboards.htm)
DOYLE (http://www.doylesports.com/Windsurfing/windsurfing.html)
DROPS (http://www.drops.net/portal/)
EXOCET (http://www.exocet-original.com/)
KONA (http://www.kona-windsurfing.com/)
LORCH (http://www.lorch-boards.de/Boards-2009.472.0.html)
MANTA (http://www.manta-sailboards.com.au/depts.asp?DeptID=5)
MIKE'S LAB (http://www.mikeslab.com/)
OES AUSTRALIA/MAUI (http://www.oesaustralia.com/)
ON (http://www.on-boards.com/2009/index.php?id=windsurf_e)
OPEN OCEAN (http://www.openocean.com/)
ROBERTS (http://www.robertssailboards.com/)
SUN 7 (http://www.sun-7.com/tablas.html)
T1 (http://www.thommen1.com/v3.0/)
WITCHCRAFT (http://www.witchcraft.nu/boardrange.php)

And there are others...

[jingebritsen]

Imagine how maddening it would be to a retailer if all those brands tried to mkt themselves right now with the state of the couch potato US consumer and lack of windsurfing participation? There would be a team rider slot for nearly every venue per brand. No one would make a dime. The sport would certainly have to change its method of making money for spreading the stoke if that happened...

[keycocker]

We don't have to imagine it. Many of these brands are marketing in the US. Several are US brands like Loft, Carbon Art. I would like to add AB, Angulo,Kona, AirInside, Exocet and Aguera to the board list. Tarifa Sails?
The Federation des Sports Nautiques reports that after a big drop from 1986 to 2000, there has been an increase in members sales of about 20% a year. The largest windsurf race in the world - Defi Wind- had to cut off entries at 700 sailors last year.There are no heats in that race. Everyone starts at one time

[dennis_c]

[airwave]

Seems to me that with all the boards out there that almost every windsurfer could be a team rider for at least board. In fact all of the boards that I have have the company logos on them. ummm....

[jingebritsen]

keyrocker,

Only in Europe can we see participation numbers that high. Here in the US Nintendo and NASCAR rule. Two very sedentary pass times...

[windward1]

Maybe that should be sedentary ass pass times......

[geohaye]

The photo-history page of Lefebvre Sails (Germany) is particularly interesting. 2 pages of photos, some 30 years old, are so wild, including:

> bicycle windsurfing!
> The leech cut-out sail from hell
> a version of the "Wind Weapon" (remember that in the Gorge?)
> an early thing similar to the "Kite Wing" (a sail-kite brand currently being produced & marketed in Finland)

See the goods here:
http://www.lefebvre-sails.de/no_cache/history/?tx_wtgallery_pi1%5Bthumbid%5D=0&tx_wtgallery_pi1%5Bpicid%5D=

[geohaye]

keycocker, I couldn't find websites for Aguera boards or Tarifa Sails. If you have 'em, PM me, sure I'd add them to this list.

[swchandler]

keycocker,

Actually Carbon Art boards are made in New Zealand. However, Phil McGain is involved in the design and testing of CAs. Also, it's my understanding that Loft Sails are designed at Monty Spindler's loft in Europe, in or around Tarifa.