What is this contraption: Windsurfer-Glider cross

[nodak]

Saw this on"Windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge in 1987" on YouTube, some sort of windsurfer-glider. It looks very dangerous; I'm sure it was solid aluminum tubing construction. Imagine getting tangled up in that.

It's a fun movie with some funky gear. Maybe some of you guys can recognize some of those people?

[rigitrite]

It's the "Wind Wing", an attempt to turn a windsurfer into a seagull. The thing was horribly unstable and damn near impossible to ride and control, especially transitioning from water to air. There's a reason why they never caught on. The concept did catch on: we call it kiting.

[cgoudie1]

Pretty sure that was called a Wind Weapon (Wind Wing belonged to
Bill Hansen until he sold the name). Tom Magruder designer (and company
owner with his brother as I recall). Tom had a vision for sure, but as stated,
a little harder to control than a standard rig. The hang time was better,
but the users didn't really get higher than a standard rig either. Jibing was
altogether different than a standard rig.

-Craig

[dllee]

Wind Weapon.
You can see some bad landing on Hard Winds a Blowin.
Euros now have a hand held version, without the aluminum strut, which made landings very difficult.
Basically a hand held KITE.

[rigitrite]

Correct! "The Wind Weapon", I was wrong about the name. It looked like ALOT more work and frustration for zero more fun.

[gvogelsang]

I remember a guy here who tried to use that thing all one summer. It was a disaster. Short rides, lots of walks of shame.

The next year he was back to windsurfing.

[wdsurf]

Kitewing is the handheld device now for skis skates snowboards etc.those boards in the wind weapon video were Hypertech 7-6 35 ltr.gorge boards weighed 9 lbs.wife still has one serial no 2 I believe.

[wdsurf]

No.11 9lbs straps,pads,base

[wdsurf]

Rocket ship

[wdsurf]

Tiny tail