Old School Wave Slalom - Lets Bring it BACK!

[@WindsurfingTV]

There's been rumours... and lots of talking!! But 'Wave Slalom' needs to happen again. Foil racing is great and is the easiest for organisers to get a result. But Wave slalom needs to happen.. cheers to Maarten Van Ochten for the video and motivation)

[@nicolasv99]

With drone filming and the insane level of current riders, this would make such an epic show!

[@mathijsbro]

Yeah, windsurfing was totally Rock 'n Roll back in the day - we need more action people can understand! Bring it back 😊

[@francesco7654]

Oh YES!!!! That’s the essence of windsurfing!! a competitive version of what people actually do when they windsurf: go as fast as possible in whatever swell.

[@brianweekes1]

That’s it!!!!

[@JonneTerlouw]

This ROCKS!!! we need more of this. we need to make it more exciting for spectators. and hopefully then tv might pick it up and then it will get big again like in those days.

[@chrissurfing]

Pleeeeaaase bring it back!!!! So exciting, spectacular - have no words for that. Get hooked to windsurfing as a small kid at Sylt with this action...

[@jans8837]

Never forget the old Naish video where he loops his raceboard and have huge full sends with his slalom board😂 loved it🤙🏼

[@foiling_ruined_my_life]

“It is like a normal forward, just a bit slower!” 😂😂😂

[@Paul-ry5cx]

old school wave slalom with drone footage would rock...

[@holgerwagner3291]

Slalom in wavy conditions would also be more fin orientated, I would definetly appreciate it!

[@fitnessandinjury]

Agreed

[@richk755]

Epic!!! Reminds me of being on Brighton beach with thousands of spectators watching Nik Baker beat Dunkerbeck and Bringdal. Good times!!

[@perbringdal4131]

Absolutely YES! We want to see this happen again, I’ll never forget he 80’s wave slalom in France, Japan,Sylt, Holland, Maui! Epic slalom at it’s BEST! Tough on the organizers to set the course, but oh soooooooo dramatic! Love it! Great video too, nicely edited! 👍👍

[@Pe-Bg]

I love it ! And yes, beach starts and finishing close to the beach is amazing to follow by the crowd. And now with drones and a big screen even more. 👍🏻

[@pierreschmit9148]

This is real WINDSURFING ! ❤ most of the gear in this video is still here in my garage, clean and ready to sail right now

[@73smoo]

I still have the Copello 275 Slalom Anders Bringdal replica from that time. Love it! And my Neil Pryde MKlll. It was gorgeous!

[@pierreschmit9148]

I have that same 275 Copello, and also a 265 And some AHD 265 And the perfectly matched NP VXII sails. The best ever gear !

[@ianbooth2267]

This is what windsurfing needs again . Exciting racing , similar to the pozo event , and like the pwa at Brighton all those years ago .

[@alvarohernandez9074]

This was real radical windsurfing!!!!! Brings me to ma early days!!!! I have lot of events like this recorded on VHS!!!

[@stevestanton5024]

Yes Ben bring it back. This is what got me into windsurfing too. That speed and balls of steel to hit those waves on slalom gear 🤪🤘🤘

[@knutkjaerran7209]

Absolutely the way to go! Leave the foil and the wide board’s home. That’s why we build our own retro boards at Board-ding❤

[@tfelix999]

Big cambersails, fins long as daggerboard and boards wide as a door KILLD Windsurfing!!!

[@enzotorresi5693]

100% wave slalom windsurf!!! That was the golden era of windsurfing, during the nineties. Almost nobody named our sport as windsurf when you sail a sub three meter board. Everybody known that was named as fun. And that was not a coincidence. The fun was really funny!! The only thing you needed, was strong wind, at least F3/4. Boards and sails designs were increasingly faster and faster, and also narrower. That resulted a slower learnig curve for people who started windsurfing from zero. But for those who learned, funboarding was The Best. But one day, kite appeared on the scene (I must say, I don't like kitesurfing). It had 3 advantages over funboarding. Requires less wind, faster learning curve and easier kits transportation. And that was the fun's death sentence. Many people choiced the kite and windsurf started to seems less attractive. So boards designs were getting wider, searching early planning in marginal winds, forgeting mistakes to the rookies, etc. To compete closer against kite. Many years later we have a weak and poorly define windsurfing, that mixed with concept and development like foil, wings and who knows what else in the early planning search and lost its essence: be a extreme sport, not necessarily easy one, for rough wind and water conditions.

[@scottwest3218]

Much more exciting for spectators and exactly what happens with my friends and me at our local beaches!

[@MNBC3931]

Goldern Days of windsurfing. We did anything and everything if it had a board and sail we went for it. In wavesailing comps If it was light wind I would use a slalom board because at least I would have the speed to jump and catch waves. Added bonus if you can throw a big board around it makes it so much easier on wave board.

[@boomwindsurfing2744]

The PWA have to bring this format back. It’s high speed, high risk, high drama and really entertaining to watch. The PWA need to put on a show, increase people watching windsurfing and help grow the sport. This is after all …. THE BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD 💪🤙💥

[@konradmajsterszef7899]

Fast and Fury - that was epic time of windsurfing !

[@mbcbourbon1454]

i'm 62 now no more windsurfing...when looking at your video, get chills !!

[@EdwardBuchanan]

Sooo sick. I burned out my VHS player watching World Windsurfing Re-tuned, back to back. Chilli videos were the best! So explosive. I doesn’t get any more dull than foil slalom IMO.

[@skipgonsalves81]

I didn't start windsurfing until this century so unfortunately I missed all that action. Wave slalom looks awesome! It would definitely force a change in board design for that type of racing. I think it would help the riders if some spots were foil only & others fin only for wave slalom as they wouldn't have to travel with so much gear.

[@stefansevens6502]

Yes! Bring the energy back to windsurfing!!

[@Hoser_eh]

Absolutely! Can there be more exciting and unpredictable racing?! It might open more venues, and bring in more people, both competitors and spectators.

[@franciscoferraz4890]

Correct, in boat sailing they are trying to bring action close to shore (they do it even with off shore vessels). In windsurf we did the opposite. Huge mistake!

[@titouande800]

As a 20 yo windsurfer, I find this 1000x more unjoyable to watch than current PWA format. I really try to get into watching competition but in my opinion, it is just not good enought at the moment. I am completely aware that it is not simple with lack of money etc, but pacasmayo stream quality was poor and it was hard to watch ... Windsurfing competition needs to be rethink if we want to make it as great as it was, so it can touch other people than windsurfers ( i feel like even a lot of windsurfers don't watch competition anymore so it would be a good starts ) I am currently watching a lot of old competition and i even feel nostalgic for an era where i wasnt even born. However, As always, great video Ben and thanks for being one of the guys that a doing their best to push our passion, the best sport in the world, no doubt !

[@SuperMoskis]

Yeeehaaaaa.... One of the most exiting things I saw in windsurfing videos "Wave Slalom"! Lets make it happen!

[@damon567]

Bring it back, we need what's best for the spectators... It's the only sailing event where you can have a beach start and we aren't capitalizing on the excitement,.

[@JT-ew9tl]

Awesome rerun of some great memories, it has to come back, soo much more fun than watching flying hovercrafts 🤙

[@AravacaMTB]

A lot of memories. Tarifa in 90´s. E-11 king of kings. Old winsurfers never die

[@supermasterchi06]

This is excatly why I felt in love with Windsurfing.

[@nonamecorp6385]

As much as I love foiling and especially race foiling I just have to say this video has convinced me that Wave slalom is where its at and would love to give it a try and see how the PWA Contest would handle the change.

[@wind-surfer]

Yeah, the good old times of shredding..... like it! Fly ... On the Wind!

[@brianweekes1]

It doesn’t get much better than this- LOVE IT! also motivated me. It’s epic… more please!

[@thanos.manesis]

This is the original pure windsurfing.

[@kencarthy2134]

I love it. I remember nearly all of those lips from growing up. ❤

[@capoeiralibertacaoexeter6198]

Definitely! It got windsurfing on my radar when I was a youngster. Boarder-cross in snowboarding is very popular and a similar idea. With drones to view it the action would be amazing!

[@doctoreskizo8636]

Buenas tardes, los RIDER,S salvajes como el VIENTO...!!! Me pareció ver a Robby Naish...!!! Me agrada se potencie el WND-SURF, en cualquiera de sus modalidades y con sus nuevos componentes... NAVEGAR EN DEFINITIVA...Saludos,gracias a todos lo que prácticas y hacéis posible esta PASIÓN...!!! FUERZA.!!! 🌛. 🌞

[@ahmetalaca4604]

Good old days, this is the real windsurfing. Foil is like slowmotion

[@franciscoferraz4890]

Like course racing.

[@kidxrude]

Jumping the slalom gear is epic!!

[@heinzstrunck]

+1 for the running start from the beach and through the shorebreak alone i would watch it!

[@DTV-jg4kg]

Yes, bring it back! The beachstart, getting trough the beachbreak, up en down through the wavesection🤙🏻

[@jobhabraken445]

Hahaha what a great edit, so epic!

[@TheWindsurfk59]

Yes 100% wave slalom needs to come back, plus wave foil slalom with beach starts! 😅 Could be a good watch, it would be carnage!

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

Yes, its all been said, but that era was particularly spectacular and what winsurfing is all about....it would be great to see this sort of competition again....

[@danfairweather3630]

Love it. What an era for windsurfing

[@timcairns7672]

Will we cut through our calfs with sharp fins and grind them into the sand and smash battens, and masts in the shore brake, and will the tail width of the race board become a design compromise as not that great for slalom and not that great for waves? But oh yes, awesome clips! OK, more please.

[@Merlinator_YT]

Good old times…. Thank You for the goosebumps 😊

[@josesousa272]

It's heart braking to see current number of pro riders on the main events. More sponsers, more crowd and riders in competition!

[@xxxxxx-cf1uk]

absolutely let's bring it back, it would be so much better than what we have now!

[@diederikdepauw5237]

Please bring it back, we all love the floary jumps on a slalom board. Bring it and sed it ❤

[@MARG2327PA]

It’s very very simple. That days were the best days for windsurfing industry. And all of that was because wave slalom, beach start racing and overall windsurfing champions like Robby and Bjorn .

[@franciscoferraz4890]

The best! Bring it back!

[@andreslarrain2790]

I agree. This is incredible. Guys racing in 2 m waves. By the way tell the pwa for me to forbid the foils when conditions are on. I also love the race from the beach. It’s perfect. At the end competition has to be a show!!!

[@tayronachan]

I remember. Yes, bring it back! But in really good conditions!

[@robbertquaak]

Bring. It. On!! This is what we do and what we like! 🤙🏼

[@GJSpijksma]

Bring it back, best windsurfing ever🤙🤙

[@gipeterpan845]

I am absolutly late for the party but every second of this video reminds me on how it felt blasting my Fanatic Bee with race sails through heavy chop. I fucking love it!

[@davidfisher6500]

Absolutely!!!!! Bring it back for sure. Beach Starts and all. Takes me back. 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@lifeonthebay2974]

100%. As much as I love modern slalom, this was So much more exciting to watch. #bringitback

[@rudyorriens8337]

I still remember them visiting Zandvoort. Huge high jumps from Björn and Robby. Loved it.

[@jgblete403]

Yes yesyes and yes Racing in strong wind big waves is the graal of wind surfing. Even pozo was boring.

[@thomasbohn5034]

If we really want to make windsurfing cool again to the masses, I totally agree. I could finally be the coolest Dad in town😂😎

[@philwindsurf100]

I showed some footage of the Fuerteventura racing to non windsurfing friends, the foil racing, -no reaction- then showed some footage of racing on fins, they were instantly sold. quotes of 'bloody hell that looks fast, and exciting' . If we want to appeal to more people it has to look good! no wake, no spray just doesn't look fast, ( yes I know it is) If we throw in some waves even better. How about one series of races where everyone is on a fin, sponsored by one board maker but run it along side the foil racing, if windy enough. There are now lots of wind sports, we have to stand out as the coolest there is ........ (obviously)

[@joakimyliruusi]

That action is just gnarly! No hate on foil slalom, requires so much skill and training but it will never be as radical as this. This is and looks like a true extreme sport!

[@Funkphenomena]

This is what I grew up watching too. I recorded as many of these races from Eurosport as possible... wondering where the VHS cassettes are now! :)

[@seanjameson6427]

I was at Brighton for the shorebreak mayhem. And Omezaki totally was the most exciting event ever. I liked the stickers that the guys had on their sails to show their place coming into each event. Definitely bring back wave slalom. May work an advantage for the fins over the foils!

[@userTJ39780]

I still have a few Neil Pryde VX LTD sails and one slalom board left. I try to re-create the hey day of windsurfing at least once a season, though I spend the majority of my summer foiling a Sailworks Flyer on a Slingshot Infinity foil.

[@glaros0]

The last shots were I think from the transantlantic windsurf race back in 2000(?), when athletes reached the beach after a very long windsurf time in the ocean...indeed, windsurfing back then was simpler in terms of equipment, there was more focus on the sport itself, nowadays it has turned into a rocket science due to business purposes I feel, e.g. foil stuff etc.

[@samvd9358]

yeah i recognized the end shots aswell. it was the transatlantic or the englisch channel crossing

[@onkenator]

Awesome bring it on! That would be epic!

[@timesque]

We should definitely bring back these crazy actions on the tour!! Would be also really challenging for the riders, and change a bit with the classic slalom format! May be some wave sailors would even join! Let's go to La Torche, France !! Would be epic!!!

[@schneller_finger]

That's what I expected at this year's Pozo event. Unfortunately, the races in the swell were only dominated by the foil. Beach starts, unavoidable jumps and crahed jibes would add a lot of excitement to the races.

[@MerijnKegel]

F1 of windsurfing! Exciting, fast, spectacular on FIN. Let’s do it 🤙

[@scottbooth6134]

I'm already feeling inspired. Bring it back!

[@verysmellygarlic]

Fully agree. Lets re-introduce fast narrow boards and have fun again.

[@jameslittlewood7821]

Love it. Like it’s all in the name yeah? Foot: Ball. Wind: Surfing.

[@bretgrau8206]

Awesome definitely yes

[@SuperFlo8888]

Those good old days no more😥! New generation doesn’t work as hard as old folks like before!

[@simonmiller981]

sooo much more exciting that foil racing - bring it back!!

[@Mr4xl]

It would bring back some excitement and close racing within the shore break which is great for spectators. Foil can be a bit dull

[@BrunoCunha67]

Yes please. lets make it exciting again

[@alain-brieucnataliagall9129]

Yes, Yes and Yes. We need this back. What is Nico Prien saying about that? He's one of the key actor to make a decision here!

[@gusthunterwindsurfing]

🙌 yes! That is great action!

[@GreenGoblinDK]

WOULD BE AWSOME!

[@windsurf888]

Today's world is better in so many ways than the past but sometimes things from the past are so completely, utterly, mind-blowingly better: #Let's Bring It BACK!

[@davethewave1898]

Hell yeah brother!

[@floriansiedenburg2368]

This is precisely the case for fin-slalom, guys!

[@johndesey3446]

Yes yes. This would be awesome. We need a Events that are exciting for spectators to watch.

[@postiebren]

Bring it on!!! ❤

[@MrCaptainSilly]

that clip at 0:25 looks gnarly!

[@slickvisualpoetry]

You'd have to do all this on foils, though.

[@jgblete403]

They can try 😂

[@FrederikSchukken]

Yes please!

[@danielbialas9574]

Yeah Ben, it's a very good idea!

[@JTechWP]

Bring back wave 🌊 slalom, it’s so good to watch, been loving fin vs foil be even more exciting to watch with waves

[@francoisf195]

So great action for sure ! And really funny gear carnages 😀

[@andygill2162]

Bring it back!