Admittedly, I spend way too much time on FB and checking posts on Robert Master's Old School Windsurfers group. I enjoy some of the old school posts, scroll through the plastic fantastics being pulled out of the bin, and every once in awhile come across a doozy. The one this morning by an Italian whose read my book and should know better, posted a pic of Pete Cabrinha with the post title, GOAT. Now, I'm not Robby's PR guy or anything – heck, he never emails me back – and personally think the GOAT of wavesailing is Mark Angulo, but the GOAT of all-around windsurfing, the only household name in the blue pages, is Robby Naish. Sorry, Dunkerbeck. Sorry Antoine. A gazillion World Titles is not enough.

I can see the confusion, being one sail number off from 1111. But the colors? Pink, er, Fuscia? I don't see them. As it turns out, the joke is on me. FB translated a knowledgable fellow's post from Italian to Portuguese to English, and Pete's name was lost in translation. It turns out, Pete Cabrinha in Italian Portuguese, according to FB translator, is "Goat."  Goat figure. I wonder what my name translates to in Italian Portuguese? No offers, Dan Wilson.

But what is more confusing than that post, is how far down the ranks Pete is on my Top Ten Wavesailors poll. Though always in Robby's shadow (weren't we all), Pete was a solid #2. I was fortunate to have witnessed his performances at Diamond Head, the raw ones with the Gumby surfer moves that nobody was doing. The twisted table tops that threw out a hip just watching. Working as a shaper at the time for Town & Country surf, I ran back to shop to grab Warren Bolster, who was packing boards at the time. 

"Warren! You've got to pull yourself together! There's a guy at D Head going off. All the attention's on Robby, but I'm telling you, get some shots of this guy. You won't be packing boards anymore."

Of course, Warren had fallen so far off the wagon at that time it was only in half jest to think he might get his act together. But sure enough, he did, and the photos he grabbed of Pete were spectacular. I took those photos to Surfer Magazine and talked them into starting Sailboarder.

That's my photo at Hookipa, a couple of years later. Pete had tweaked himself a bit too much and gone under the knife with his knee. Remaining on Oahu didn't help his street cred. He was still good enough though... damn good... and didn't he win the wave world championship in 1985?

So yeah, most of the time my pollsters get it right (and I haven't had more fun since Dave & Buster's playing whack-a-mole for nominees based purely on popularity, not meeting the criteria). As for Pete... he's polling at number 11 right behind a guy I never heard of but hey, I'm an old schooler. It could be that his journey to the dark side threw a shadow on his popularity. Then again, some need to bone up on their history. Go and read my book if you want some. Pistol Pete, pre-Angulo, was straight up second to only one. Fortunately, it's my HOF, so I get one vote in, and hey, I just realized it is top 15. Either way, Pete is going in. If you want to vote for your goat, go to my FB Group, Windsurfing Hall of Fame. Hurry, do it, before I get whacked by the big Billy.

To celebrate my 50 years of windsurfing and having spent a great deal of time as a photographer/author documenting the sport, I decided to create my own Windsurfing Hall of Fame. Of course, this is Weston's Windsurfing Hall of Fame, and you can have your own. I've been accused of being USA and Maui Centric, but these were the places where the sport of windsurfing was born, where it became the Mecca, where everyone in the formative years had to show their face to be somebody well known. That is, after all, the definition of fame.

That said, I have a FB page, Windsurfing Hall of Fame, which I created to run polls on. At times, they are geographically slanted popularity polls, and I have to whack those that don't fit the criteria stated. But in the end, I think the windsurfing public so far has it right. Those listed below are the actual folks voted in. I have some conversations with the inductees to induct one more if they did not, due to most people not having a true grasp on the history of our sport. 

I post new categories up once a week to vote on. There is no admission fee to vote or join the group. Here are the current inductees.

(Weston’s) Windsurfing Hall of Fame
 
Top Ten Windsurfers (Original Windsurfer)
Criteria: Who made their mark on the Original Windsurfer
MALE
Robby Naish
Matt Schweitzer
Hoyle Schweitzer
Ken Winner
Mike Waltze
Larry Stanley
Bruce Wylie
Bruce Matlack
Greg Johns
 
FEMALE
Rhonda Smith
Kelby Anno
Annie Gardner
Diane Schweitzer
Andrea Livingston
Susie Swatek
Carol-Anne Alie
Nalanie Heen
Nancy Johnson
Bep Thijs
 
Top European Funboard Cup Sailors
Criteria: 1. Years 1983-2003.
MALE
Eric Thieme
Cesare Cantagalli
Ralf Bachschuster
Robby Seeger
Klaus Simmer
 
FEMALE
Nathalie Lelievre
Britt Dunkerbeck
Natalie Siebel
 
Top Three Sailmakers
Barry Spanier
Monty Spindler
Malte Simmer
Barbara Ockel (top female sailmaker)
 
Top Three Board Shapers
Peter Thommen
Jimmy Lewis
Ed Angulo
Harold Ige (inductee vote-in)
 
Top Three Board Shapers who Ripped
Mark Angulo
Shawn Ordonez
Craig Maisonville
Keith Teboul (inductee vote-in)


WSMA, WBA, PBA and PWA: The Professional Windsurfing World Tours | List of World ChampionsWave
1983: Robby Naish
1984: Robby Naish | Jil Boyer, Julie de Werd
1985: Pete Cabrinha | Shawne O'Neill
1986: Robby Naish | Dana Dawes, Natalie Siebel
1987: Robby Naish | Dana Dawes
1988: Robby Naish | Natalie Siebel
1989: Robby Naish | Angela Cocheran
1990: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Natalie Siebel
1991: Robby Naish | Angela Cocheran
1992: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Natalie Siebel
1993: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Jessica Crisp
1994: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Natalie Siebel
1995: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1996: Patrice Belbeoch | Jutta Muller, Nathalie Le Lievre
1997: Jason Polakow | Nathalie Le Lievre
1998: Jason Polakow | Karin Jaggi
1999: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2000: Fracisco Goya | Daida Ruano Moreno
2001: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Daida Ruano Moreno
2002: Kevin Pritchard | Daida Ruano Moreno
2003: Josh Angulo | Daida Ruano Moreno
2004: Scott McKercher | Daida Ruano Moreno
2005: Kauli Seadi | Daida Ruano Moreno
2006: Kevin Pritchard | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2007: Kauli Seadi | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2008: Kauli Seadi | Daida Ruano Moreno
2009: Josh Angulo | Daida Ruano Moreno
2010: Víctor Fernández López | Daida Ruano Moreno
2011: Philip Koster | Daida Ruano Moreno
2012: Philip Koster | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2013: Marcillio Browne | Daida Ruano Moreno
2014: Thomas Traversa | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2015: Philip Koster | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2016: Víctor Fernández López | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2017: Philip Koster | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2018: Victor Fernandez | Iballa Ruano Moreno
2019: Philip Koster | Sarah-Quita Offringa
Slalom
1983: Robby Naish
1984: Robby Naish | Julie de Werd
1985: Robby Naish | Nathalie Le Lievre
1986: Robby Naish | Dana Dawes
1987: Anders Bringdal | Anick Graveline
1988: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1989: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1990: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1991: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1992: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1993: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Jutta Muller
1994: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Jutta Muller
1995: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1996: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1997: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Nathalie Le Lievre
1998: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Karin Jaggi
1999: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Karin Jaggi
2000: Kevin Pritchard | Lucienne Ernst
2001: -
2002: Steve Allen | Dorota Staszewska
2003: Micah Buzianis | Dorota Staszewska
2004: Antoine Albeau | Allison Shreeve
2005: Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Micah Buzianis | Karin Jaggi
2006: Antoine Albeau | Karin Jaggi
2007: Antoine Albeau | Karin Jaggi
2008: Antoine Albeau | Karin Jaggi
2009: Antoine Albeau | Valérie Arrighetti Ghibaudo
2010: Antoine Albeau | Karin Jaggi
2011: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2012: Antoine Albeau | Valérie Arrighetti Ghibaudo
2013: Antoine Albeau | Delphine Cousin
2014: Antoine Albeau | Delphine Cousin
2015: Antoine Albeau | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2016: Matteo Iachino | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2017: Antoine Albeau | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2018: Antoine Albeau | Delphine Cousin Questel
2019: Pierre Mortefon | Delphine Cousin Questel
Freestyle
1998: Bjorn Dunkerbeck
1999: Josh Stone | Karin Jaggi
2000: Josh Stone | Toni Frey, Karin Jaggi
2001: Antoine Albeau | Colette Gudagnino
2002: Matt Pritchard | Karin Jaggi
2003: Ricardo Campello | Daida Ruano Moreno
2004: Ricardo Campello | Daida Ruano Moreno
2005: Ricardo Campello | Daida Ruano Moreno
2006: Gollito Estredo | Daida Ruano Moreno
2007: Marcillio Browne | 
2008: Gollito Estredo | Daida Ruano Moreno
2009: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2010: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2011: Steven van Broeckhoven | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2012: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2013: Kiri Thode | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2014: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2015: Dieter van der Eyken | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2016: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2017: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2018: Gollito Estredo | Sarah-Quita Offringa
2019: Yentel Caers | Sarah-Quita Offringa
Foil
2018: Gonzalo Costa Hoevel
2019: Nicolas Goyard | Delphine Cousin Questel
Course Racing
1983: Robby Naish
1984: Robby Naish | Nathalie Le Lievre
1985: Tim Aagesen | Nathalie Le Lievre
1986: Stephan van den Berg | Anick Graveline
1987: Stephan van den Berg | Britt Dunkerbeck
1988: Anders Bringdal | Nathalie Le Lievre
1989: Phil McGain | Nathalie Le Lievre
1990: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1991: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Jutta Muller
1992: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1993: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Britt Dunkerbeck
1994: Bjorn Dunkerbeck | Alessandra Sensini


Olympic Medalists

Los Angeles 1984 (Windglider)
Men
Gold: Stephan van den Berg (NED)
Silver: Scott Steele (USA)
Bronze: Bruce Kendall (NZL)
Seoul 1988 (Lechner Division II)
Men
Gold: Bruce Kendall (NZL)
Silver: Jan Boersma (AHO)
Bronze: Mike Gebhardt (USA)
Barcelona 1992 (Lechner)
Men
Gold: Franck David (FRA)
Silver: Mike Gebhardt (USA)
Bronze: Lars Kleppich (AUS)
Women
Gold: Barbara Kendall (NZL)
Silver: Zhang Xiaodong (CHN)
Bronze: Dorien de Vries (NED)
Atlanta 1996 (Mistral One Design)
Men
Gold: Nikolaos Kaklamanakis (GRE)
Silver: Carlos Espinola (ARG)
Bronze: Gal Fridman (ISR)
Women
Gold: Lee Lai Shan (HKG)
Silver: Barbara Kendall (NZL)
Bronze: Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
Sydney 2000 (Mistral One Design)
Men
Gold: Christoph Sieber (AUT)
Silver: Carlos Espinola (ARG)
Bronze: Aaron McIntosh (NZL)
Women
Gold: Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
Silver: Amelie Lux (GER)
Bronze: Barbara Kendall (NZL)
Athens 2004 (Mistral One Design)
Men
Gold: Gal Fridman (ISR)
Silver: Nikolaos Kaklamanakis (GRE)
Bronze: Nick Dempsey (GBR)
Women
Gold: Faustine Merret (FRA)
Silver: Yin Jian (CHN)
Bronze: Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
Beijing 2008 (RS:X)
Men
Gold: Tom Ashley (NZL)
Silver: Julien Bontemps (FRA)
Bronze: Shahar Tzuberi (ISR)
Women
Gold: Yin Jian (CHN)
Silver: Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
Bronze: Bryony Shaw (GBR)
London 2012 (RS:X)
Men
Gold: Dorian van Rijsselberghe (NED)
Silver: Nick Dempsey (GBR)
Bronze: Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL)
Women
Gold: Marina Alabau (ESP)
Silver: Tuuli Petäjä (FIN)
Bronze: Zofia Klepacka (POL)
Rio 2016 (RS:X)
Men
Gold: Dorian van Rijsselberghe (NED)
Silver: Nick Dempsey (GBR)
Bronze: Pierre Le Coq (FRA)
Women
Gold: Charline Picon (FRA)
Silver: Chen Peina (CHN)
Bronze: Stefania Elfutina (RUS)