The scene on Auckland’s Lake Pupuke this past Sunday (June 23) was a throwback in all the best ways. Retro boards, Olympic talent, and a healthy dose of nostalgia met modern-day enthusiasm as the 2024 Windsurfer LT New Zealand Winter Series got underway. With a solid turnout and a spirit that straddled the line between serious competition and shared fun, the event marked a strong start to a class that is steadily regaining traction around the country — and the world.
The Windsurfer LT is no ordinary board. It’s a modern reimagining of the classic Windsurfer that dominated the scene in the 1970s and 80s — a time when windsurfing was booming and New Zealanders like Bruce Kendall were making history. Kendall, who won bronze at the 1984 Olympics and gold in Seoul four years later, was the driving force behind Sunday’s event. His involvement brought both pedigree and momentum to the day’s racing, as well as coaching, demo boards, and good humour.
Windsurfers old and new
Hosted at Lake Pupuke by Pupuke Boating Club with support from Madloop Windsurfing, the day kicked off with free demo sailing and coaching tips from Kendall himself — drawing a mix of seasoned sailors, fresh faces, and curious spectators. A familiar name from New Zealand’s windsurfing golden age, Kendall has become a sort of ambassador for the class, not just for its racing potential, but for its accessibility and fun.
In true Windsurfer LT spirit, the races were casual but competitive. Conditions were classic Pupuke — shifty and gusty — challenging sailors to adapt and rewarding those who could find the breeze. According to Kendall, pumping during the lulls wasn’t worth the energy. “Fun races though. Very tricky conditions,” he said. “I rented out all the boards I had left. Need to get some more new boards!”
Races were run back-to-back, each around 25–40 minutes in duration, consistent with the wider series format. The winter season’s first warning signal is at 13:30 NZST, and across the year up to 30 races are scheduled for the Championship and Handicap series in spring, summer, and winter. A boat’s score is calculated from the best 60% of completed races — a format that rewards consistency without punishing the odd off day.
Rediscovering a classic
Stephen Westwood (on the Auckland Windsurfing Association’s Facebook page), one of several sailors who took advantage of the demo boards, hadn’t windsurfed in 40 years. His take? “I thought it would be like riding a dinosaur, but it was light, very easy to sail on all angles, the no-batten sail was stable, and the combo was amazingly fast.” He clocked a top speed of 31km/h (16 knots) in a gust, daggerboard up, fully planing — not bad for something many assumed was relic status.
And that’s the charm of the Windsurfer LT: it’s fast enough to thrill, forgiving enough to learn on, and simple enough to keep the focus on fun rather than tech. It uses a strict one-design setup (Windsurfer LT board with a 5.7m² sail), making it affordable and levelling the playing field. A 4.5m² sail option is available for juniors and lighter or less experienced sailors.
Beyond racing, the board doubles as a platform for freestyle, touring, and even paddleboarding. It excels in shallow water, is light to carry, and can handle a broad range of wind and water conditions — making it ideal for New Zealand’s diverse coastal spots.
A bit of background
The Windsurfer class was once the world’s most popular windsurfing class. In 1982, it lost out to the Windglider for Olympic selection due to concerns over the board’s plastic construction. Despite this, it was used in the 1984 Olympic demonstration event, where 800 competitors from 27 countries raced in Kingston — a record that still stands for any one-design sailing competition.
The LT upgrade came in 2017, bringing modern materials and improved shaping while keeping things light and cost-effective. The result is a revival that’s gained global traction, with international fleets of over 300 competitors and growing national classes like Windsurfer LT New Zealand.
The class also leans heavily into its social side. A race day fee of $10 covers not just entry but a drink and a sausage afterwards — a nod to the community-first vibe that’s central to the class’s DNA. Charter boards are available for those keen to try without committing, and full setups are on sale from $3300.
Looking ahead
The next events in the Winter Series will continue at Lake Pupuke, with the possibility of separate classes being started if six or more boats register — including Lasers, Zephyrs, Starlings, P-Class, and Optis. But the Windsurfer LT class is clearly carving out its own space, thanks to its mix of simplicity, speed, and social connection.
As the New Zealand Windsurfer LT calendar grows, and sailors both young and returning discover the joy of planing across a lake or coastal inlet with minimal fuss, it’s clear that this “blast from the past” is anything but outdated.
From Olympic legends to first-timers, from light breezes to full send, the Windsurfer LT is writing a new chapter in Kiwi sailing — one fun race at a time.
