Windsurfing Museum Prague
WIND WEAPON /1985/
Celebrating 40 Years of Radical Innovation (1985–2025)
In 2025, we mark 40 years since the patent application of the Wind Weapon — one of windsurfing's most unusual and ambitious designs, created by Californian inventor Tom Magruder. To highlight this anniversary, the Windsurfing Museum Prague presents a rare, custom-built European version of the rig. This exceptional piece was kindly donated by its creator, Hannes Plöschberger, former Austrian F2 team rider. His generous donation immediately became one of the most eye-catching exhibits — a centerpiece of the museum's collection and a testament to the experimental spirit of the 1980s. Let's take a closer look back and rediscover the bold, visionary story of this remarkable invention.
Mistral TAKE OFF
The TAKE OFF prototypes story… Rick and Ernstfried worked on the TAKE OFF for 2 years and several prototypes were tested. Unfortunately, we do not have detailed information available but based on the photographs we can perhaps simplify the list to 3 basic prototypes – 3 phases.
1) "white" – shortened m* competition board (tested in 1979)
2) "golden-green" board (probably tested in 1980)
3) "rainbow" pre-production board (captured during photoshoot in 12/1981)
Early Windsurfer Sails – #1 to #1000
A history of the first 13 Windsurfer sails ever produced was completed and posted by Pierre Coupal (AUS), windsurfing freestyler and collaborator of our museum in Old School Windsurfers facebook group on 11th June 2021. Sail gallery was updated and reviewed in September 2022, by Pierre himself & Tom of the Windsurfing museum Prague.
Windsurfing museum Prague na pohádkovém zámek Stránov (u Mladé Boleslavi)