How does Robby Naish stay stoked on windsurfing after all these years? It’s simple…in a sport that’s still evolving, there’s always something new to try or something old to refine.
It’s beyond safe to say that Robby Naish isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Long before Jaws was crowded by paddle surfers windsurfing legends were among the first to ride the break in the early 90’s, which is only accessible by water. Among those few early pioneer’s were Robby Naish and Jason Polakow who continue to ride it to this day.
Read the Full article by Josh Sampiero on the Red Bull Website The legends of Jaws, the world’s biggest wave
Check out this Red Bull produced clip of legend Robby Naish at Ho’okipa as he returned to competition. Watch this on full screen pump the volume and enjoy the style master!
Naish to challenge for the title one more time at the JP Aloha Classic
Press Release from the AWT
The stage is now set for what promises to be one of the biggest clashes of windsurfing talent in living memory. Robby Naish, probably the biggest name in the history of windsurfing, has confirmed his participation in the upcoming JP Aloha Classic that begins on Thursday 24th October, at Ho’okipa Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii.
For the first time since 2000, Naish will compete on the PWA World Tour. Taking the third “Champions” wildcard alongside Kevin Pritchard and Josh Angulo, directly into the main PWA event, Naish will complete a competition line-up that spans over three generations. Some of the newest and most innovative talent in the sport will go head to head with the very pioneers that paved the way for modern day windsurfing to become the explosive, dynamic and action packed sport that it has evolved into.
In the challenging, historic surf of Ho’okipa, the experience and mastery of the ocean, held firm by the old guard, will offer a perfect contrast to the unorthodox and radical departures of the goiter generation. A true test of “bread and butter” top to bottom wave riding versus aerial trickery will ensue, as all riders leave caution on the beach and go all in to try and claim their seat at the elusive Ho’okipa winners table.
Naish was keen to point out that his contention for the Aloha Classic title was not something to be taken too lightly. At 50 years of age, he is in some of the best shape of his life and his sheer presence will be enough to deter all but the steeliest opponents.
Robby Naish
“Before anyone gets too excited, this is not the start of a comeback, it is simply an opportunity to challenge myself a little bit and have some fun in the competition arena again – and there is no finer arena than Ho’okipa for the Aloha. Its been 7 years since the last pro tour event at Ho’okipa and 7 years since the last Aloha Classic and there is no more prestigious event title in the sport. I am not setting out to prove anything, just simply to rise to the challenge before me and mainly have fun in my own backyard along with some of the finest windsurf talent out there”
The 2013 JP Aloha Classic will bring together the American Windsurfing Tour and the PWA World Tour to create one of the biggest wave sailing events of all time. But don’t worry if you can’t make it to Maui for the event itself, the pro divisions will be broadcast live via the internet and will be available to watch on demand afterwards so don’t miss out.
For further information and for all the action as it happens, tune into www.pwaworldtour.com and www.americanwindsurfingtour.com from the 24th October to see the likes of Koster, Fernandez, Browne, Stone, Angulo, Pritchard, Roediger, Juban, Siver, Mussolini and of course, Robby Naish together in full blown competition action for the first and possibly last time ever!
International windsurfing legend Robby Naish visited Sylt for the 2013 PWA World Cup. Check out the clip where he shares his views on the freestyle action and how far the event in Sylt has come since his time there on the tour.
Robby in the pipeline was one of the first Big Wave Riding videos for windsurfing. It was way before Jaws and the riding of the pipeline showed what could be done be done in a thick hollow wave.
Enjoy the epic action from legend Robby Naish, and film maker Yuri Farrant in this video from 1986!
The first part of our Photo Friday series today, there are a bunch of shots coming from the recent PWA Worldcup in Podersdorf shortly. This weeks cover shot is this awesom pick of the World Champion Philip Koster by Global Shots. Also don’t miss Robby Naish’s perfect table top! An epic shot of Grham Ezzy who keeps producing awesome shots, plus much more!
Robby Naish is windsurfing royalty. A pioneer of kiteboarding and world record setter, his name is internationally renowned and he is the first person to have gained long-lasting fame in the sport.
Naish, who began surfing and sailing in his early years and then started windsurfing at the age of 11, won his first windsurfing world title in the Bahamas to become the youngest world title-‐holder in the history of the sport at age 13.
He successfully defended his crown the following year in Sardinia, Italy and made it a hat trick of world titles when he triumphed again in Cancun, Mexico in 1978, and again in Florida in 1979. For the following decade, he dominated windsurfing competitions worldwide, travelling extensively and competing in more than 20 countries each year on the professional tour.
An excellent slalom and course racer, his Hawaiian upbringing from the age of five has provided him with a special affinity and talent for wave riding. He made a clean sweep of all four titles in the inaugural Pro World Tour in 1983 - clinching the overall, the wave riding, the slalom and course racing championships - and repeated the feat in 1984. Over his windsurfing career, Robby earned himself a total of 24 world championship titles and over 150 event victories.
In 1995 Robby founded Naish Sails Hawaii, a company designing and manufacturing windsurfing equipment, which is sold world wide under the Naish brand. In the late ‘90’s Robby was a pioneer in the new sport of kiteboarding, a discipline in which he won the slalom world title in 1998. The following year, he won the kiteboarding world titles in both slalom and jumping. The Naish brand quickly became a world leader in the development of kitesurfing equipment.
In 2006 Robby was again influential in the growth of the new sport of stand up paddle surfing, and again the Naish brand has been at the forefront of the development of SUP equipment. Today Naish is the premier stand up paddle brand in the world and offers the most complete range of stand up paddle boards on the market.
Robby Naish, Josh Stone, Boujmaa Guilloul , Bernd Roediger, Pascal Bronnimann and many more enjoying some Kona Winds at Lanes on Maui Hawaii. Kona’s are a rare event that happens on Maui, when a Cyclone effect the wind direction resulting in large surf, and strong winds.
March is here, February is going out with a bang, and lets hope March is as good! Check out this weeks photo Friday where we highlight the best windsurfing shots from Around the World.
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It was hard to pick a cover photo for this week. We’ve got Robby Naish’s signature style at Ho’okipa, and Graham Ezzy who gave an amazing show also at Ho’okipa, but the one photo of Levi Siver stood out!
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This video was produced for The Lifetime Achievement Award given to Robby Naish by the team of the Nuit de la Glisse film tour at the Grand Rex in Paris December 07 2012.
Hawaiian Soul Surfers TV published an in-depth interview with the legendary Robby Naish, perhaps the most household name in windsurfing, with interesting insight into his life and influences growing-up on Oahu and his journey to becoming a family man and figurehead of the boardsports world and industry.
A must watch!
A session in Hossegor on September 19th, 2012. A magic afternoon with the lengend Rpbby Naish, J-B Caste, Julien Taboulet, Charles Vandermeleubroucke (“Charliboy”) and Laurent Juan. Robby seems to be the only one kitting… we`d much prefer to see him windsurfing (this is the only way and theonly time kiting will ever appear on this website).
Robby Naish is the patron of Red Bull Storm Chase. He coined the tagline for the event, which still holds true: “Windsurfing in storm surf separates the men from the boys.” And he’s still one of the best riders out there.
Will he face the storms himself? Find out more in this Q&A from the Red Bull Storm Chase.
