In the Footstraps of Giants
The New Zealand windsurfing story, by Bruce Trotter

In the Footstraps of Giants

Bruce Trotter, former grandmaster windsurfing world champion, celebrates the extraordinary world of windsurfing, its characters and the mateship that developed from grassroots sailing all the way to the Olympics – and even a crazy idea to windsurf across Cook Strait.​

Mates on tour,
with Shar the dog

The crew parked up at the Taranaki Sirocco Expression Session, 1990. from left: Terry Vernon, Shar the dog, Biggie Smithers, Lars Binsbergen, Jason Coxhead, Dale Muller. Biggie had his Mitsubishi L200 4WD for 12 years. One time the back wheel fell off Dale's Holden Kingswood on their way to Pungarehu. Mike Spence, Shann Miller Collection.

Windsurfing royalty

Siblings Barbara and Bruce Kendall at the Barcelona Olympics, 1992. Photosport.

Losing sucks

Aaron McIntosh, left, and Bruce Kendall, Savannah, Georgia 1996. Coming fourth at the Olympics sucks. This is why we stick together. Ross Land, Getty Images.

Bruce Kendall,

Los Angeles Olympics 198s

After a dramatic, controversial trials, Bruce Kendall was chosen to selectNew Zealand and came home with a bronze medal. But the trials demonstrated the need for supportive coaches and sparked a new era in NZ windsurfing, in which Grant Beck emerged as a highly successful Olympic coach.