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10 + 2 years story of MARKER Surf – double anniversary for the second oldest* sailboard manufacturer after Windsurfer
As an active skier I had been a Marker user and fan since 1976 and then I discovered windsurfing. When I learned that this legendary company also made sailboards, naturally I wanted to get one. I finally got it much later as a donation from Andreas Klein, quite symbolically in 2024 – in a year of two Marker anniversaries. In this article we briefly go through the Marker-story with a few dates and milestones as we have traced them:
- In 1952, Hannes Marker, German ski instructor and journalist, developed a line of ski bindings that was sold under his name. Company soon became one of the most successful and influential binding manufacturers in the world.
- In 1974, perhaps as a way to diversify, Hannes Marker began manufacturing “Marker Surf” sailboards under the H. Scheweitzer´s licence. This made him one of the earliest serial board manufacturers* in Europe. Soon Hannes met Jürgen Hönscheid and offered him a job in development of his sailboard branch.
- In 1978 company sent Jurgen to the first World Cup in Hawaii. Reports highlight Jürgen´s performance on custom Marker as the best European, at 4th place overal starting with „self made MARKER board for waves“.
Right: Photo Ulli Seer – Jurgen on Marker + Robby on Take Off prototype (probably 1980) // Windsurfing mit Robby Naish – Delius Klasing &, Co, 1981
Bottom: Photo John Speer – Jurgen on Marker custom, SURF magazine 79/9, thanks to Sardinia windsurfing museum for scan /4,5,6
- In 1980, the Marker founder sold the ski binding company to an American corporation… BUT… Hannes Marker was allowed to use the Marker family name in connection with Marker Surf (later renamed to H.G.M. Surf) using „the sloping M” trademark.
The outcome of the successful cooperation between H.M. and J.H. was the MARK 1, which was the fastest mass-produced board in 9/81 at the Euro-funboard-regatta in Sylt.
- Frome 1983 to 1984 Marker offered pintail funboards ranging from 295 to 365 cm, shaped by John Hall and produced in Israel.
in 1984, H.G.M. Surf filed bankruptcy and was liquidated… BUT… The production in /unidentified/ Israeli factory “under the name M“ continued. At least 700 sailboards showing the Marker name and logo were ordered for 1986 season for the US market… and that´s the last trace of the red “M“ logo…
/ thanks to Andreas and Dimitris – Hitthewave blog / 9-10
Epilogue: Mr. Hannes Marker, a man who registered hundreds** of patents in the skiing and surfing sector was a keen surfer to the age of 79! He passes away in 2000 at the age of 82.
/picture credits and special thanks to Ulrich Romer / 11
Danke Andreas!
Documentation / Dokumentace: Thanks to Marcello Rivalta for Marker Surf brochures /1,7,8/, Bruce Matlack and Carla Laney s /2,3/, Pierre Coupal /4/, Sardinia windsurfing museum /6/, Andreas Klein /9/ Dimitris Savidis (Hitthewave blog) /10/ and Ulrich Romer for very special pic 11
*) probably the second one – after Ten Cate, but a year before Windglider Ostermann and two years before Mistral started.
**) With a brief search I´ve found registered patents for windsurfing equipment filed by Hannes Marker between 1975 and 1987. This confirms that mr. Hannes was still actively interested in developments in this field long after the end of his company Marker surf .
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