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Photo Gallery
Shooting Star body position and slow shutter speeds creates illusion of high speed. Colin Courtman was probably only going about 40 (mph).
In high winds, "Standard" WindSkates distorted into the dreaded "S" curve along the trailing edge. Terry Caccia and Colin Courtman, Venice, CA.
Gary DeJean leans frontside, backsail into a reefed down "standard" WindSkate at El Mirage.
Jamie Budge leads a fleet of "High Performance Roller WindSkates" across El Mirage in the late 70's. Note Terry Caccia's wide track quads skates.
The original "Roller" WindSkate late evolved into the BladeSail V, Delta and Stealth. Jamie Budge sideskates with quads at El Mirage.
These simplistic "standard" WindSkates dominated the sport for many years. They were later replaced numerous generations culminating with the Basic BoardSail.
The camera was mounted atop this "Punk Rock Hi Performance Roller Windskate": That later became the BladeSail with a "V".
Jamie Budge totally OP in backside, backsail against the wind at El Mirage.
Like jibing any board sail, Jamie Budge lets the sail swing around the front of the board in mid-turn.
A regatta of standard WindSkates streams across El Mirage in the late 1970's. Jamie Budge leads the pack on an all terrain board prototype with step deck and 4 inch urethane wheels.
OP BoardSail with roller skates, Jamie Budge at El Mirage. Note the mast foot by skates. There was no ball and socket cup in the 1979.
Jamie Budge with standard WindSkate and camera mounted on the nose of an all terrain board prototype about 1977.
Early WindSkates without cross bar wouldn't tack upwind. So Jamie Budge hitches a ride back upwind behind a landsailor; on a prototype all terrain board with rubber and metal wagon wheels. Vintage 1975.
Jamie Budge discusses these "missing link" WindSkates with fellow surfer, John Young. Just a few of these were made before the "standards" became the standard.
Terry Caccia with wide track quads in shooting star position. Note the picture of himself on his sail. Early 80's.
Terry Caccia with picture of himself on his sail. El Mireage, early 80's.
A heat of WindSkate slalom racer soff the starting line at El Mirage. Late '70's.
Jamie Budge exploits updraft on entrance ramp to Santa Monica parking lot. Late '70's.
Making it up as he go along . . . Jamie Budge discovers left foot forward on board, right hand forward on mast, with original WindSkate in SDC parking lot 1975.
Original WindSkate "attached" to board with end of mas tset loosely in plumbing fitting.
Folding original WindSkate made for easy cruising. But arms got tired holding poles apart during ride.
Original WindSkate needed no window. It was all a window.
Arms got tired holding poles apart on original WindSkate. A cross-bar between the two poles was added later.
Jamie Budge models his invention for the first time, SDC parking lot, 1974.
Jamie Budge discovers the power of the wind on the skate for the first time, SDC parking lot, 1974.
This shot later became illustrated into the WindSkate logo.
Jamie Budge discovers standard trim left with original WindSkate.
Jamie Budge rolls up some colorful plastic (but not very durable) missing link WindSkates. Vintage 1974.
Jamie Budge with the original "Standard" WindSkate (sans cross-bar) tacks slowly across extremely soft Superior Dry Lake Bed on a standard skateboard.
Jamie Budge with rolled and folded standard WindSkate.
Hard frontside, backsail against the wind. Jamie Budge, Santa Monica parking lot.
Frontside, backsail tack: Jamie Budge leans in hard to counterbalance the wind blowing from the other side of the sail.
Greg Bradford temporarily defies gravity in the seventies.
Early uncrowded days at El MIrage in the seventies with "standard" WindSkates.
An early "Shooting Star", Terry Caccia hikes out against a "standard" WindSkate at El Mirage.
Terry Caccia takes the "standard" WindSkate for a rollerskate ride down the Santa Monica bike path.
Reaching for the sky, Terry Caccia at Playa del Rey, CA.
In this 1st. of 5 shot sequence, Steve Zaleznick takes to the air at Ski Sunrise, CA.
In this 2nd. of 5 shot sequence, Steve Zaleznick takes control with second cross bar for extended flight. Ski Sunrise, CA.
Steve Zaleznick in full flight at Ski Sunrise, CA. 3rd. shot of 5.
Steve Zaleznick feels the lift of his WindSkate in glider position as he flys down the slope at Ski Sunrise. 4th. of 5 shot sequence.
Touchdown some 50 feet from take off. Steve Zaleznick in 5th. of 5 shots. Ski Sunrise, CA.
Like a Hang Glider, this wing design got lots of air.
Steve Zaleznick, Mammoth, CA.
Airborne . . . Steve Zaleznick catches some.
Steve Zaleznick takes to the skys on skis above Mammoth Meadows.
With double cross-bar and elbow bars, Steve Zaleznick has full control in the skys above Mammoth Meadows.
WindSkate air, Chris Morris at El Mirage.
Chris Morris get "fly-swatted" by back wind at El Mirage.
Touchdown after air, Chris Morris, El Mirage.
Chris Morris attains WindSkate air at El Mirage.
Terry Caccia catches early air, coincidently at Playa Del Rey, CA the birthplace of hanggliding. The second cross bar stablizes the WindSkate fore and aft in the air.
Surrealistic flash fill as Terry Caccia launches into early air at Playa del Rey.
Terry Caccia touches down with his wide track quads under the flight path at LAX. He was able to avoid other incoming aircraft.
Early sponsors displayed their logos on this short flight at Playa del Ray.
Eric Evans leads Sandy Wiener and fleet across the wintery expanses of El MIrage.
Keith Sherins leads the group in this cover shot for Inline Magazine. Late '90's.
The group assembles with 6 ft. V 4 WindSkates at the North end of El Mirage for a high speed run in 30 mph winds.
Bob MeKeegan blurs thru an open patch in "mogul" fields at El Mirage, Winter WindSkate.
Bob McKeegan at the perfect location for an Outback Board, leans into an upwind turn at El Mirage.
Eric Evans with an 8ft. V4 (cut to the window) to stabilze the gusty 30 mph winds. El MIrage, Winter 2001.
Harel and Dylan find an easy pace in the high winds.
By sunset, the winds had dropped (to about 25 mph). Bob McKeegan blurs thru the mogul field on Outback all terrain board. El Mirage 2002.
Small sails throw big shadows across El Mirage in the late afternoon of a winter WindSkate.
Regatta west in high winds, El Mirage 2002.
No bikinis today. Bettina Bernoth outfitted for moonwalk to handle minus freezing wind chill at El Mirage.
Bettina uses 7 ft. "V3" (V cut almost all the way to the window) to control the 30 mph, gusting winds
Eric Evans bundled up and spilling wind from his sail in a 30 degree, 30 mph plus gust. El Mirage, Winter 2001.
Harel Simon uses a 6 ft. "V4" to race ahead of Dylan the dog in 30 mph winds. Winter WindSkate, El Mirage, 2002.
Jerome Williams smiles thru 30 mph winds and 30 degree weather. El Mirage, winter 2002.
An easy downwind reach in between 35 mph gusts at El Mirage.
Dodging sagebrush "moguls", a regatta returns from the West end of El Mirage, Winter WindSkate 2002.
Tiny WindSkates dot wide open spaces. Perfect with deep V cuts for 35 mph winds. El Mirage, winter 2002.
Eric Evans leads Sandy Wiener and fleet across the wintery expanses of El MIrage.
Terry Caccia maintains his original WindSkate "side-surfing" form in 30 mph winter winds at El Mirage.
Terry Caccia explores the expanses of Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Tom Brunner WindSkate, snowboard sails the thinning snows of Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Tom Brunner WindSkis across Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe with Ball & Socket on one ski.
Jamie Budge hand-holds Stars & Stripes Monarch BoardSail on snowboard at Mt Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Jamie Budge with Stars & Stripes Monarch BoardSail attached to snowboard with ball & socket cup.
Hiked out snowboard sailing with Stars & Stripes BoardSail. Jamie Budge, Mt. Rose Meadows.
Jamie Budge powers across Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe on snowboard.
Prototype Ball and Socket Cup on snowboard.
Ball in Socket Cup on snowboard.
Snowboard tracks help WindSkiers in soft snow at Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Jamie Budge starts to lean into the force of the wind in the sail. Snowboard Sailing at Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Without enough wind to "water start" out of the snow, Jamie Budge takes a back flop. Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Tom Brunner in body torque position, with left foot forward on board, right hand forward on WindSkate.
Snowboard sailing at Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Jamie Budge in a first experience WindSkiing Mammoth Meadows.
WindSkiing take flight. Mammoth Lakes, CA.
WindSki takes flight by falls at Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Steve Zalesnic bends over backwards in this early WindSki flight at Mammoth Lakes. Early 80's.
Wing design doing what is was designed for. . . Flying. Steve Zaleznick, Mammoth, CA.
Wind powered downhill above Mammoth Lakes. Jamie Budge
No chair lifts here . . . wind power makes any snow a ski resort. Jamie Budge and Steve Zaleznick above Mammoth Lakes.
Powder Magazine said, "WindSkates get air . . . lots of air". Steve Zaleznick above Mammoth Lakes.
Touchdown for Steve Zaleznick above Mammoth Lakes.
Terry Caccia leads Keith Sherins across Mammoth Meadows.
Keith Sherins follows Terry Caccia, WindSkiing across Mammoth Meadows.
Terry Caccis uses second cross-bar for more leverage at Mammoth Meadows.
Jamie Budge with Xprt boardsail mounted ball and socket cup on bar bridging skis. Mammoth Meadows, CA.
Jamie Budge is happy with Xprt boardsail on skis.
Jamie Budge with Xprt boardsail on skis. Mammoth Meadows, CA.
Keith Sherins WindSkis Mammoth Meadows.
Cross headwind supplies plenty of lift for Jeff Weinke above Mammoth Meadows in the 1st. of 3 shot sequence.
Real Air, as Jeff Weinke rides that cross headwind above Mammoth Meadows. #2 of 3 shots.
Jeff Weinke elbows in to double cross bar for added control as he soars out over Mammoth Meadows.
Jeff Weinke WindSkis across snowbank Mammoth Meadows golf course.
Jeff Weinke attempts to clear Jamie Budge's snow packed van. Mammoth Meadows.
Weinke clears van to land in slop.
Weinke with WindSki.
Terry Caccia shows they're short for skis (but long for a rollerskater). Mr. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
Years of WindSkating give Terry Caccia perfect trim on skis. Mt. Rose Meadows, Tahoe.
The regatta heads south along the rugged seascape of Oregon.
A small regatta finds Magic Hour on the beach in Oregon.
Terry Caccia's all terrain Quad skates plow thru axle deep water along the beach in Santa Monica.
Terry Caccia with all terrain Quads and a 4.5 meter Stealth Delta skims the minus low tidal zones of Santa Monica in a 20 mile per hour wind..
Kevin Trejo leans into an all terrain BoardSail duck jibe, twilight time: El Mirage.
Chasing the other WindSkater at El Mirage.
Jamie Budge un-plugs the ball from the socket cup and hand-holds a BoardSail. Board mounted camera is fired by Jamie's foot.
Hiked out and tacking into the sun, El Mirage.
Hand-Holding a BoardSail up the beach in Oregon, Cape Sebastion.
Hiked out up the beach in Oregon.
Skirting the tidal zones, Cape Sebastion, Oregon.
Ankle deep in soft sand, an early all terrain board wheels on.
Exiting the "moguls" at El Mirage.
Hand Holding a BoardSail, Jamie Budge leads all terrain WindSkaters, Ray Kerns and Terry Caccia over some sage brush moguls.
Rollerblade Coyotes are the answer for BladeSailing on rough roads.
All Terrain WindSkating on the rough roads of El Mirage.
Terry Caccia with ultimate all terrain skates, WindSkating the soft sands of Santa Monica.
Soft Sand Sailing, Terry Caccia WindSkates across the dry sands of the Santa Monica beach.
Optimum speed on crusty sand hills, WindSkating the beaches of Santa Monica.
When there's too many cars in the lot: the ultimate get away across the beachs of Santa Monica.
Skirting the Santa Monica Pier, Ankle deep.
Wet or Dry, these Skates sail on sand. Terry Caccia
Johannes Fisslingerexplores the badlands of El Mirage with Rollerblade Coyotes.
The camera atop a WindSkate mast shows the vast expanse of El Mirage dry lake bed. Jamie with camera and Terry with all terrain skates.
Jamie Budge fires mast mount camera across the expanses of El Mirage.
Brad Nelson power slides into a jibe at Cape Sebastion, Oregon.
Grey Marshall in easy backsail cruise down the tidal zone in Oregon.
Terry Caccia and Ray Kerns lead a soft sand regatta down the dunes of Oregon Dunes State Park.
Terry Caccia with custom crafted "Solar Sail" leads Ray Kerns down the Oregon Dunes.
Wipe outs are easy (and often) on soft sand. Grey Marshall, Oregon Dunes State Park.
Grey Marshall soft sand sails Oregon Dunes State Park with all terrain board and sail.
Ankle deep in dust, Terry Caccia and Ray Kerns, 30 mile per hour winds at Cape Sebaston, Oregon.
Ray Kerns checks his water level before venturing further.
A regatta of "standard" WindSkates in the early days at El Mirage.
Pete Baldwin in "body torque" position with Xprt Delux boardsail at El Mirage.
Time lapse photography and bulbs on the sail create light trails in the sky.
Jamie Budge carves a wind-powered 360 with boardsail, lights and time lapse photography.
Jamie Budge leans into a hard backside, backsail tack against the strong El Mirage winds blowing from the other side of the sail. Early 80's.
Jamie Budge cruises backsail on a prototype of the Monarch Pro Series boardsail. El Mirage, early 80's.
All decked out in Patagonia, Jamie Budge "poses" for a fashion shot (at 20 miles per hour).
Jamie Budge experiments with hand-holding a boardsail. This led to a whole array of part boardsail, part bladesail maneuvers.
Jamie Budge discovers by unplugging the mast from the socket cup, he can easily tack upwind without loosing speed.
Jamie Budge in body torque position: left foot forward on board, right hand forward on WindSkate. With this technique, the rider never has to change foot position on board.
Alonzo Galloway hand-holds a Monarch boardsail down the Santa Monica bike path.
Poster and calendar shot, 1978. Jamie Budge, El Mirage.
Brad Nelson cruises backstyle against the El Mirage sunset.
Decked out in OP, Jamie Budge leans backside backsail against the wind on the Mojave salt flats.
Backside, backsail . . . Jamie Budge leans against the wind on the Mojave salt flats.
Backside backsail on an early "all terrain board" with step deck and 4 inch urethane wheels.
Leaning against the wind, frontside backsail at El Mirage.
Backside Backsail in the 70's. Santa Monica
A regatta of WindSkaters heads south along Highway 1 in Oregon.