Flash Back: May 24, 1985

Windsurfers To Launch 1st Season At Chicago Beaches
May 24, 1985 | By David Prescott. ( Chicago Tribune )

Memorial Day traditionally marks the opening day for Chicago beaches, and this year Chicago area boardsailors have a great deal to celebrate. The Chicago Park District has approved a long-awaited plan to open two of the city`s beaches as access points for sailboards, allowing the city`s estimated 2,000 winsurfers to launch their boards without having to travel outside the city limits.

``It is absolutely great news; it`s what we have all been waiting for,`` says Warren Tanaka, owner of Above Board, a sailboard shop in Evanston. ``For years, Chicago boardsailors have had to travel outside of the city to legally launch their boards, but now they can participate in an Olympic sport right in their back yards.

The beaches opening to boardsailors are Montrose Avenue Beach, 4400 north, and Rainbow Beach, 7800 south. Each has a buoyed area on the south through which boardsailors may gain access to the lake...

Chicago Tribune
articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-05-24/e...captains-windsurfing

Wow-2000 estimated windsurfers in 1985! I wonder if that figure is accurate.

I wonder how big the windsurf/kitesurf community is for chicago today? I'm guessing 75 -100 windsurfers, maybe 200 kiters? My estimates includes people who may only go out 3x a year.

alan schmid wrote:
It would make for one hell of a Crib Race. Here's what it might look like with only half that number.