The surfboard is a creation of engineer Jim Drake from California, with the help of Hoyle Schweitzer, a surf enthusiast. That was in 1967. A year later they were granted the patent.
Shortly thereafter, German Rainer Schwartz and Frenchman Lucien Gril first attempted to mass-produce windsurfing, creating variations of Drake's original model.
Two years before Jim Drake, another American, Newman Darby, had tried to create something similar but could never solve problems related to balance and efficiency.
In 1969, Hoyle Schweitzer at an international shipbuilding meeting gave the name windsurfing to his creation.
In 1979, the first crossing of the English Channel by windsurfing takes place.
A little later, in the same year, the Beringian ferry took its turn.
In 1982, we have the first Atlantic crossing by Christian Marty in less than 38 days.
In 1984, it became an official event at the Los Angeles Olympics.