History of windsurfing

It's a matter of fact that the first surfboard on the waters of Italy glided over Lake Caldaro. In 1973 the brothers Erich and Harald Renner brought this water sport which originated in the United States to Caldaro and made history: in 1974, together with other windsurf enthusiasts, they founded the Caldaro Surf Club, Erich Renner was constituted president. It was also him to be the first windsurf champion: in 1975, 1976 and 1978 he won the Italian Championships.

In 1977 the Caldaro Surf Club was affiliated to the local sports association - windsurfing kept booming in this area. In the following years the windsurfer Klaus Maran from Caldaro achieved his greatest successes. In 1979, 1980 and 1981 he became World Champion, in addition he won six European Championships and 12 Italian Championships in various classes. Also his successor as president of the Caldaro Surf Club, Karl Anderlan, was successful. He became 3rd in the 1987 World Championships in South Africa and 5th at the World Championships in Australia. One of Klaus Maran's students, Stefan Pavcovich, also learned to surf on Lake Caldaro and held the Italian windsurfing speed record from 1987 to 2005. Today he builds windsurfing boards.

In 1992 the clubhouse was opened in Caldaro, which soon became the centre of windsurfing. Still today, regattas and other events are organised from here. Due to successful youth work more and more young talents have been discovered and promoted, among them Manfred Maier (double Italian Champion in the U20 Ministral Class in Elba and Cervia in 2001 and 2002) and Fabian Heidegger. He was crowned Italian Champion of the U15 Aloha Class in 2002 and World Champion in the U17 Ministral Class in 2004. In 2012 he ended his career at the age of 24.