Mistral is a watersport company that was founded in 1972 by Peter Brockhaus from Germany in order to manufacture windsurf boards. Now headquartered in the Netherlands, Mistral is transitioning from a company focused on manufacturing windsurfing boards to a lifestyle company offering everything from clothes to watches. Mistral, one of the largest and best-known windsurfing companies in the world, has been eclipsed in recent years by other brands and appears to be focusing on building larger and more stable boards for the less experienced windsurfers such as kite surfers and paddle surfers.
Windsailing
Windsurfing was invented by Newman Darby on a lake in Pennsylvania in 1964. It soon found an audience among younger surfers who were looking for the next big thrill. The first company to achieve success with windsailing boards was Windsailing International, created by Hoyle Schweitzer in 1968. Four years later, Mistral was founded by Brockhaus. Licensed by Schweitzer to make the original windsurfer, Mistral became widely recognized and extremely successful. According to Windsurfing Legends, Mistral "is likely the most recognized windsurfing brand in the world."
Early Years
Mistral quickly became known for technical innovations that advanced the sport, developing a flexible fixed mast, lee board, Bermuda sail and a boom that is operated manually. A number of champion windsail riders endorsed Mistral in the 1970s and 1980s and became known as the "Mistral Dream Team." In 1985, Mistral started to branch out, establishing Club Mistral, a string of resorts centered on windsurfing instruction and sports tourism.
Early 21st Century
An overemphasis by Mistral and other board manufacturers on the elite windsurfers caused business to contract late in the 1990s. By 2002, the entire industry was adjusting its focus. Boards for experts were narrow and hard to balance. But Mistral and other companies got the message. Scott See, executive director for The American Windsurfing Industries Association, told Forbes.com that there had been an overemphasis on high performance boards and kite surfing, and Mistral and other companies were now focused on producing boards for beginners that were user friendly. As See put it, "some of the newer boards wide boards are so stable, you can put someone in a business suit on a board without fear of getting wet."
The Future
In 2008, Mistral split into two parts. Famed windsurfer Anders Bringdal was hired to restore the glory of Mistral windsurfing boards, and he took charge of the design and production. Bringdal told Board Seeker Magazine, "We are just trying to restart a really kick ass brand again." Mistral now has a line for all levels of windsurfers as well as paddle boards, kite boards, and a combination windsurf/paddle/surf board. The fashion arm of the company was sold to Van Merksteijn International, and the sports apparel and accessories brand has been put in the hands of 22-year-old, as of January, 2011, Stephanie van Merksteijn, the daughter of the owner.
Member Comments