Simply put: if there was no Boards windsurfing magazine there would be no Windsurfing UK. Laying the foundations of what a (mainly) UK focused windy mag should look like Boards took a slightly different approach to their presentation of the sport.
For many years Bill Dawes edited the magazine and it was he at the helm when Boards started inviting every day windsurfers on their test trips. By utilising these normal windsurfers the magazine was able to glean just how products would work for the masses. Combining this with the input of the ‘pro’ test team was a stroke of genius. And Ian Leonard’s in depth, scientific and concise test reports were unparalleled.
Also, the now esteemed author, then self styled ‘gonzo windsurf journalist’ Gregg Dunnet (brother of Jono currently undertaking a mammoth round Europe windsurf journey) served to add humour and lighten an all too often (unnecessarily) serious topic.
In latter years Boards would combine with online Boardseeker mag, under the guidance of Adrian Jones. Acquired by action sports media house Factory Boards turned into an annual/seasonal publication that lasted a few years before being put to bed by Factory Media.
The mag’s ever popular online forum stuck around for a while but then also closed its doors in 2018.
I have dozens of old Boards magazines from the eighties onwards in good condition are they worth anything ?
Doubt it very much, sadly. They’re more a nostalgia trip than anything.