Jinny Ladner: Pioneer of Canadian Windsurfing
In 1975, Jinny Ladner, a resident of Whistler since 1973, along with Mike Gadd, brought windsurfing to Canada, learning on one of the first two windsurfers at Alta Lake. They met the sport's inventor, Hoyle Schweitzer, during the North American Championships in Berkeley, California, in 1976. Ladner encountered early obstacles, such as the use of bamboo booms and the prohibition of body harnesses in racing for many years. A women's class was established around 1979. In 1980, a Whistler team triumphed in every weight category at the Canadian Championships in Magog, Quebec. Ladner founded Whistler Windsurfing in 1977, organized races, and achieved fifth place in the World Championships in 1979. She dominated the Canadian Championships from 1978 to 1981 before retiring. Andrew Stoner later assumed control of the business, but by the mid-1980s, windsurfing's popularity declined.
Key facts
- Jinny Ladner and Mike Gadd started windsurfing on Alta Lake in 1975 on one of the first two windsurfers imported into Canada.
- Ladner first came to Whistler in 1965; her parents were shareholders in Garibaldi Lift Co. and part of Alpine Village in Creekside.
- In 1976, Ladner and Gadd attended the North American Championships in Berkeley, California, meeting Hoyle Schweitzer, inventor of the Windsurfer.
- A women's class in windsurfing was created around 1979; before that, women raced with men in the lightweight class.
- In 1980, a Whistler team (Ladner, Gadd, Andrew Stoner, Chris Janeway) won every weight class at the Canadian Championships in Magog, Quebec.
- Ladner opened Whistler Windsurfing in 1977 at the Alta Lake Inn, teaching lessons and selling spare parts.
- Ladner won the Canadian Windsurfer Championships from 1978 to 1981 and retired that year.
- Ladner judged and ran races at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Andrew Stoner took over Whistler Windsurfing, reopening it at the Christiana Inn.
- Windsurfing's popularity in Whistler faded by the mid-1980s.
Entities
Artists
- Jinny Ladner
- Mike Gadd
- Andrew Stoner
- Chris Janeway
- Hoyle Schweitzer
- Dave Murray
Institutions
- Garibaldi Lift Co.
- Alpine Village
- Whistler Windsurfing
- Alta Lake Inn
- Christiana Inn
- The Point Artist-Run Centre
- Adventures West
- The Keg
- Toni Sailer Ski Camp
- Canadian Windsurfer Championships
- North American Championships
- World Championships
- Los Angeles Olympics
Locations
- Whistler
- Canada
- Alta Lake
- Creekside
- Berkeley
- California
- Magog
- Quebec
- Los Angeles