I don't even know how to start. Just a tragic lost to the community. I was a newbie old git to windsurfing just 6 years ago when I turned 50. I met Anita (Windxtasy) who in turn introduced me to Speedsailing and Coodanup. On the first day there both Anita and Fangy took one look at my "Choco 33 weed" fin and said that not gonna work here. Fangy went home and in 5 mins I was armed with my first Aluminium FF22. It was a game changer and opened a huge world of new friends, experiences and rabbit holes. I spent hrs trying to anodise this thing which was ultimately pointless but I learnt a great deal on the way. It is still my favourite fin of all time despite ground down to something around 18cm. It's not that fast but it's dependable.
Between us we exchanged many ideas, Ross was better in theory whilst at the time I was better at making these ideas come to life. We created this weird Annular/3D printed fin experimental world and most recently flexible fin concepts (nothing new here BTW Simon Fagg was 30+ years ahead, but tech at the time could not deliver). It was fun, just trying out new ideas and trying them out on nearly daily basis and exchanging ideas. My YT videos published so far only tip of iceberg what Fangy and I were playing around with. Not claiming anything revolutionary here, just the process was really fun.
I can only hope Ross finally found his magic fin and pushed it to its limit in some sort of Nirvana and he was gone quickly in some freak accident doing what he loved.
Fangy was a pillar of Inspiration, knowledge, wit and enthusiasm. I would like to attempt to make a tribute video to him, similar to yet another good windsurf mate who died on the same day, 3 years earlier...Reg (not his real name). Trouble is I have almost no pictures or video footage of Ross other than the below video. If any of you have photos, video, anecdotes etc to share that you feel this explain this larger than life character that may be appropriate for a tribute video please share with me. Please message me via Seabreeze or directly if you know me.
Deepest condolences to Michelle and family.
My best Video of Fangy in action here:-