Francisco Goya

One of the most renowned windsurfers in the world, Francisco Goya was born in Argentina in 1971 where he developed an early interest in skateboarding, surfing, and waterskiing. Inspired to learn windsurfing by his older brother Alejandro, he strengthened his skills by practicing, watching videos, and trying new techniques. Early on, he realized the importance of the equipment to performance and began developing his ideas of what comprised ideal boards and sails.

By the age of 14, Francisco Goya was ready to take on the world of windsurfing. He traveled from his home in Argentina to Maui, Hawaii, entering a windsurfing competition. After finishing high school, he moved to Maui in 1989 to live his passion, devoting his life to windsurfing. From there, he traveled the world, competing and seeking the most incredible places on the globe to windsurf. All the while, he was perfecting his technique, taking it to its limits. Always working in close concert with board and sail designers, Francisco used his riding experience to further the developments in equipment design so he could ride exactly how he wanted.

Both a professional competitor and board designer, by 1994 Francisco Goya had started his own manufacturing company, basing his designs on what his experience as a rider taught him. A legend for both his style of windsurfing and his design of equipment, other professionals began using his boards, promoting his innovative work.

Today, Goya remains active in windsurfing competitions and is intimately involved in all aspects of the production and marketing of his innovative windsurfing equipment. His company was launched in 2004, and today Goya Boards and Team Goya are continuously in the spotlight in the world of competitive windsurfing. Goya divides his time between his passion for windsurfing and family life, spending as much time as possible with his two children. Athletically, he has a developed a passion for yoga and bicycling along with windsurfing.

Francisco Goya's Career Highlights

Within five years of his introduction to competitive professional windsurfing, Francisco Goya was winning top awards culminating in his 2000 Professional Windsurfing Association Wave World Title. A movie of Goya and Jason Prior’s rise to fame in windsurfing, “Double or Nothing Revisited” takes the two from young startups to first and second place winners of the O’Neill Windsurf Classics at Hookipa, Hawaii. He won first place in the Gran Canaria World Cup in 1999, first place in the Hawaii Grand Prix World Cup, and first place in the Aloha Classic World Cup of 2000. Also in 2000, he won first place in the Ireland World Cup, first place in the Wadell USA Tour, first place in Omaezaki Japan. In 2009 Goya placed fifth at the Cabo Verde Professional Windsurfing Association’s World Cup.