With all of the attention on Ho’okipa it’s easy top forget about what is going on on the other side of the World, including the Luderitz Speed Challenge.
It’s the start of Week two and It’s the start of week 2, in Luderitz, Namibia so Anders Bringdal speaks here about the event and his plans for the coming weeks.
Will a windsurfer push to break the World record or take the record back from the kiteboards?
The trailer is out and the count down begins for the biggest and fastest speed event of the year. The Luderitz World Record Race this year is going to be tough, competitive and mindblowing. Double the number of riders this year as compared to last year, and records to be smashed!!!.
The 2013 Luderitz Speed Challenge is going to be an intense one. If conditions are good, numerous records could be broken. The event runs through October until the middle of November.
French Magazine Windsurf Journal grabbed an interview with Antoine Albeau after the Luderitz Speed Challenge.
Here is a nice clip produced by Eric Bellande of the 2012 Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia.
The Luderitz Speed Challenge is all done, with so many record Being broken and incredible times posted! Antoine Albeau broke the World Record eight times over the competition’s four weeks period, ending with the fastest time of 52.05 knots, setting the new World record. Albeau was joined in making history by the fastest female of the event, Zara Davis of Britain, who posted a windsurfing world record speed of 45.83 knots (made on Production board).
12 national multi-discipline records were broken during the course of the event, which is incredible when one considers that 13 nations were represented. The records were as follows :
All in all seven riders hailing from five different countries went over 50 knots. These were:
These unprecedented performances were made possible not only by the incredible skill and athleticism of each contestant but also by their belief in the event and their willingness to give of their experience to improve the sailing conditions. All the windsurfers agree that this year’s results can definitely be improved, and who wouldn’t, when you consider A.Albeau went three knots faster than he did in 2008, in less wind! The riders are presently leaving Namibia with ideas for modifying their gear in order to return for more action in stronger winds in 2013.
Go along for a ride with Bjorn Dunkerbeck on a warm up run down the Luderizt channel in his quest for a speed record.
On November 21th 2012, Antoine Albeau after smashed the 50 knots barrier several times reached 51 knots, ending with the best performance ever in windsurfing and registering a New Speed World Record : 52.05 knots!!! Check out his insane speeds in this video.
Since November 5th, some of the world’s best windsurfers including Antoine Albeau, Björn Dunkerbeck, Anders Bringdal and Patrik Diethelm have descended on Lüderitz in Namibia to participate in the 2012 Lüderitz Speed Challenge. The Luderitz Speed Challenge is a contest of 100% speed windsurfing. For a month a special canal is constructed. This year records have been shattered again and again with extraordinary times, 45.84 knots and Zara Davis (Women) and Antoine Albeau clocked at 52.05 knots!