LÜDERITZ SPEED CHALLENGE 2025
LÜDERITZ SPEED CHALLENGE 2025
LÜDERITZ SPEED CHALLENGE 2025
Pete Davis reports from the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2025 as the riders gather in Namibia and the anticipation builds for what promises to be another record-breaking year. Set against the stark, windswept beauty of the Namib Desert and the wild Atlantic coast, the world’s fastest windsurfers have converged on the legendary Lüderitz Canal. Last year, records were smashed and let’s hope 2025 is another rewrite of the history books.
Pete Davis: “Now in its 15th year and following the success of last year’s event that achieved new men’s and women’s world records and five national records This year has attracted a full list of the great and good of speed windsurfing.
Antoine Albeau is here of course with a target on his back from last year’s success upping his record to 53.49 knots and he has improved and held this record since 2008. The big guns here who will be pushing him hard and after his title will be Bjorn Dunkerbeck 42 times world windsurfing champion, the German record holder Gunnar Asmussen, the Belgian Record holder Vincent Vakenaers and Antoine’s French stablemate at Severne, Cedric Bordes. All of these guys could spoil the party for Antoine.
On the women’s side Jenna Gibson who achieved the Women’s world record and was the first women to go over 48 knots last year at the Canal is keen to push it higher to the 50-knot mark. She will be kept honest by the Swiss rider and previous Women’s world record holder Heidi Ulrich who was not at the event last year and is very motivated to get her title back.
This event is not all about world records, the site is home to over 20 national records and they are just as prized by the competitors who take part. None fiercer than the British speedsters Jim Crossley and Simon Pettifer. These two have windsurfed and raced together for over 30 years and both want to break the British record held by the late great Farrel O’Shea but at 51.20 knots it is no soft target.
With other riders bidding for their national titles like Roger Ornvang from Sweden, Enrique del Valle from Spain and Alexander Petikidis from Greece. This year will have a lot to play for.
Day one was a fairly light wind day if you think 25 to 30 knots is light but for these guys and girls, it is! No records broken but a good warm up and a chance for the riders to tune their gear. The fastest of the day was Vincent at 46.70 knots followed by Antoine and Gunnar. The girls were close with only 0.2 of a knot separating them and first blood to Heidi.
This year’s event is going on for a month, held on the edge of the Namib Desert close to the sea on the Skeleton cost of Namibia, miles from anywhere. It is the fastest speed spot in the world and they are waiting for the perfect conditions it is not going to be boring that is for sure.
To follow the live action follow this link https://luderitz-speed.com/ranking-2025/
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