2400 competitors from almost 50 different countries participated in this year’s Tour. This international participation demonstrates the level of interest in speed-surfing that has continued to grow over the years.

Europe is still the largest geographical area represented with the Netherlands as the dominant country. Followed by Germany, Belgium, UK and Sweden.
We have participants from all over the world and all continents in the ranking apart from Europe riders are pushing the gas in America (USA, Caribbean, Costa Rica), South America (Brazil), Africa (UA, Mauritius, Tunisia, SA), Asia (Turkey, Thailand), and Australia + New Zealand. The GPS online format demonstrates the opportunity for global participation and sharing the stoke.

The ranking features riders with all kinds of experiences such as PWA pro-riders, young kids, a growing number of the women fleet and a huge number of experienced riders in the Master-, Super Master- and Ultimate Master fleet.

For the first time in the history of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge a session was posted over 50 knots on 250m in open waters. (By Vincent Valkenears in Diaz Point- Namibia) This demonstrates the passion to get faster and faster and improvements of the gear due to the input of ambitious riders and companies.

Not only the fin sailors are in the need for speed, also the Foil riders are pushing as well as the wing sailors– all with increasing and incredibles speeds.

Where are you from?
Woohoo good news wanted to have this one so good to have a global competition and was a nice battle with the others with really good open water results.

Let’s introduce myself I’m Hans Kreisel 36years old from The Netherlands I live in Renesse a small summer town next to the beach in the south where we are close to a lot of surf spots like Brouwersdam/ Zonnemaire/ Herkingen and Ouddorp.

Do you have children?
We have a small girl named Puck she is 3,5 years old and the most important thing in the world she is a little too young for surfing but I’m sure in the future she will give it a try.

Does your couple windsurf as well? – understand your need for speed? Do you have problems at home because of the windsurf?
My partner Patricia doesn’t surf but she understands my passion and supports it. Sometimes it’s hard getting everything sorted out with a full-time job and a little girl at home and both working irregular shifts nights and weekends. Luckily, we have really flexible grandparents, so we almost always have the best day-care for Puck.

Are you a Pro rider or do you have a regular Job?
Don’t see myself as a professional windsurfer more a semi pro because it still costs lots of money to per-sue my dreams of going faster and faster and breaking records. I only have a small budget and pay for most all my trips and entry fees myself.

If not, did you try to live from windsurfing?
No, I can’t live from windsurfing and don’t want because I don’t want to see it as work it’s one of my biggest joys in life.

Do you have sponsors? Who?
I’m sponsored by “Bar de Stulp” in Renesse. They help me paying the entry fee for Luderitz. I helped them a lot in the past. Best place for a party when you’re in Renesse.

And have my brand sponsors: I get a discount from JP-Australia and Neilpryde also a small budget. Hope they will increase it this year.
Z-fins with some fins and of course everybody who buys a Z-fin at www.windsurfcandy.com that supports me.

You are obviously infected by the need for speed, when you travel in search of speed, how much do you invest in that?
I’m strongly infected by the virus for over 18 years now. Maybe it’s better not to say that out loud but a trip to Luderitz incl. entry fee can easily cost 10.000, -€ adding also gear and fuel during all year for training and testing. That is also the reason why I can’t go to Luderitz every year.

How many speed boards do you have? -sails? -Fins? Is there a special fin for you?
I have 10 speed boards and 14 sails at the moment- need to sell some 😉.

Fins I have a lot: I only use Z-fins asy which I developed together with them. It’s the fastest fin in the world. Antoine Albeau did his 500m record on it so I’m proud I already own a little part of the world record and I did all my records on them and almost all the other big names are using them. But they won’t tell due to sponsor agreements. But still makes me proud.

What is the most important part of the gear for you?
The most important thing of my gear is hard to say if one part doesn’t work properly it outbalances all. But I can always trust my fins. Because they are really safe and spinning out is not a thing to be scared of anymore because if they do you can kick the grip in a split second. In the past spinning out was really bad and happened a lot

How difficult is it to windsurf at your home spot/ favourite spot?
It is really easy to surf at my home spots because we have a lot. I Prefer De Kwade Plaat because although it is hard to reach it’s really nice, quiet and fast spot. For me only downside is when something happens you are in a little trouble 2km offshore- it’s a long swim I know. Used to love Zonnemaire and Ouddorp because of the super flat waters but it’s getting to overcrowded in the mid wind days.

Thank you, Hans & congratulations, again. Good luck for 2022

Where are you from? 
My name is Heidi Ulrich I’m 37 years old and I come from Switzerland where I also live at the wonderful Urnersee.

Do you have children?
no

Does your couple windsurf as well? – understand your need for speed? Do you have problems at home because of the windsurf?
I’m super happy that my Partner Christian also windsurf and that he also loves the speed-windsurfing. Not 150% as I do but his 90% are also more than enough to share the passion. So, we almost don’t have problems because of the windsurf. But once the conditions become tricky and it gets dangerous and I don’t mean not only strong wind, I refer to sandbanks, too shallow water, waves or to high chop, Christian steps back. He’s seven years older and has way more experience than I and experienced several hard crashes. So, we start to discuss. He might be right, but I need to make my own experiences and I love to go out of my comfort zone.

Are you a Pro rider or do you have a regular Job?
I’m not a pro-rider. Speed surfing is a too small and specific discipline that I can live from it. Therefore, it needs at least also top skills in Slalom and Foil as well. But I’m completely fine with it because I love my job. I’m working fulltime for a big Swiss energy company responsible for the HR dep. Since 10 years I’m working for this company and receive a lot of support with super flexible working hours, which I can organize as I need according to my training and travel plans.

Do you have sponsors? Who?
Yes & thanks to them I can afford to train and compete at this level. Besides my employer, PATRIK Boards & Sails are my main sponsors and Patrick Diethelm & Karin Jaggi themselves inspiration and idols for me. Thanks to them I started windsurfing and thanks to their support I’m there where I am right now.

Also, I’m sponsored by NoLo Fins from Günter Lorch from Germany who let me be part development and listen to my feedback adapting it when making the fins for me what makes a big difference in my performance and is a huge benefit.

Coros is also a sponsor of mine. Without GPS Device no measurement & visible data. Also “Heidi Liebt” the best beanies of the world. I bring them to all occasions and love them after windsurf, after surf, biking, hiking, snowboarding and so on.
And last but not least FOCUSWATER a Swiss vitamin water for a healthy lifestyle.

You are obviously infected by the need for speed, when you travel in search of speed, how much do you invest in that?
Yes, windsurfing and surfing are not only a sport to me it’s a complete lifestyle: to go out on the water- just you and the elements, no phone, no deadlines just fun in that moment.

But when it comes to speed surfing this for me it’s real sport and I’m investing a lot on it. Especially in physical and mental fitness. Training 5 days a week between 2 and 4 hours and trying every time to go out a bit more of my comfort zone than the day before. (not only on the windsurf also climbing, biking and snowboarding for example)
And I also invest a lot in Traveling in preparation for Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2022 I’ll try to go 5 to 7 months to France for speed Training and Testing. For me it’s not an option to start a 6-week trip to Namibia tying to beat the world record on a board or with a sail I have never sailed with before. For full commitment I need full trust in me and my gear.

How many speed boards do you have? – sails? -Fins? Is there a special fin for you?
I have 5 Speed Boards: one for open water= 39 cm wide, one for the canal= 37 cm (+ one more prototype) a 33 cm wide one and a 43 cm what I barely use
Around 6 sails: two 5.2m & 5.8m production + 4.6m, 5.9m & 5.6m for testing
6 fins I have fix in my setup list: 18/18.5/19cm for open water & 17/17.5/18cm for the canal + constantly around 10 more fins as replacement and for testing.

What is the most important part of the gear for you?
The testing 😉 As I said before, for me the most important part is the sufficient testing to trust the gear in 100 percent when conditions become tough.

How difficult is it to windsurf at your home spot/ favourite spot?
My home spot is the Urnersee in Switzerland. It’s a freshwater lake with trade winds (in summer around 12- 20 knots). Super easy to for sailing, only 2 km wide and with a windsurf school. If you want to come, I’m happy to tell you all what you need to know to go windsurfing there.

My speed home spot is La Franqui in the south of France. Usually, the water is very flat, and the wind comes offshore. But… the beach is constantly changing, and you must deal with sandbanks, waves or, when the angle of the wind is not right, it can become choppy what makes speed surfing quite dangerous. The spot can be very easy but also can become really challenging.

Speed surfing is still quite male- dominated sport. Do you ever/ still have to deal with Mansplaining (Mansplaining= Essentially when a man assumes a woman (sometimes a man) lacks knowledge in an area where she (or he) is known to be an expert
Yes true, speed sailing is still a very male-dominated sport. I always try to motivate more girls for this discipline because than it’s just more fun. With several Vlogs I want to give some more Information and tips from a woman for woman and I think I could bring some more Ladies into the world of speed sailing.

And yes… of cause in the beginning was quiet often that some surfers saw me rigging my sail and they could not prevent to ask if I’m sure to rigg the 5.2m when even they go with the 3.3-3.7m. I always say: “Let’s give it a try.” In my opinion it’s always better to be underestimated and then showing with my performance that I can windsurf a bit 😉
My tip for the girls: Trust in your skills and your choice especially when you know the spot.

Heidi, thanks for the interview, good luck for all your goals in 2022 and congratulations again on your souverain victory of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge virtual global tour.

Period-1 01.04.-31.05.
Snow in Europe but incredible entry numbers and fabulous Speeds!

Period-2 01.07.-31.08.
Epic summer- 6 nations in the Top 10 & 870 Windsurfer in the Overall Fin and 80 overall Foil Ranking!

Period-3 01.10.-30.11.
Open ocean gps-records, Top 3 entries never have been that fast! All with a top speed OVER 50 knots (92.6 km/h)

During all the year we did not stop to receive emails from rides worldwide saying thanks for what we are doing. That help us a lot to keep on with this project and put  a lot of effort to make it better every time our community is growing very fast and every one is pushing their on limits like Bjorn say to go “Faster And Faster”.

We will repeat the Tour next year and also plan for the long term future as a fix date in every speed windsurfer’s calendar. And we are preparing for all of you a few surprises for next year but you will have to wait bit longer to know about that.

Make sure that you don’t miss a period because at the end of the three events we’ll determine the overall winners of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge Virtual GlobalTour – who will receive the big prices from our sponsors.

So everybody starts to tune his gear because at the End of the year the three fastest of each category can win:

• Chris Benz Watches
• AV-Board  speed board
• GoPro Action cams
• Gasoil Custom Fins
• Severne Sail
• Surf Hub Tenerife– Premium rental packages
• Phantom– windsurfing acciesories
• Noer Stick mast extensions
• Surfcenter.nl shopping voucher
• boot Düsseldorf– entries for 2022
• Fuerte Action stylish surfer clothing
• Gps-speedsurfing Premium memberships
• Daily Dose.de merchandising
• EQ lovesun-sticks
• Surf Magazin subscriptions
• Windsurf magazine uk subscriptions
• Revista surf a vela subscriptions
• Wind Mag subscriptions
• Dunkerbeck Windsurf Center merchandising

Make sure that you don’t miss a period because at the end of the three events we’ll determine the overall winners of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge Virtual GlobalTour – who will receive the big prices from our sponsors.

So everybody starts to tune his gear because at the End of the year the three fastest of each category can win:

• Chris Benz Watches
• AV-Board  speed board
• GoPro Action cams
• Gasoil Custom Fins
• Severne Sail
• Surf Hub Tenerife– Premium rental packages
• Phantom– windsurfing acciesories
• Noer Stick mast extensions
• Surfcenter.nl shopping voucher
• boot Düsseldorf– entries for 2022
• Fuerte Action stylish surfer clothing
• Gps-speedsurfing Premium memberships
• Daily Dose.de merchandising
• EQ lovesun-sticks
• Surf Magazin subscriptions
• Windsurf magazine uk subscriptions
• Revista surf a vela subscriptions
• Wind Mag subscriptions
• Dunkerbeck Windsurf Center merchandising

#SaveTheDates…

… don’t forget to take part in all three online events:

Period 1: 01.04.2021- 31.05.21
Period 2: 01.07.2021- 31.08.21
Period 3: 01.10.2021- 30.11.21

Allowed GPS Devices you’ll find on HERE
Every registered windsurf spot is valid.
Just switch on your GPS, go to the water and sail as fast as you can.

• Participation is free of charge
• Create an account on www.gps-speedsurfing.com or  www.gps-foilsurfing.com (same account is working on both websites)
• By uploading your session on the platform you enter in the ranking.
• DSC reserves the right of participation.

from 21 different countries-  these are more than enough arguments to consider the Gran Canaria Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge 2020 the most important virtual event worldwide.

Holland being the country with the most registrations, doubling the German participants, which is the second country with the highest number of registered and in third place Sweden. Also riders from Australia, USA or Namibia inscribed for the event.

impressive 48.16 knots (av. on 250m)! That are nothing more and nothing less than 89.19km/h – the mark of the Belgian Vincent Valkenaers, winner of the event and the second period and with which he managed to break the draw he had with the Dutch Hans Kreisel, winner of the first period. Both riders are part of the world elite of the speed discipline and are regulars on the Luderizt canal, third place went to the Dutchman Jacques van der Hout.

In the women’s category, won the clear favorite Heidi Ulrich from Switzerland with a speed of 39.04 knots. The newcomer Kirsten Baas from the Netherlands who won the first period with 34.19 knots made it not as easy for Heidi.

Eugen Dunkerbeck the oldest rider with 76 years old who was the winner of the ULTIMATE ranking, In turn Julian Koldeweid from the Netherlands, with only 10 years old became the youngest participant and won his category.

This is a clear proof that in speed windsurfing there is no age limitation, a discipline in which grandparents can compete against their grandchildren and spend time together in the water.

• almost 300 subscribers
• PWA Sailors in the Top 10
• 21 different Nations (from USA, Afrika, Europe and Australia)
• 27 woman
• age range fom 10 till 76 years
• 15 Juniors under 18

of sailors and the achieved speeds and we are looking forward tho the the next edition of the DUNKERBECK SPEED CHALLENGE coming up from the 01.10. let’s keep pushing!

Speedsurfing is for every windsurfer- no matter the spot, the gear, the age or wether you are professional or amateur as long as you enjoy it and feel the need for speed! Keep the spirit up and feel the sensation of going faster and faster.

Check the full rankings HERE