The Dunkerbeck name still has great appeal. Björn Dunkerbeck uses this to promote the sport at boot in Düsseldorf. Several times a day he stands on the stage in Hall 17 and talks about how incomparable windsurfing is. His son Liam is attending the trade fair for the first time and routinely answers all questions about his future plans and whether he would like to emulate his father when it comes to becoming world champion. In order to find a quiet spot between bargain hunters and autograph hunters, Björn guides the surf team into the VIP lounge for a short interview.
Is this your first time at a trade fair as big as this one?
Liam: Yes, this is my first time here at boot. The atmosphere is really cool, so many windsurfers coming together in one place. A lot of brands are here, it's a really good advert for the sport. I like it a lot!
Did you ever accompany Björn when you were little?
Liam: No, I don't think so... (looks questioningly at Björn)
Björn: No, it's his first time here! We wanted to come last year, but it didn't take place.
You're 18 now, do you already have a driving licence?
Liam: I'm working on it...(laughs)
Are you looking forward to travelling alone?
Liam: This year I've been out a lot with my mate Marino (Gil Gherardi, the ed.) on the road. I was in Denmark Hawaii and a lot of wingfoiling in Spain, which was great. We don't have far to travel, but it will be easier to get to the spots.
Björn: Sometimes we go out together, but he's old enough to be out with his friends and have his own experiences, take responsibility and manage on his own. That's part of growing up.
But you're sticking with wave riding, Liam?
Liam: Yes, just waveriding!
What about wingfoiling?
Liam: The focus is of course on windsurfing, but if I have time and there's a wingfoil event nearby, I'll go to it. For example, the Spanish championships, which I won last year!
I've seen that your brother Daniel is also taking up windsurfing now!
Liam: Yes, we are after the IWT contest on Fiji to Bonaire, Daniel was windsurfing there every day. He is now ten and really keen on the sport!
Are you teaching him anything?
Liam: I've given him a few tips, but he prefers to do his own thing. He manages it that way, and if he gets stuck, he asks my dad (laughs)
Björn: On Bonaire he was on the water for an hour after breakfast, an hour before and after lunch and then again in the afternoon, so three to four hours every day.
Were you the same age when you really got into windsurfing?
Liam: I think I was a bit earlier. I was the first boy, so my dad was more into it and was after it more (both laugh). When I was four, I was on the tandem with him, gliding and jumping. That was a bit more radical. I then started with surf contests because my friends were doing that too. That's now a good foundation for windsurfing.
Björn: Every heat you ride in a contest takes you further!
And now that Liam is going his own way, are you focussing on Daniel?
Björn: Yes, he'll soon be riding speed (laughs). He's very talented, he also goes surfing and SUPing, and he jumps on the trampoline at school. He also jumps from the 5-metre board, he loves the water!
What do you think about the Cooperation between IWT and PWA Liam?
Liam: It's a good thing because there are fewer and fewer windsurfing events since Covid. The merger is really cool. In the end there will be more events and a wider spread, more wind from the left, more wind from the right, more riding, more jumping. Of course, it will also be harder to win, but also fairer!
But it's not yet clear which events count, is it?
Liam: You can take part in all of them, there are one to five stars. Of course, you mainly want to drive the events with four and five stars because that gives you the points.
Björn: The idea is to upgrade the smaller events and strengthen the big ones. You can get points everywhere, but if you want to win, you have to win the big ones!
Liam: That way, more amateurs can get into the ranking, like in the qualifying series in surfing. And if there's an event at your home spot with two stars or something like that, then you also get points and it's an advert for your spot. This attracts more people to the contest scene.
It is not yet entirely clear which requirements must be met for an event to be awarded one or two stars. The question is whether, for example, DWC events with a wave alarm will also be included in the rating.
Björn: Yes, that's still unclear, but at least we've made a start. An event like this would have one or two stars to motivate people to take part. Windsurfing is a fun sport, we have to encourage people to simply take part. Then the results lists will be longer and more people will take part in contests at home, and hopefully some of them will go to other events. I think it's important that IWT and PWA have agreed to work together
How do you decide which events to go to? Only according to the points or also according to the conditions, such as Fiji last year?
Liam: Of course I have to go to the five-star events, but if there's one with two or three stars at a really cool spot like Chile, for example, then I want to go there too. Everyone dreams of surfing a wave like that!
Björn: And we're going to Fiji again!
Is it true that some really good spots can get an upgrade even if the organisers don't meet the requirements?
Björn: There are guidelines, but they haven't been finalised yet...
Liam: Fiji should also get five stars!
Björn: I think it's a good idea to wake up the sport again and get more attention. We have a great sport that we need to showcase. We need more events, more sponsors and more pictures. But something is finally happening, there's still a lot of good things to come in 2023!
