Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2025: Antoine Albeau is the fastest - crash by Cedric Bordes

The Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2025 is entering the home straight, and the canal in Namibia is still open until 30 November. But how well prepared the record channel isthat's how little the wind has played along so far. Hopes were pinned on yesterday, Sunday, when the best wind to date was forecast. It was supposed to be a long day with almost 200 measured runs and more best times, but the conditions were not good enough for new records.

Antoine Albeau took the lead with 51.05 knots over 500 metres, pushing Vincent Valkenaers into second place. Both were more than three knots faster than on the best day so far this yearthat's a world in speed surfing. However, Albeau is still around 2.5 knots away from his world record from last year.

"It was difficult today," said Vincent Valkenaers, describing the conditions. "The wind didn't really kick in, it was a gamble with the gusts, but we made the best of it!"

Heavy spin-out from Cedric Bordes

Behind Valkenaers (50.51 knots), Gunnar Asmussen is in third place with 50.14 knots. He is followed by Cedric Bordes and Brendan Lorho, both below the 50-knot mark with 49.17 and 48.23 respectively. Cedric Bordes had a spectacular crash just before his best run when he rolled over several times after a spin-out. Apart from a few bruises, however, the Frenchman was unharmed and carried on straight away. "I told myself I'd go straight back to full power," said Cedric in the evening. "But at some point I thought about it more and became cautious."

Nils Bach from the Patrik team is in seventh place with a strong 47.50 knots, a new personal best for him - even though he was weakened by a virus!

Jenna Gibson clearly ahead of Heidi Ulrich

Jenna Gibson, who iset the world record last year, is the best lady with 46.31 knots and ninth overall. In doing so, she kept Heidi Ulrich, who wanted to take the record back from her, at a clear distance. The Swiss woman is currently 13th overall with 44.49 knots. One place ahead of her is Björn Dunkerbeck, who left before yesterday's race.

Is that it for the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2025? The forecast announces a little less wind today before it looks pretty gloomy for the rest of the week. But everyone is still looking hopefully to the coming weekend, when the wind is expected to pick up again. Will there be any last-minute records then?

Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2025 - Intermediate result 23 November

1. Antoine Albeau - 51.05
2. Vincent Valkenaers - 50.51
3. Gunnar Asmussen - 50.14
4. Cedric Bordes - 49.17
5. Brendan Lorho - 48.23
6. Jim Crossley - 47.77
7. Nils Bach - 47.50
8. Simon Pettifer - 46.98
9. Jenna Gibson - 46.31
10. Alexander Petikidis - 46.28
11. Harald Claessen - 45.79
12. Björn Dunkerbeck - 45.42
13. Heidi Ulrich - 44,49
14. Roger Örnvang - 43.29
15. Thomas Moldenhauer - 41.96
16. Manfred Fuchs - 39.73
17. Momar Diagne - 39.66
18. Kurosh Kiani - 37.45
19. Enrique de Valle - 33.31