Speed surfing: Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge 2024 - all results and a portrait of some top riders

The Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge brings together speed surfers from all over the world who can upload their GPS-measured speeds and compare themselves virtually with others. In 2024, participants came from countries including Uruguay, Estonia and French Polynesia. The speeds are compared in three stages in spring, summer and autumn/winter, with the points achieved counting at the end of the year.

In 2024, the highest speeds were achieved during the Summer Edition: Hans Kreisel clocked 49.643 kn (91.939 km/h) on the fin, Florian Madec 37, 057 kn (68.6390 km/h) on the foil. Both also took the annual victory in their respective categories. The best lady in the fin field was New world record holder Jenna GibsonTess Sermet won the foil classification and Karl Tacito led the winger field at the end.

More about speed surfing:

• These are the speed records in windsurfing
• The best tips for speed windsurfing from Andy Laufer
• From building contractor to speed surfer: how Andrea "Principe" Baldini became the "Prince of Speed"

Many youngsters also took part in the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge, with Mika Henning taking second place in the 11 to 14-year-old category. Speed veteran Thomas Moldenhauer won the Grand Master classification. All the results are shown at the bottom of this page!

Together with the organisers, we asked the participants of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge a few questions and introduce you to some of the drivers here!

Kristel Kaubi (2nd Ladies, 1st Grand Master Ladies)

What is the best speed spot in your home and how long have you been speed surfing?

Windsurfing as a lifestyle has been close to my heart for almost 30 years. However, I only started windsurfing as a sport after the birth of my third child about 12 years ago. I have been focussing on speed (and long distance) windsurfing for about seven years now, and in that time I have won the Estonian women's speed surfing championship title six times.

The best spot for speed surfing in Estonia is in south-west Estonia, in Häädemeeste. It is characterised by a sandy coastline with relatively smooth water between the dunes. With the right wind direction (SW-NW) and water level, the conditions here are quite good. Unfortunately, the area is not very long, and in strong winds the rising sea level can create a difficult choppy wave.

What is your goal for 2025?

As I windsurf as a hobby and have a full-time job at the same time, I take every opportunity to get out on the water - from early spring to late autumn and sometimes even in snowless winters. The year 2024 was relatively windless here in Estonia, so I'm already looking forward to 2025 and hoping for lots of great sessions on the sea. I'm also dreaming of visiting La Palme-Plage du Rouet again or exploring some exciting windsurfing spots in the Netherlands!

Your best tip for anyone who wants to get into speed surfing?

My best tip: Trust your equipment, the wind and yourself - just enjoy the ride! The key is to be in the right place at the right time. When everything feels effortless, the results will follow.

What is your favourite material to ride?

I am loyal to Loftsails, my best results have been with the 5.6 sail and a JP speedboard.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Surfing is my passion and I enjoy sharing this joy with my closest friends. Do what you love and love what you do!

Tess Sermet (1st Foil Ladies, 2nd Foil Juniors)

What is the best speed spot in your home and how long have you been speed surfing?

Hi, my name is Tess, I'm 16 years old and I live in Martinique, in the Caribbean. I've been windsurfing for seven years and have also been foiling for a year. The best speed spot I know in Martinique is Marin Bay, because it's relatively flat. But the "alizés" (local winds) are not very strong and don't allow for high speeds.

What is your goal for 2025?

In 2025, I would like to go to La Palme and try to beat my own speeds with the fin. And I'd like to break 30 knots with the foil.

Your best tip for anyone who wants to get into speed surfing?

I'm not expert enough to give advice, it's me who needs it.

What is your favourite material to ride?

I am an FMX France and Funway Surfshop team rider. I completed the first period of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge with the Veloce and the other two with the Hyperion 158.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Many thanks to the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge for organising this virtual tour. No matter where you are in the world, it's very easy to take part and it motivates you to improve your performance.

Florian Madec (1st Open Foil)

What is the best speed spot in your home and how long have you been speed surfing?

I love the challenge of finding the best spot depending on the conditions. In my opinion, the best spot I know is Le Rouet in La Palme, but that's over 1,000 km away from where I live, so I mainly surf in the difficult harbour of Brest.

What is your goal for 2025?

My main goal for 2025 is to do everything I can to finally break the 40-knot mark in windfoil.

Your best tip for anyone who wants to get into speed surfing?

My best tip is that you should try to push your limits or exceed them in every session. To do this, you have to train to push your limits in order to get as used as possible to the addictive feeling of high speed.

What is your favourite material to ride?

Together with my designer and friend JB Marchand, and with the help of the experience and skills of my composite parts manufacturing company (FMC), I have a lot of fun testing and riding my foil prototypes, which I design and build without compromise to get the best riding characteristics, optimised for speed of course. to achieve navigation goals aimed at speed.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

I would like to thank the organisation of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge for organising this worldwide open event and giving everyone the opportunity to share and learn about speed surfing.

John John Vanderick (1st juniors 11-14 years)

What is the best speed spot in your home and how long have you been speed surfing?

I've been windsurfing at speed since I was 9 years old. I started in Herkingen, but now I mostly surf in Zonnemaire.

What is your goal for 2025?

At 15 years old, I want to get closer to 45 knots Vmax next year. That's a bit crazy, but aren't all dreams a bit crazy?

Your best tip for anyone who wants to get into speed surfing?

Find a good shallow water spot and let it glide!

What is your favourite material to ride?

Favourite setup: Starboard Speed 45 / Neil Pryde Evo 15 4.9 / iFins 19 Asy. My favourite spot so far is La Palme, but I dream of going to Lüderitz one day and following in the footsteps of Brendan "the fast" (Brendan Lorho, who was the youngest starter in Lüderitz in 2024 at the age of 18, editor's note.)

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Speed surfing is a magical discipline with an incredible atmosphere among the guys who help each other. In speed surfing you don't fight each other, you try to find the best settings to challenge yourself. I love this mentality.

Quinten Joosten (1st juniors 15-18 years)

What is the best speed spot in your home and how long have you been speed surfing?

For me, it's Da Curve, which is located in the north-west of the Netherlands. This spot is located in the Wadden Sea (Waddenzee). I love speed surfing at Da Curve. In my opinion, it's a truly magical and world-class spot. I started speed windsurfing in 2020.

What is your goal for 2025?

My goal for 2025 is to reach 80 km/h in over 10 seconds.

Your best tip for anyone who wants to get into speed surfing?

A good tip is to surf/train at the wind limits and sometimes beyond. Do this at your home spot with strong gusts. That way you get used to strong gusts. Then when a record day comes, you'll know what to do. This way you avoid not being able to surf when the conditions are actually great. And two of the best tips are to pay attention to your stance and your choice of set-up. Don't choose equipment that is too big!

What is your favourite material to ride?

Avanti Sails Machine M9 5.6 with the Fanatic Falcon Speed 44 with the Sonntag X4 LHF 19CM.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Go windsurfing a lot, even in winter, even if it's only for an hour or two. Look at what equipment other windsurfers/speed surfers use and how they stand on the board. And don't be afraid to make mistakes. Sometimes things go wrong, but you learn from them.

Results Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge 2024

Gents

1. Hans Kreisel
2. Rolf de Ruiter
3. Laurent Fesquet

Ladies

1. Jenna Gibson
2. Kristel Kaubi
3. Lotte van den Toorn

Grand Master Men

1. Laurent Fesquet
2. Wouter van Hilst
3. Tim Humphreys

Grand Master Ladies

1. Kristel Kaubi
2. Tatiana Dianova
3. Pernille Sanderhoff

Juniors 11-14

1. John John Vanderick
2. Mika Henning
3. Isabelle Westerveld

Juniors 15-18

1. Quinten Joosten
2. Jan Wim Becker
3. Matteo Della Fiorentino

Super Master

1. Thomas Moldenhauer
2. Hans Frydendal
3. Dirk Hacha

Ultimate Master

1. Georg Nassauer
2. Jacques Pellen
3. George Fulton

Open Foil

1. Florian Madec
2. Giedrius Liutkus
3. Niek Huisman

Open Wing

1. Karl Tacito
2. Wesley Deleye
3. Danny Ok

Woman Foil

1. Tess Sermet
2. Jenna Gibson
3. Pernille Sanderhoff

Junior Foil 15-18

1. Florian Sicard-Baux
2. Tess Sermet
3. Matteo Della Fiorentino

Grand Master Foil

1. Stephane Cazcarra
2. Boris Fagnart
3. Brian Rogild

Super Master Foil

1. Tommy Fjord
2. Rainer Cramme
3. David Spall

Ultimate Master Foil

1. Rodrigo Pereira
2. Mikko Kitula
3. Jonas Naumann

All results of the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge