Speed surfing: Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2023 finished - Gunnar Asmussen in front
Tobias Frauen
· 04.12.2023
"Will the world record be broken this year?" we asked at the start of the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2023. The setup looked promising: According to the riders, the artificial channel in Namibia was very well prepared this year, with Antoine Albeau, the reigning world record holder, taking part and aiming to push his own record even higher.
The start was also very promising, with Melek Toraman from Sylt setting a new German record in the women's event. She improved her own record from last year to 45.72 knots (previously: 45.37). At the same time, Gunnar Asmussen was the first to break 50 knots over 500 metres this year - but that was to be the end of it. After a light wind phase towards the middle of the race, the conditions looked good again, but not enough for the hoped-for record runs.
Instead, there were windsurfing lessons for the locals:
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A total of ten riders are on the results lists for this year, with Melek Toraman as the only woman. These eleven starters crossed the channel 497 times and were measured, with Thomas Moldenhauer at the top with 99 runs and Gunnar Asmussen with 90 runs. Antoine Albeau, in second place in the speed rankings with a best value of 48.97 knots, also took to the course 60 times.
With Björn Dunkerbeck, Heidi Ulrich, Vincent Valkenaers, Hans Kreisel and Twan Verseput, some big names were missing this year, who will hopefully be back in Lüderitz in 2024.
