Speed surfing: Lüderitz Speed Challenge underway - Dunkerbeck and Albeau on the hunt for records

With Antoine Albeau and Björn Dunkerbeck, the current world record holder and the biggest challenger are taking part in this year's Lüderitz Speed Challenge. Dunkerbeck's big goal is to break the 100 km/h over 500 metres - this is shown in the film "Born to Windsurf" to see impressively. Meanwhile, Albeau continues to be blazingly fast even after the end of his PWA career, most recently winning the Farrel Cup at the Prince of Speed with 45.1 knots on the fin and 37.6 knots on the foil.

In addition to Dunki and Albeau, Gunnar Asmussen is also taking part. He set the best time last year and recently became German Speed Champion. Other big names on the speed scene such as Hans Kreisel and Vincent Valkenaers will be missing in Namibia in 2024. In addition to Asmussen, Thomas Moldenhauer and Manfred Fuchs are also registered for the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2024, as is up-and-coming talent Brendan Lorho. Two women, Karo van Tonder from South Africa and Jenna Gibson from the UK, will also be taking on the canal. Heidi Ulrich and Melek Toraman are missing from the list so far.

The speed track near the small town of Lüderitz in Namibia is prepared anew every year for the challenge. A strong wind blows out to sea from the desert in the hinterland, the channel is dredged at the ideal angle and is only around 50 centimetres deep. Any mistake in 40 to 50 knots of wind and almost 100 km/h is severely penalised - not only because of the rock-hard water surface, but also because the channel is so narrow.

First speed runs are planned for today

For today, it looks like there could be good conditions for the canal for the first time this year. "The canal is ready, the wind is finally in the right direction, we're on stand-by," reports Björn Dunkerbeck from Lüderitz. "We hope there will be some good runs today!"

• Here you can read the speeds from Lüderitz

This is what the canal looks like today:

Training at Diaz Point

So far, we've only seen pictures and videos from Lüderitz of Diaz Point, the nearby spot on the open sea. Dunki has already been out there too and has been in - at well over 80 km/h! "Diaz Point is great if it's not right on the canal, it's always rideable out there in terms of strength and direction," says Björn. "Because the bay is crescent-shaped, you always have shallow water somewhere. You don't go exactly straight ahead, but there are more days when you can train well!"

Speed run with Björn Dunkerbeck at Diaz Point

More about speed surfing:

• These are the speed records in windsurfing
• Melek Toraman - Germany's fastest female windsurfer
• Speed surfing - the best tips from Andy Laufer
• From building contractor to speed surfer: how Andrea "Principe" Baldini became the "Prince of Speed"