A trip down memory lane: Happy Birthday, Björn Dunkerbeck – 50 questions to mark his birthday
John Carter
· 16.07.2026
There are sportspeople whose names are synonymous with an entire sport. Michael Schumacher – Formula 1. Michael Jordan – basketball. Muhammad Ali – boxing. Björn Dunkerbeck – windsurfing. Okay, there’s also a Mr Naish, about whom one could probably say the same. But these two figures have shaped the image of windsurfing. Naish, the pioneer, the beach boy, the articulate interviewee; and Dunkerbeck, the young challenger, later the Terminator, and the rather tough interviewee – at least at the start of his professional career. It was the perfect rivalry in the 1990s.
In the end, Dunki left Robby Naish far behind in terms of the number of titles. He has 42 world championship titles to his name to date, making Björn Dunkerbeck – unofficially – the most successful professional sportsman in the world. In 2014, at the age of 45, Dunkerbeck brought his World Cup career to a close on Sylt. After that, his main goal was to break the world speed record. However, just as in the final years of the World Cup, his long-standing rival from the second half of his professional career, Antoine Albeau, was also ahead on the speed strip.
On top of that, Dunkerbeck was also hampered by a painfully worn-out hip; following two operations, he is now fit again. He has also been devoting more and more time to his son Liam’s career; Liam has already taken over the prestigious sail number E-11 from his father. Daniel, the youngest of the Dunkerbeck offspring, is also following in their footsteps – he was recently assigned the sail number E-1111.
In 2019, photographer John Carter sat down with Dunkerbeck, who had just turned 50, and asked him 50 questions about his career. Not all the answers are still relevant – some things have changed since then – but it’s still a fascinating journey through time!
1 How does Björn Dunkerbeck celebrate his 50th birthday? A massive party?
On my birthday, I had a lovely dinner with my parents, my family, my sister Britt and her daughter, and of course my four children. Klaus, a friend of my parents’ and the first windsurfer in Pozo, was there too. The next day, we had a dinner party with family and close friends. There were 40 of us in the south of the island, where I also met up with my old friend Vidar (Jensen) again. So just two dinners – which meant we were in bed early.
2 How do you feel physically and mentally at the age of 50?
Well, I’m glad I’ve made it to 50 with just a few minor ‘adjustments’. I feel better now than I did a few years ago.
3 Are you afraid of growing old?
No, I’d be more afraid of not growing old! Unfortunately, I know a few people who didn’t make it to 50. So I’m actually quite happy that I’m getting older. I’ve still got both my parents; they’re over 70 and still very fit. I think I’ve got good genes and’d love to live to at least 80 and still be out on the water. My dad’s just turned 75 and still goes windsurfing a few times a week. So that’s my plan.
4 Do you think 50 is old?
I don’t really feel like I’m 50. Back in the day, about 20 years ago, I used to look at 50-year-olds and think, ‘They’re really old.’ Now I’m 50 myself and I don’t think that way anymore. I reckon it’s because I’ve always done a lot of sport and still do. Windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling and diving – all of that keeps me relatively young. And the strong wind here keeps you feeling pretty fresh anyway. All of that helps you feel more like you’re 40 than 50.
5 But surely that’s also down to the fact that you’re back on your feet after your hip operation?
For years, my hip was just bone rubbing against bone. I then had a complete replacement fitted, made of titanium and ceramic. I’m so happy about it. At last, the pain is gone and my mobility is better than ever. I can even go surfing again.
6 Was the pain really that bad?
Let’s put it this way: I didn’t sleep through a single night in the three years leading up to the operation. I was in constant pain the whole time. I can only advise any of you who are also experiencing such problems to go ahead with the operation. You’ll definitely feel much better. Of course, you need to find a good doctor and trust him. I went to Dr Ulrich Vielwerth; he’s a windsurfer himself and has a clinic near Munich. He’s already helped several of my friends with operations on their knees, elbows, shoulders and hips. You can talk to him – he’s been a windsurfer for over 30 years and knows what we go through. You can find his contact details on my website, dunkerbeck.com
7 How long did it take before you were able to get back out on the water after the operation?
I had an operation on 17 February 2018. Afterwards, I had to stay in hospital for a week to make sure everything was healing properly. I then spent two weeks at a rehabilitation centre in southern Germany. After two and a half months, I was back on the water for the first time with my SUP board and sail. At the start of May, at the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge during the Défi Wind in the south of France, I was already back out surfing on a 90-litre board. At the end of June, I took part in the Défi in the Caribbean and came fourth.
8 How does it feel to watch your son Liam grow up and realise that he’s becoming a keen windsurfer?
Even as a small child, he was always in the water and spent a lot of time there. He was a multiple Canarian surfing champion in the Under-12 category. He won the title twice in the Under-14s. Now that he’s getting a bit stronger, his windsurfing is getting better and better too. He’s a real competitive type. Thanks to his many surfing competitions, he’s already gained a lot of experience, and that helps with his windsurfing too. And when you’re competing, you always get to rub shoulders with the world’s best, which is incredibly motivating.
9 Does Liam remind you of yourself when you were young?
Yes, I’ve spent an endless amount of time on the water too. It’s always a struggle to get Liam out of the water, especially when the conditions are good. It doesn’t matter whether he’s windsurfing or surfing. You simply have to spend as much time as possible on the water if you want to get good. That’s the key factor.
10 Does Liam want to become world champion?
That’s what he says, anyway (laughs).
11 And what do you think?
I think he’s got a lot of talent and the world is his oyster. He lives at one of the best training spots in the world and, of course, I’m right behind him. We’ve been sponsored by Red Bull for two years now, and he’s got his own limited-edition 65-litre kids’ board from Starboard. Severne is producing its own range of sails for smaller and lighter windsurfers, which is due to be released later this year. Liam will definitely be the brand ambassador for this range. All of this helps him to become a better windsurfer and also keeps him motivated.
12 Do you make sure he completes his school-leaving qualifications?
Don’t worry about that. His mum’s already struggling to keep up. But he’s doing quite well at school, so everything’s going just fine.
13 What do you think of the Youth World Cups?
Kids are the future. I always say that parents who windsurf should enrol their children in a good windsurfing school – just like with skiing. Ideally, when the children are between five and eight years old. I reckon that’s the perfect age to learn windsurfing. Once children have learnt it at that age, they’ll probably stay windsurfers for life. If they only learn it at 15, 18 or 20, it doesn’t become second nature in quite the same way. In that case, there’s a much smaller chance that the children will be gripped by a lifelong passion for windsurfing. So: enrol your children in a windsurfing school as early as possible.
14 Do you miss the competition and the good old days when you used to dominate?
I don’t really miss that. I did it for 30 years running. I still take part in a few competitions, such as the Défi races in France, Japan and the Caribbean. I also organise the Dunkerbeck Speed Challenge and take part in it myself. And then, of course, there’s the Lüderitz Speed Challenge on the canal in Lüderitz. I’m always there for three weeks in the autumn, trying to beat my personal best of 51.09 knots over 500 metres. So far, my top speed has been just under 99 km/h. Hopefully I’ll hit 100 this year – that magic 100 – that’s my main goal. I’ve had my new hip for 15 months now and feel much stronger than I did last year. That should definitely help.
15 Can all that really replace the days spent on tour, with all that goes with it?
But of course, there’s hardly a place in the world where I haven’t been, competed, and either won or stood on the podium afterwards. You have to prepare well for all of that – it doesn’t just happen by itself out there. That’s why I’m really glad I’ve found the right time to call it a day.
16 Was it the right time?
Yes, I was still well placed in the rankings and it was time to make way for the younger and stronger competitors. I still have loads of fun on the water. I go windsurfing almost every day – depending on the conditions, I’ll head out into the waves or go freeriding, or practise slalom or speed. I’d like it to stay that way for as long as possible.
17 Do you still enjoy travelling, or has it started to get on your nerves?
I travel as little as possible. If I have to, I do, but otherwise I prefer to go surfing in my front garden.
18 You’re also a successful businessman these days. How do you feel about this part of your life?
There’s no getting round it. I run the Dunkerbeck Windsurf Centre here, which has been going for 42 years now. My parents started it back in 1978 at the lighthouse in Maspalomas. I also run a surfing centre with a shop on Playa del Inglés. We also teach stand-up paddleboarding and bodyboarding there. We run camps there regularly and hold weekly courses with 40 to 50 children. We try to get as many of them as possible, aged between five and 16, into windsurfing.
19 Is it true that you also have a windsurfing centre on Bonaire?
That’s right, together with Philippe Bru (the inventor and organiser of Défi) and Jan Hendrik de Koningh, the owner of the Sorobon Beach Resort, we’ve set up a centre. It’s an ideal spot, as there’s a 500-metre-wide area with shallow water. It’s perfect for all ages – we’ve got five-year-olds surfing with a harness, as well as 80-year-old men and women who enjoy surfing in winds of 15 to 25 knots in water that’s 27 degrees – all year round.
20 You’re very active on all social media channels. Do you enjoy doing that, or is it simply part of your job?
It’s part of the job, of course. I enjoy encouraging other people to get out on the water. And it allows me to share my experiences on the water from all over the world with windsurfing enthusiasts. I think this has enabled me to encourage a lot of passionate windsurfers of my own age – give or take ten years – to take part in regattas like the Défi.
21 What’s your view on foiling?
Foiling is great fun, especially in light winds. When the wind is stronger, I still find it quite difficult. I enjoy foiling with Liam from time to time; he’s already quite good at it. Personally, I particularly enjoy it in light winds.
22 Are you glad that foils didn’t exist back in your day?
I used to love the course races back then. I actually preferred them to slalom. The races were longer and there was much more scope for tactical thinking. If foils had been around at the time, I would definitely have competed on them.
23 Do you still have any new ambitions when it comes to windsurfing?
As I’ve said before, I’m still trying to surf as much as possible and enjoy myself whilst doing so. I really enjoy spending time with Liam on the water and, more recently, increasingly with my daughter Alba as well. She’s getting better and better at windsurfing, and we were out on the speed course together the other day. The two younger ones – Martina is eleven and Daniel is six – spend a lot of time on the water too. They’re already surfing, paddling and windsurfing. I try to spend as much time as possible out on the water with them when the conditions are right. Hopefully I’ll be able to go windsurfing with them in Pozo soon.
24 You give the impression of being a real family man. Do you enjoy that aspect of life?
Absolutely. I was lucky enough to meet my wife, Maria, and we have four wonderful children. I think I found exactly the right time to start a family. We had our first child when I was 35, and that has definitely enriched my life. I can’t imagine life without children.
25 Which do you prefer today, slalom or wave?
The great thing about windsurfing is its versatility. You can go for speed, do slalom, just freeride or ride the waves. It’s all exciting. So whatever the waves and the wind have in store for me, I’m happy to take it.
26 Would you like to go surfing in Jaws again?
I’ve been there so many times windsurfing and tow-in surfing; that chapter is closed for me. I’m sure I could still windsurf at Jaws, but I’d have to prepare properly for it again. You shouldn’t do it without proper freediving training. Far too many people head out to Jaws unprepared. I hope nothing bad happens there, but there are far too many surfers out there these days. It’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong.
27 Did *Jaws* scare you?
You’ve got to respect Jaws. But I was always well prepared when I went surfing there, and I was never the sort of person to risk everything just to hit the lip at full speed. If something goes wrong, it’s like someone pouring ten swimming pools full of water in your face. I’ve always preferred to play it safe there.
28 Is there a particular title in your career that means the most to you?
It’s difficult to single out one in particular. But I think the first titles I won, back in 1988 when I beat Robby in the slalom and overall standings, were certainly special. But of course also in the mid-90s, when I won the slalom, racing, wave and overall titles three years in a row. That was very satisfying indeed. And when I became the first European to win the famous Aloha Classic at Hookipa, that was a huge moment in my life. Not too many people have managed to win in slalom, racing and wave events at every spot around the world. I reckon the only other person was Robby Naish.
29 When your rivalry with Robby was at its height, was that purely professional, or were there personal animosities between you as well?
We’ve had our moments. It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you’re always trying to beat the other person, you can’t be their best friend in private. These days, though, we’re very good friends; we ring each other now and then, and when we bump into each other at a trade fair, we have a chat about the old days. He always says: “You bloody kid just turned up out of the blue and beat me!” He didn’t like that one bit. But that’s just how competition is – at some point, someone comes along who’s better than you.
30 Looking back, did you find it funny that people called you ‘The Terminator’?
Oh yes, that was funny, because I was tall, blonde and I won quite a lot. That was back when Arnold Schwarzenegger was making the Terminator films, and I used to say, just like in the film, ‘I’ll be back’. That was quite funny, actually.
31 What’s your favourite film?
I like films like *Braveheart* or *Gladiator* – not too heavy, but still entertaining. I want to be entertained, and it shouldn’t be too complicated. I also like the *Mission: Impossible* series and the *007* films. And almost all the Westerns starring Clint Eastwood.
32 Favourite book?
I don’t know when I last read a book?
33 What car do you drive at the moment?
I’ve had a Mercedes van for two years now – it’s perfect for transporting the family and carrying equipment. There’s room for everything.
34 Do you prefer to stay at home in the evening and watch TV, or do you prefer to go out?
If I’ve had a busy day, I prefer to relax and unwind at home.
35 Tea or coffee?
Coffee – and Red Bull.
36 Was it clear that you’d be joining Red Bull?
By the way, Red Bull Organic has recently been launched – it’s a healthy soft drink.
37 PC or Mac?
Mac – always! They don’t crash and are easier to use.
38. An iPhone or something else?
At the moment I’m on Android and I don’t think I’ll be switching to an iPhone either.
39. Beer or wine?
Red wine!
40 What are your favourite conditions for speed surfing?
35 to 50 knots on the speed channel.
41 And in the wave?
Anything over three metres is fun.
42 Do you still like really strong winds?
I used to love days with winds of over 40 knots in Pozo. These days, though, I prefer a steady 30 knots.
43 What was your best surfing session?
I’ve had so many brilliant wave sessions. That’s the great thing about windsurfing – you’re always having a new best session.
44 What’s your favourite meal?
T-bone steaks and fresh fish – not together, of course!
45 Vegetables or chips?
Vegetables, always!
46 Are you more of a tidy person or a messy one?
I’m actually a perfectionist, even though my car looks a bit of a mess at the moment. But that’s because the kids are practically living in the car during the World Cup. I don’t really like a mess, though.
47 Who was your windsurfing hero when you were a child?
Before I competed against Robby Naish, he was, of course, my role model. I first met him here in Gran Canaria in 1982. After the Mistral World Championships, which were held at Bahía Feliz, we went surfing in Pozo. There was absolutely nothing here back then.
48 Which sportsman or sportswoman do you admire outside of windsurfing?
That’s a tricky question. I don’t really have a particular favourite. But I do like the lads who stay at the top for a long time. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in tennis, for example, or Aksel Svindal in skiing – he’s a windsurfer as well, by the way. Dany Pedrosa, one of the best MotoGP riders, is a good friend of mine. Since he stopped racing a few months ago, he’s been coming round to mine quite often to go windsurfing. And, of course, Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. I was lucky enough to meet both of them once.
49 Have you ever hit any real low points in your career?
Actually, I don’t think so. Sure, the problem with my hip held me back quite a bit for a while. But I feel like I’m coming back stronger now. Of course, you pick up a few knocks over such a long career, but you just have to make the best of it.
50 Here’s the last of the 50 questions. If you had the choice, would you do everything in your life exactly the same way again, or what would you change?
Given what I know now, I’d definitely live my life the same way all over again. I suppose I could have been a bit smarter about a few things back then. But you only get better by learning from your mistakes. So, in that respect, it’s hard to say, but I’d want to live my life exactly the same way again.