Reflections from the Speed World Championship 2016

To start with, the organization of this event was perfect. They ticked all boxes so to say.

• Race officer that started heats in exactly the right moments and held us on wait when the conditions not where stable
• Very big tent for storage, with a security every night
• Huge hotel 600 m from the event area, with breakfast and dinner buffet
• Warm welcoming ceremony

• High level prize-giving ceremony at the beautiful cave-lagoon-pool area
• GPS-timing team that made their loads of work smiling
• Live-timing with a screen on the shore
• Merchandise shop, self cost for competitors
• Top photographer
• Sub-sandwiches for lunch
• Cold water and Red-Bulls
• Boat and jet-skis on the course all days
• Course that where adapted to the conditions
• On course judges
• A rental wind/kite/SUP-centre that help me with gear
• Et cetera 

About the spot Matas Blanca at Costa Calma Fuerteventura.

It is an OK spot for this kind of event. A bit from perfect, but it works well. The forecast all days was 15 knots, but around noon the thermic wind picked up to 20-30 knots. Sometimes when cloud came the wind suddenly disappeared or swung around 100 degrees. It was gusty but rather gusty than no wind. The temperature was around 23-26 C and 21 C in the water I guess. Perfect for  shorty.

About the sailing. To be honest I have not been so many days on the water the last year. And 90 per cent of my days have been with 8.6 or 9.2 m2 sail. My idea was to fly down a few days earlier to tune the 7.0 and the 7.8. I have only used them for a few minutes this year. But Air berlin managed to keep my gear at Tegel airport those days. And when the event went off I took the sail I know, the Loft Racing Blade 8.6 in all heat except of the first. I know that it is a bit slower in acceleration and top speed but I also now that I have done 39 knots with it and I like it. It also carries me easy through the lulls and easy is never wrong. As I see it speed in 20-30 knots wind could be done in two ways. Either a big sail (7.5-8.5), a big speed board (100 l) and a small fin (30-32cm) or medium sail (7.0-7.8) a medium slalom board 85-110l) and a bigger fin (36-38 cm). The latter set-up works better today, since the fins have become so much better than five years ago. Some participants only brought a few sail and a small board, Björn brought a 6 tonnes truck. For a World Championship I would say bring what you need. It is not the race officers concern if the participators have too small equipment.

At this event I had my 250 m runs around 33 and 35,5 knots in most heats, and best top-speed about 37 knots.  Would I have done it different when I look back, probably I should have taken the 7.0 or 7.8 in the last heat. That was the heat that I discarded, and it would have been fun to see what a smaller kit could deliver. 

And some words about the competitors. I have raced with very many people in the world and know what standard everyone has. The top-riders in this event is for sure some of the best speed windsurfers in the world. No one at this event could just put the feet on the board and cash in a heat.

I am also very happy that we finally see some younger riders on the top. Aaron and Twan where really fast and consistent. I think we soon will see some change on the very top on the major events.  I was a bit reluctant to the open format with kids and amateurs on the same course. But must say that if it is room for that, that is very good for the sport. You see so much joy in their eyes and the routine they get here will help the in the future to become very good competitors.

 

So again, thanks for a great event. Thanks Markus Emanuelsson and Marcus Richardson  for joining me from Sweden. Thanks all other competitors that made all days, evenings and breakfast so nice. Thanks to my sponsors; #Hertz #Tenson #LoftSails #Carbonartwindsurfing #Ackert #Equipewindsurfing

Congratulations Björn Dunkerbeck and Zara Davis, you did it again!

Next big event for me is the Swedish Championship and then Weymouth Speedweek!