At the Top of the Podium

Last time I was at the top of the podium at a major event in Sweden was in the eighties. (I have won in the raceboard class also but that doesnt count!) Arto Kantojärvi and Patrick Troell where beside me that day. I was 21 years old and my life was like an unwritten book. The victory was so sweet, I felt like all Gods in the universe where supporting me.

And today, over 25 years later I got a major victory again. And I must admit that this win was even sweeter. I started to race speed in 2007 and I have almost spent 350 days on the speed/slalomboards since then. A lot of hours and big efforts, tuning sails, developing boards, testing hundreds of fins...

The Swedish Speedwindsurfingtour is very competititive, maybe the second hardest in the world. On the podium this time where two good friends, Markus Emanuelsson and Daniel Borgelind, I have fought since 2007 with them. Occasionally I have won a some heats, but at the best I have been overall is 4:th a few times. Some other competitors today, Tobias Hed was also competing with me in the eighties and Erik Larsson in the nineties.

But it seemed like it was mission impossible to beat all Swedes. In fact after last year with all my injuries, I have almost given up. This year I decided to only sail for fun. No unnecessary risks. Just doing my best...

The first day in Klagshamn we raced in open water 20-30 knots of wind. I tried my Carbon Art SP63 and 8,6m2 sail. The big kit was not an ultimate combo on open water... I was everywhere but on the surface. The following heats I used a small slalomboard, CA SL55, and 7,8m2. So much easier to push 34,98 knots over 10 seconds. After 3 heats I was 5:th. The second day we sailed in flatter water but less wind and the big kit was working like a Swiss clock. We sailed 2 heats and when I came from the locker room I was surprised when Jesper was congratulating me. Maybe for a third place I thought, great, finally a podium position... But the results were really close, only a few points between us at top 4 to my favor.
2:nd, 5:th, 1:st, and 2:nd were enough for a victory. So sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. 
Thanks everyone, and special thanks to James Dinnis for the boards, Monty Spindler for the sails, Otmar for the fins, Daniel Borgelind for the sparring and my family for all support!

PS Here is a story of mine from one of the first funboard-events the eighties.

Some reflections about the German Speed Championship 2012

Low wind sailing in Orth

The arrangement of the event in Germany is top level. For the moment there are no other speed contests in the world that can measure them with Germany. It was good last year but better this year. Small details like the GPRS-controlled signal system, the always full fruit baskets in major tent, the Faheren Lager-parking-camping, the way of putting out the optimal course etc.

On other hand I dislike that they do not do proper race in lighter winds around 15-20 knots of wind. I sail 31 knots in the course 10 times during an hour but no race are stared because the wind was too gusty... But it is also gusty when we race in hard wind. Both Michael Naumann, Daniel Borgelind and myself have trained to excel in light, gusty winds and it feels unfairly that we don’t get opportunity to race. I guess it is more about that most participants don’t have big enough sails. Big boards seemed not to be any problem.

1:st and 3:rd place in Germany

The sailor’s speed should be the denominator, not the ground wind. When the wind finally came with full power the second but last day, we had 3 good races. A 4:th would have been even better to get a discard, but I guess most racers where too tired after 3 x 90 minutes race in 25-35 knots wind.

But with some distance to the event, it still was a very good event and the final result was VERY fair. Michael and Daniel was far the best overall this year at Fehmarn. It did my best and I beat many good riders. I did have any new damages nor on my equipment or myself. I am already looking forward for Germany next year...
 Thanks Germany,VDS, Manfred and the Orga-Team!

Weight vest – a buying guide

I got some question about which water sport vest is the best for windsurfing. I better write immediately that I not have tested all vests in the market. But here are the things I appreciate:

1.  If the vest fits very well, it will protect better when you crash. (Not slide up)
2. Good buoyancy - It should carry weights.
3. Big pockets for all things I carry
4. Quality

In my vest I always carry a Camelback, the best I have found is a 2-litre Platypus. I have it in the back pocket. In the chest pocket I have a PBL. It is possible to also put in some lead plates. At least 8 kg should fit easy.

Which vest is the best? I have no idea. My first was a Pro Limit. When I have travelled around on all events in Europe, I have noticed that all top-sailors always carry a vest from Liberty in Japan.

The difference between Pro Limit and Liberty is not big. My guess is that PL has sent a Lib-vest to China and just ordered some hundred… But there are differences…

Liberty: The Velcro-belt is double size. Thats is important for the fitting. The seams are more solid. The back pocket has an extra floating plate. They sell weights from stock, 1,5 and 3 kg.

Pro Limit: The back pocket has an extra Velcro divider. Good if you carry 2 plates in the pocket, but has no use if you have a camel-back.

My choice is Liberty, you could buy it here

PS And Here is another blog post about weight vests.

Karpathos Speed is running

For the third year in a row I arrange a great event at the Greek island Karpathos, King of Paradise.

The event site is karpathosspeed.com

We have various conditions, sometimes a bit weak wind and like today a bit more. It is a GPS-Speedsurfingevent and the two best 250 m  runs every week is counted. In that way you can have a bad day and still do well. I expect about 25 participant during the 3 weeks. So far I have had some trouble in medium winds. Maybe I should have brought the SP53 speedboard after all... But today it was winds around 25-30 knots and now everything feels great.

Is a speedboard always faster than a slalomboard in high wind?

Carbon Art SP53 vs SL55

Are you one of those who believe that a speedboard always is faster than a slalomboard in high wind? Well here are some words about how I look upon different boards at different occasions. As you see in the pictures I have a few boards. And when you watch my results the recent years you probably observed that I do not do any slalomracing at all. Still I have a bunch of them. The truth is that I use all of my speed-and slalomboards for only one purpose, GPS speedsurfing. For very light wind 2-3 Beaufort a formula board probably is the best alternative, but since I live on one of the most windy spots in Sweden I get at least 4-6 Bft every forth day (and sometimes a lot more). When it is less wind I have other things to occupy myself with. So I have the second biggest slalomboard in the CA-range to start with. It is not really any use to go for the maximum width, since I am not so interested in super early planning which will make the top-speed suffering. The wider tail, the slower is the top-speed. So the SL78 is my choice in marginal condition with even wind and when the gusts really don’t kick in.

My range of mixed slalom- and speedboards

If we look at the other end of my boardrange, I have small speedboards like the SP40, SP44 and SP53. But I also have an SL53 and a 55. The reason I bought these small slalomboards was from the beginning that I heard from the guys around Sandy Point (Australia) that when the conditions gets really ugly, they jump onto the small slalomboards instead of the speed boards. The last years I have sailed in ugly condition too, both in Karpathos and Port st Louis. And it must feel great to master the rough sea on the way back upwind.

Upwind on the SL55 at Karpathos

I can assure you that the different is huge. It is sooooo much easier to sail a slalom back upwind. But how is the small slalomboards downwind? Well because of the wider tail and the different rocker-curve it should be more busy over the chops, but it seems to work very well anyway, and in many spots you need to accelerate upwind, or in a square angle into the speedcourse and the you only have 15 seconds to perform topspeed (like Karpathos) and it seems like the small slalomboards are doing on par as a smaller speedboard. In 2011 I spent 20 days on the Devils/Paradise bay speedstrip and I tested a lot of different set-ups, and I did 10 second average runs over 40 knots on both the SP44 and the SL55 in similar conditions. I was surprised but that is truth. And that confirms also by Ben Van Der Steen performance at the Speed World Championships in 2009 when he was very competitive on his slalomboards.

Personal Location Beacon – No luxury for speeding

I have added a new gadget to my extensive stash of gear. A PLB. Some think (or know) that I am crazy in getting everything possible thing in the world to execute windsurfing. Well that is very true. And as you may have seen on this blog, I do windsurf in all different places in the world. Some inlets like Sandy Point, some constructed pools like West Kirby. 

But also in places like Karpathos and south of France, where the offshore gusts sometime hits 60 knots. If you are going upwind in that moment 400 metres out from the beach, you are feeling very small. It is simply not possible to sail. 

Hold the gear low and wait for the wind to back to say 45 knots. And try to sail back to the shore. But it is easy to panic, and what you do not want is to break anything, gear or body out there. If that will happen, you are lost. 

The waves are big and no one can see you. What you would like to have is some flares or something, but when you have fired them off, you are not very visible. The you might ask yourself, why did not I bought a PLB - Personal Location Beacon, that I read about in AndersBQ´s blog? It cost like a custom fin and it will probably save your life if everything goes to h:ll. Just push a button and wait for the search and resque-team to pick you up. PS I think my mother and wife maybe are the persons that appreciates this little gadget most.

A windy day in France...

Does extensions matters?

Well, at least quality does. What absolutely is crucial is that the extension does not brake. A racesail require about 500 kg of downhaul, a different ballpark compared to a wavesail. As you can see, my extension bag is filled with extensions from various makes. I have tested a few. And I must say that the price has correlation with the quality. All of them works from the beginning but after 20-30 days the cheapest are worn out. Plastic parts cracks, the pins in the collar breaks etc. In general the RDM with often more simple collar construction are holding together better than the SDM´s. But RDM is also often more used to smaller sails with not so much load.

Not the best angle, the rope gets worn.

Much better angle, with the Nylon part.

Alu or Carbon? Well a more a matter of feeling than performance. Carbon does not corrodes though… 

Which one is the best? Well I have been quite happy with Chinook for some years, but right now I test Neil Pryde MXT Carbon. All good? Well there are problems with them too. This year NP have change the angle in the cleat. So when I used a standard rig-winch the rope got worn off immediately. I had to build a new winch with a different angle. Maybe not a problem for NP-riders, but for Naish and Loft Sails, that have the downhaul block in another angle it did not work. But my tips is, go for quality. A good extension last for many years, a cheap one a few months.

Baisse your speeding shape?

This time of the year on the northern hemisphere some people are walking around and saying ”Well I have not sailed one day yet with my speed gear this season yet”. Sometimes you wonder why are they telling you this? Well normally you hear this from amateurs in any sport a week or two before an event. But this is not unique for windsurfers, golfers are the same and they are many more. What they really are saying is maybe that they not have used the speed board yet, but done a lot wave- or slalom sailing.

I am in the same position this year. After the crashes last year I did not do any trips this winter and it has not been many windy days at home yet. Off course it is not optimal to jump on the board with new gear at the first event. Even if the new sails/boards are better than last year, you need to trim and tune and find the sweet spots in the gear. Normally that takes about 3-5 full days for each setup for me. I am pretty far from that right now. But this year I have been smart. I have kept the super tuned 2011-gear, and expect from the Racing Blade 7.8 (2011 is crashed), I will probably use 2011-gear in most event the coming months. But I must admit that I like the new stuff. Soon I will reveal the new graphic in full monty.

The Premium Speed Fin Test

People sometimes ask me:

- You have so many fins, please tell me, which one is the best one?

OK, the fins are for most speed sailors a well-kept secret. Most understandably, the fin is extremely important. But I will in this blog post reveal some golden nuggets.

But first some basics. There is generally no best fin. There is just the best fin for a certain moment and condition. In this “test” I used 28-30 cm fins from five different premium brands. I sailed on a Carbon Art SL53 speed board, which is a narrow board with about 83 litres of volume. I used a 7.0 full cambered racing sail and the wind was gusty offshore 25-30 knots. I did about 5 runs with every fin and logged 10 seconds average speeds around 36-37 knots in most runs. The spot was Karpathos and I brought +30 fins last summer to the lovely windy island.

At this spot the entry speed is important. It is pretty much a slingshot when you accelerate 10 knots within 2 seconds. The grip is important, and then there are two more gusts, some small chops and a 20 meters to stop. Again the grip is important, because when you release the pressure from the sail, the tail-walk starts instantly.

Tectonics F1

This is what I call a reference fin for all speed sailors. It is a premium fin made at Maui. It is not too hard and not soft. It works on most types of boards. All top speed sailors that I know have used it. It was very popular around 2007-2008. It is still a very good fin. If I didn’t know better I would have been very happy with it. But at a gusty spot when the speed exceeds say 36 knots and you get another super gust, spinouts could occur. I would say that this fin is excellent in more stable conditions. This fins works very well to both small slalom- and speedboards.

Deboichet Upwind

A very stiff custom fin that really needs a skilled rider with good reaction and big muscled legs. Even if I consider myself all of the above, I really do not feel comfortable with the UW. It is so stiff and it is hard to find the perfect trim for that fins when it is gusty. Even if it never spun out, I really did not feel safe and therefore did not hit the best speeds. Probably better in more controlled spots like Dungervan or Sandy Point etc, where the runs are longer and you build up the speeds during a longer time and you can work with more controlled trim of the rig.

C3 Venom
The C3 is made at the Cobra plant in Thailand. Still a high quality product and I would say that it is worth the high price. It drives extremely well upwind and in the acceleration phase and when I bear off I just hold on and forget about the board. It is so easy to ride. I guess it has to do with the softness. The only con is that it is a little more fragile, with the thin top.

NB This fin is 29 cm.

Black Project Type S
The BP fins are pretty new in the market. They are developed on Maui but produced in China. But that is nothing bad. It is affordable and after sanding some paint off, it is as good as the C3 Venom in the acceleration and off wind. Maybe not as good up-wind, but this is not a slalom fin. Not as fragile as the C3 and much cheaper. Very much bang for the buck!

Choco Mach 1

This is what you get if you cross the shape of a Tectonic and produce it in the same factory as C3. It is not a bad fin, but it doesn’t have the edge and feels as the other above. I would say that it is an okay fin for those who doesn’t need to break 40 knots. But there is a reason that I have sold most of mine. Daniel Aaberli (Choco) has launch a Mach 2 which is thinner, but I have never tested that fin.

Conclusion
My personal choice is C3 Venom and Black Project Type S. I know many riders that prefer the others. I do not say they are wrong, but now you know what I think. Maybe you wonder what fin was the fastest? Well I did this test during 3 hours and the wind and water are not the same in every run. The C3 was a little ahead of BPF but within the error margin. The Tectonics almost in par with the other two, and the Deb and Choco just behind. I also tested a few more fins during this day but they where disasters. Maybe thats the most important conclusion, all premium fins are good, just small differences in personal taste.

PS One remark, on the day I did this reference test, I used fins between 26-32 cm. I would say that the "results" where the same on the 28 cm´s, but at 32 cm most fins except of C3 Venom felt a little too big on that board.

Time to book in Karpathos 2012

It is time to book in the high-light of the year. For the 3:rd year in a row, I will arrange "King of paradise" at Paradise Bay (former Devils Bay) on Karpathos in Greece. It is a very relaxed event but still very competitive and a lot of hard racing under the hot sun. Besides from concistent gusty winds 6-9 Beaufort and sunny days, we also enjoy the best food and friendly place in the world in the small town Pigadia.

Even if it is a 15 minutes drive to the speedstrip, I recommend all visitors to live in the town, and rent a scooter or a car to go to the surfcenter at Afiartis.

Follow the event here: karpathosspeed.com

I´m on hold until 2012

For the moment I have taken a time out from windsurfing. The reason is simply that my body needs to cure. The fingers, ear and my back took too much damage in the end of the season. Still 2011 was the most successful year for me so far. In the meantime I know that my sail- and board partners don’t rest. My new 2012 Loft sails are on the way from the factory in China and Carbon Art are doing the finalising job on the new slalom boards on New Zealand. The new sails are improved in the leech and weight, which make them more responsive and even easier to sail. The new boards are a little fuller in the rails, which give them better release, and the rocker line is a bit more tuned towards smoother ride and faster jibing. You might think that this is the normal “bullshit” everyone is saying about the next year’s products? I don’t think so. Both companies have made a big efforts in product R&D the last year. Ben van den Steen and Ludo Jossin on the water and Monty Spindler on the shore and behind the sewing machine in windy Tarifa, Spain, obsessed to develope the worlds best racing sails. Enough of words bout that. And Carbon Art that not have change their superb slalomboards for years, but now the big Australian on Maui, Phil McGain has worked with focus on tuning the boards the last year. So even if I am on hold, I am looking forward for 2012, the gear will be super!

11.11.11 - A tribute to Robby Naish

Probably he most beautiful handwriting in the surfing industry..!

Today is the 11th November in 2011. Some surfers might say "Ke11y". But to me that reminds me of Robby Naish. (His sailnumber is US1111). I admire him as the most contemporary waterman, brand builder and ambassador in the surfing industry. Even if he not has been as successful in racing as Björn Dunkerbeck, he still was a very good racer in the eighties and a wave sailor with flow and more grace than all others. He was early into kite and SUP and I believe it is important building bridges across the surfing sports. In the end we are in love with the water and we need to share that asset. I also take the opportunity to thank Robby for the   sponsorship with me 2009-2010. The remaining of that sponsorship has left traces in my home for a long time. No other has that much profiling t-shirts and accessories!

The Loft Sails interview

My sailsponsor Loft Sails has published an interview with me at their site, about the sails, season, trimming and events: http://www.loftsails.com/2013/interview-with-anders-bjorkqvist/
On that site it is also a video with Dirk Jan Knol and me on the Karpathos speed strip.

Heja, Viva, Go Anders Bringdal!

Anders Bringdal protected from the sandstorm

I raced with Anders the first time in May 1984 (the weekend the Herreys-trio won Eurovison Song Contest), and we have met, sailed and raced together in the -80, -90, -00 and -10s all over the world. He is a more talented windsurfer than myself, but we have a some things in common; nationality, almost same name, age and we share some interests. (speedwindsurfing, marketing, the ws-industry and our families). When we meet we have a lot of things to catch up with. It has happened that I gets e-mail that where intended for him... It is a pity that Anders Bringdal is not more into computers. I would love to follow a blog from him. Right now he is down in Luderitz, Namibia, Africa, (Luderitz Speed Challenge 2011)  trying to brake the speed world record. I spoke with him after last years attempt and it was no walk in the park. Turbulent wind, whirlpools, a narrow and shallow canal, and a very short window of time every day. I admire that he is back this year. He has already broken the GPS record and is on top of the overall GPS-ranking. He has guts, and I do hope he manage! Go Anders go!

Mindset is everything – Weymouth 2011

Imagine that you have the best boards, sails, masts and fins. And you also have the perfect trim and you have sailed over 200 quality speedy days the last 3 years and you have beaten all the international competitors only a few weeks ago.

And now it is racing again. What could go wrong? Sure there will be some fast racing?

Well, also add to the cake, a head concussion with blood from your ear a few days before the event and 4 doctors and one Otology professor that ABSOLUTELY banned you from getting ANY water into the ear, under ANY circumstances. And 8 grams penicillin a day and a broken finger and no hearing on the left ear.

(c) David White

Even if the very kind people at Waterproof.eu had given me a premium diving hood that where 98% sealed I did not feel safe out on the water. I also added an extra lifejacket over my weight west looking like Quasimodo from Notre Dame. So if/when I fell into the water I would at least float high… Maybe it also is relevant to add that I only 2 years ago got deaf on the same ear for 10 weeks after an infection and lost the balance totally. Getting water into the ear was simply no option. With that mindset I entered the water at Weymouth Speed Week. Even if the speaker Pete Davis announced that I was one of the favourites to win the European Champion title, I knew before I started that it will not end well. The last two events have ended at the hospital and I do not want this to end that way. I will play safe.

No guts - no glory!

What happened out on the speed course? Well all runs started well, but when the going got tough, I backed off. Every time. Too choppy, or too overpowered. I simple could not hold on and let go. Therefore I was beaten. A lot. The mindset stopped me. But I managed to participate and enjoy the warm atmosphere and climate of Weymouth Speed week and I do not regret that I went. And I must congratulate David Garell, he sailed fantastically! A well deserved European Speed Champion 2011!

Swedish Championship 2011

OK, I will post some words about this event. I was one of the event workers and I was responsible for the course. I sailed well in the first heat, but in the second when the wind went up, I change to my 7.8 sail. I had not done the trimming well, too much stress with the event and with far too much depth in the sail I went away in 35 knots. Had a catapult in the choppy course and hit the head hard in the surface. I was very dizzy for a long time. A very much merry go round, or caruselle. The heat was cancelled and a lot of sailors help me to the ambulance. I was really feeling bad.  I dont think I really had a concussion, but today I at least know that the eardrum is damaged (5 doctors and one professor has looked into my head). Besides from that I feel almost 100 and some very kind people at Waterproof has helped me today finding a hood that should be 100% dry. So I am packing for UK after all...

New rubber for the winter

When it comes to wetsuits and neoprene I have one principle. No sponsors. I want to buy the best. And that is not easy. The last 3 years I have used wetsuits from Mystic, Pro Limit, NPX, Tiki, and Neil Pryde. But none is perfect.

I need wetsuits for the spring when it is cold in the water but warm in the air, the summer when it´s warmer in the water, in the autumn when its quite warm in the water but cold in the air, and in the winter, when its just very cold. After 30 years with windsurfing I have ended up with using 3 to 4 wetsuits. With about 70-90 days of windsurfing a year, they usually last for about 2 years before they are worn out.

The first problem is that the suit should keep the right temperature. For example the Mystic Cure 6/5/3, an expensive winter suit. Looked good, but was not warmer than my Neil Pryde 4/3. The Neil Pryde Elite, fits perfectly, but I can tell you that a tube of Aquaseal doesn’t last a long time. So most double lined suits are too cold, most of them are too small around the lower arms. And the single lined are always leaking after only a few weeks…

But. Last week when I went to the German Championship, I borrowed a Simmer 3/2 with long arms. I thought it would be too cold for the season. But it was so good compared to i.e. e my 4/3 TIKI, thinner and more flexible but much warmer. And a lot of place for the muscles!

I decided to try to keep it, and when I went to meet the owner Johan, who works in a surf shop Surfers.se, I ended up buying the whole range. One for every season, I thought it is best to grab the opportunity when all suits where in stock in my size.

I cannot say that Simmer has the best suits, because I have not tried more than the 3/2 for a week, but I like it a lot. The only downside, so far is that it takes a while to dry it. I will be back with more on this subject. 
1. Edit one. The 5/4/3 was warm but OK around 12-14 C in the air and water.
2. Edit two. The 5/4/3 works OK around 8-10 C in the air and water, with polypro underwear.
2. Edit three. At longer sessions (more than about 90 minutes) the 5/4/3 can be cold even with polypro. Then the TIKI-heatpads are marvelloes.