The 2015 Dunkerbeck GPS Speed Challenge is upon us. Now the second edition of the event there are many familiar faces from last year with plenty of new faces, especially in the kids/youth fleet.
We will focus on these younger guys during the coming week, in the meantime we caught up with 5 hot prospects for the top spot and 3 lightning fast ladies, including the multiple times World Record holder Zara Davis. Just click right for more.
Björn Dunkerbeck
Sail number: E11
Top Speed (2seconds): 53.37
Top Speed (250m): 52.43
Top Speed (500m): 51.17
Sponsors: Starboard, Severne, Red Bull, Dunkerbeck-eyewear.com, BD Surfschool, Siam Park, Camp David, Juice Plus.
Favourite speed destination: Fuerteventura is definitely one of them; we have constant trade winds, warm water and very flat seas.
Ideal speed setup: 42-44cm wide Starboard Isonic, 5.6 Severne Reflex, 18-20cm fin and 28-30cm harness lines.
Why speed: Going fast is fun and I've been doing it for more than 25 years already so it is a part of me. It is great to see speed records continuously being beaten, even to this day and it is so easy to mix young and old, pro and amateur, boys and girls, in this discipline.
Who is speed for: I think I answered it a bit in the question above but it is for everyone. Anyone who enjoys going fast can just hook in and fly down the race course.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: Of course first place would be nice but it is clear that there are some very fast Dutch guys here as well. I'm happy to be taking part in an event where the speed limit is set at 17 knots or more, so let's just see, I will take it heat by heat but for sure you can expect me to push for first place.
Jurjen van der Noord
Sail number: 55
Top Speed (2seconds): 53.47
Top Speed (250m): 52.48
Top Speed (500m): 51.29
Sponsors: Starboard, Severne, Black Project Fins, surfcentre.nl, Prolimit, Aeron, Skibs IT
Favourite speed destination: Fuerteventura
Ideal speed setup: Starboard Isonic 54, Severne Reflex 7.0, Black Project Fins S29, 32" harness lines.
Why speed: Because I have the physical build for it and I love to do everything fast, even on the road, driving fast, I'm kind of addicted.
Who is speed for: Everybody but especially for people that like to compete and expand their horizons.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: Top 3
Jim Crossley
Sail number: K33
Top Speed (2seconds): 49.58
Top Speed (250m): 46.13
Top Speed (500m): 42.4
Sponsors: Fanatic, North, Ion, Select, PuraVida Boardriders
Favourite speed destination: Here or West Kirby
Ideal speed setup: Moo Custom, North Warp 5.2, K4 Moo 20cm and 34" lines.
Why speed: I like to lock in and go fast and always try to beat myself.
Who is speed for: Anybody who is into windsurfing, it's fun to just get out there and race yourself but also to see your times and speeds against others.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: I'd like to better my place than last year. There are some really good Dutch guys here so top 5 would be nice but tough.
Alexandr Goncharov
Sail number: UKR 873
Top Speed (2seconds): 47.99
Top Speed (250m): 47.56
Top Speed (500m): 46.45
Sponsors: ...
Favourite speed destination: Luderitz and here
Ideal speed setup: Patrik Diethelm 53, Neilpryde Evo7 7.0, Z-Fins 25cm Delta model, 28cm lines.
Why speed: Because I love to go fast, it is everything that I like.
Who is speed for: Anybody who likes to windsurf :-)
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: It is a strong fleet, I was 7th last year so I would like to beat that this year, so top 5 would be nice.
Dylan De Jong
Sail number: 178
Top Speed (2seconds): 46.62
Top Speed (250m): 45.18
Top Speed (500m): 43.73
Sponsors: gps-speedsurfing.com, Neilpryde
Favourite speed destination: Around this area, Matas Blancas and Sotavento.
Ideal speed setup: Neilpryde Evo7 5.8, Starboard Isonic 44, MXR fins 22, 30" lines.
Why speed: Because it is fun and fast :-)
Who is speed for: Everybody, especially at this event, we have all ages and sizes here, so if you can go in the harness and footstraps then you can do speed windsurfing.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: 4th place
Zara Davis
Sail number: K47
Top Speed (2seconds): 46.38
Top Speed (250m): 45.63
Top Speed (500m): 44.93
Sponsors: Simmer, RRD, Sonntag, AL360, Walnuts Grove Clinic
Favourite speed destination: Namibia
Ideal speed setup: 5.5 Simmer SCR, Mistral 41, Assymetric 20cm Sonntag, 32" lines.
Why speed: Because I am genetically built for it *laughs*, no, I've always been fast and I guess you could say it is in the family. We have rally drivers and racers in the family.
Who is speed for: Everybody because it is the easiest form of any competition. We have all done it, racing our mates at home. It's why these type of events are so great, just look at the mix of people here. Anybody who can get into a harness and footstraps should, and could, give it a go.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: 1st. I want to take my 5th title, something that has never been done before.
Anne Schindler
Sail number: E179
Top Speed: 32.2
Sponsors: BD Surfschool, Dunkerbeck-eyewear.com
Favourite speed destination: Fuerteventura
Ideal speed setup: 5.6 Severne Reflex, Starboard Isonic 86, F2 28cm fin and 26" lines.
Why speed: Well I realise that I am quite fast and I am addicted to going fast, always driving fast in the car, cycling fast. I can't even go for a bike ride with my parents because I always race off ahead.
Who is speed for: Everybody, especially at an event like this where we can all mix together and there is such a great atmosphere.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: Of course I want to win *laughs*. No no, just to beat my speed from last year would be great. But I am just entering in the Amateurs so it is all just for fun.
Ilse Boonstra
Sail number: NED 303
Top Speed: 30.24
Sponsors: windsurfing4you.nl, Bosgraaf Techniek
Favourite speed destination: Makkum
Ideal speed setup: Patrik Diethelm 100l Slalom, Loft Sails 7.0, Z-Fins 30cm, 28" lines.
Why speed: I like speed, also in the car, everything with speed gives me a kick, I'm addicted to speed.
Who is speed for: Everyone who is addicted to speed like me.
Ambitions for the DSC 15 and European Speed Championships: It doesn't matter, I just want to beat my own personal record and have fun.
