Sébastien SALERNO speaks about the Luderitz Speed Channel
A video From Eric Bellande
Catch me if you can!
Paul Larsen and his team “Sail Rocket” have shattered the 60 knots (65.45 knots over 500m or 121 km/h) in Walvis Bay in Namibia. This is a real technological feat and the result of years of hard work. Congratulations to him and his team.
The team is currently in Walvis Bay, Namibia and the least we can say is that there is now a huge gap between the record holder and the runner up (55.65 kts held by the kiteboader Rob Douglas).
The 500m record:
1 – 2012 – Paul Larsen (sailrocket) – 65.45 kts World Record Speed Sailing
2 – 2010 – Rob DOUGLAS (kiteboarding) – 55.65 kts Kitesurf World Record
3 – 2010 – Sébastien CATTELAN (kiteboarding) – 55.49 kts
4 – Alexander Caizergues (kiteboarding) – 54.93 kts
5 – Sébastien SALERNO (kiteboarding) – 54.28 kts
6 – Sylvain Hoceini (kiteboarding) – 52.90
7 – Antoine Albeau (windsurfing) – 52.05 kts Windsurf World Record
etc …
Windsurfers break the 50 knot barrier!
THE 50 KNOT BARRIER IN WINDSURFING IS BROKEN!
After the previous days promising results, everyone felt that breaking the 50 knot barrier was a done deal.
On the 4th race day, this never-before-broken barrier was smashed! Records kept tumbling almost with every run this afternoon. Some of the speeds still need to be confirmed by the Time Keeper.
First, the Swedish Record Holder Anders Bringdal broke the 50 knot barrier twice, with 50.41 and then 50.46 knots improving the world Record on Production Board as well!
After that Antoine Albeau surpassed Anders’ performance with 50.62 knots recovering his position of World Record holder in Windsurfing, which was also shortly held by Cédric Bordes in the afternoon with 49.66 knots.
Zara Davis has also improved her World Record in Windsurfing with 44.92 knots and also Lena improved her Turkish Record with 43.81.
The record on Tandem has been also broken (1 board / 2 sails / 2 riders) with 38.12 knots!
And lots of other National Records were smashed!
Mark Grinnell from South Africa and Matthias Röttcher from Namibia were successively improving their national records which they had already broken earlier during the day.
Mark: 46.49 kts and Matthias: 46.69 kts.
Jurjen Van Der Noord, the Dutch competitor who has just made his first runs today broke the Dutch Record with 47.53 kts.
Patrick Diethelm has improved his Swiss Record and is the 3rd time in the Windsurfing world as well with 49.71 knot!
Nick Vardalachos from Greece and the British Farrell O’Shea improved their record.
Nick: 48.84 kts and Farrell: 48.21 kts.
Christian Benzing who was battling with his German fellow countrymen, broke the German Record in Windsurfing with 45.57 knots.
This incredible day has now gone into the windsurfing history books.The world’s windsurfing community was waiting for a “come back” in Speed Sailing. The goal of the 2012 “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” was to work on that point and offer the best conditions to finally break this mythical barrier. We can expect even better results during the coming days.
Windsurfing World Record Attempt: More Records!
Windsurfing World Record Attempt: Day 3
Even though the forecast has announced only moderate wind, riders were really motivated to hit the gust again today!
The atmosphere was unusually peaceful – this group of competitors is really enjoying the conditions and the event, without hesitating to put their hands into the sand to help achieve the common objective: break records.
The current speed windsurfing Namibian record holder Matthias Röttcher watched the event in the media and decided to take his 4×4 across the desert to join us early this morning and take the chance to claim a new record! After testing the channel he improved his existing record of 41.44 kts to 42.32 kts.
Windsurfers from all over the world are following the event and are starting to realize that the Luderitz Speed Challenge is one of the biggest opportunities for them to be in the speed sailing limelight together with boats & kitesurfers.
The international support to riders and organisers is unbelievable. Encouragement from all corners of the world is streaming in.
On day 3, Zara was again the 1st to jump into the water, and it is paying off: thanks to her we open the race every day by celebrating a new record, and thereafter it does not stop!
Antoine Albeau was leading the day with 48.57 kts but Anders Bringdal went further with 48.60 kts, improving the World Windsurfing Record on production board, and claiming the new Swedish Record.
Dieter Gerichhausen again beat the German record in Windsurfing with 44.01 kts, but – like yesterday – was followed by Christian Bornemann who was faster still, ending with a new German record with 44.41 kts.
Their German team mate Christian Benzing went faster in less wind today and come closer with 42.81kts!
Patrick Diethelm went faster in less wind with 46.55kts, improving his Swiss Record from yesterday.
Lena improved her Turkish record with 42.6 kts.
Cédric Bordes managed to reach the 3rd best speed of the day with 47.83 kts.
Windsurfing World Record Attempt 2012: World Records broken !!
During the 2012 “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” 16 different nationalities will come together over 6 weeks.
This week France, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Turkey and Sweden have sent their representatives.
The first 2 days of this Windsurfing World Record Attempt have already created a communication buzz all over the world!
Antoine Albeau, who is currently – and has been for 20 times in the past – the World Champion in Slalom held the previous World Windsurfing Record of 49.09 kts (2008), has just broken it again today with 49.41 kts!
The fact that this close-to-50-knots record was set in only 38 knots of wind, makes us all see the possibilities of the next days with more serious wind conditions!
The Swedish legend Anders Bringdal, who lead the 1st day, broke the World Record in Windsurfing on Production board twice on day two – and he improved his national Record to 48.38 knots!
The Female World Record in Windsurfing was broken twice by Zara Davis who obviously enjoys the news concept and the new “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” channel! With 44.19 knots she is also the fastest Female British sailor.
Lena Aylin Erdil has also learnt how to go fast in a few runs, breaking the Female Turkish Record several times during the past two days, reaching 41.53 knots.
Farrel O’Shea has expertly defended his colours by beating the UK Record twice, ending with 46.15 knots!
Patrick Diethelm who holds the Italian Record is a double Record Holder. Sailing under the flag of Switzerland this year, he broke the Swiss Record with 46.29 knots.
The French rider Cédric Bordes managed to sail the exact time of the previous Windsurfing Record showing 49.09 knots!
The German competitors are on track and produced excellent times, alternating the record position among them. Christian Bornemann broke the German record in windsurfing twice during the past two days, and he currently holds it at 43.93 knots while Dieter Gerichhausen reached 42.92 knots, holding this record for a time during the day. Christian Benzing from “Chris Benz watches” reached a personal best with 40.33 knots, not far behind his fellow countrymen.
The legendary Luderitz Speed channel
The new Luderitz Channel where the 2012 speed tentative will happen!
In 2010 the Luderitz Speed channel was dug adjacent to the water line, to the right of an area covered with vegetation. In 2012, it was moved inland and dug directly into the sandy soil so as to maximise the speed approach at the start. New speed records will surely fall.
Good luck to all competitors.
LUDERITZ 2012
The “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” 2012 is officially opened.
The ceremony gathered the members of the Town Council, the sponsors, the local committee, the inhabitants of Lüderitz, and the riders.
In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, windsurfers attended the very first briefing.
On Monday, the Windsurfers went through their mental and physical preparation to become familiar with the canal !
With the arrival of Antoine Albeau, Alberto Possati and Cédric Bordes, the team is being assembled for the first week of the “Lüderitz Speed Challenge” 2012.
Full of Energy, The Windsurfing team is headed up by Anders BRINGDAL, who is spokesman for the group, which is promising. There is a feeling of “Unity and strength”…
Here is a list of riders:
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The fastest event – the fastest spot – the fastest riders
The Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2012
Since 2007, records were smashed successively, performances have increased, the « Lüderitz Speed Challenge », World record Attempt in Speed Sailing has become a major event with a media impact which has developed the “speed” discipline and has well participated to the kitesurfing industry evolution. Nevertheless, its organizors, Sébastien Cattelan and Sophie Routaboul have seen there the opportunity for the windsurfers to come back in front of the stage and find a location with the best conditions to express themselves. So, from 2009, after several tests, the report sets: the potential is there, let’s build a CANAL…
2010 EDITION set a new record and all the nations know that Lüderitz is the fastest spot in the World!.
THANKS TO THE NEW CANAL BUILT IN THE BAY, THE ULTIMATE RECORD IS SMASHED: 55.65 Knots.
Only two years after the 50 knots barrier was broken, the 55 Knots (103 km/h) barrier was smashed: 100km/h (54.10 knots) and “The Lüderitz Speed Challenge” have managed to get back the title from the multi-million boat “L’Hydroptère” (51.36 knots). Only 2 competitors in the world have reached the 55 knots so far:
Sébastien Cattelan (55.49 kts-European Record) and Rob Douglas (55.65 kts-Ultimate World Record)
2011 WAS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW AREA from an historical project:
Although the 2010 canal made the world of a difference, the conditions still need improvement for faster records to be set, especially to represent the windsurfing community which is huge in the World. Thus Sébastien Cattelan, Sophie Routaboul and his team have invested a lot of money and time to research the possibilities of widening and lengthening the canal, and creating even smoother water surfaces for faster speeds, deeper water but also improving the safety of the finish area.
After 1 year battling to set up the project and get the authorizations, they manage to dig that canal with the support of the Namibian Ministry of Environment & Tourism,according to what they have learnt from performances, tests and experiences they made during their career.
The legend Anders Bringdal took part of this new edition as a windsurfing consultant to be able to invite all the top sailors in the world.
SUCCESS: never before a windsurfer have reached a top speed of 50,7 knots (94 km/h).
0n 10 competitors of this testing-team, 5 records were broken.
The test of this Team is a revelation: this new canal which was improved step by step until the end of the 2011 event is THE solution and will be the playground of many competitors next year as they all have realized its potential.
LUDERITZ SPEED CHALLENGE 2012 PROJECT: Old records are no news, however… Chase the unimaginable 60 knots barrier now: The Lüderitz Speed Challenge has this as its main goal and sole focus.
No other event or place in the world would be more suitable to attempt this crazy record. Organizers have worked really hard to create the right environment conducive to making it happen. It’s the combination of all their experience from previous years and of course the location which gives them the criteria they need (strong and stable wind, good angle…) which will operate.
All the arrangements have been made to manage to create a canal with all the skills that windsurfers need to join kitesurfers (record: 55,65 knots) and boats (record: 51,36 knots) in that real challenge. After obtaining the authorizations, an artificial canal was dug 300m from the bay: 1 month of hard tests and researches, making improvements, were realized during the 2011 edition to be able to present the big 2012 Challenge which will be even more watched and followed in all over the world, where the best top sailors will battle for the World title or their nation.
The list of the selected competitors will be communicated in the beginning of July for an Attempt which will happen from the 5 November to 2 December for windsurfers (registrations number being more important) and from 3 to 16 December for kitesurfers, to avoid the comparison between 2 different crafts.
Luderitz Speed Challenge 2011 from ByAdrienFreville on Vimeo.
Source:www.luderitz-speed.com
Orange Speed Crossing 4th Heat
Four innings were validated on the Orange Speed Crossing and Rob Douglas remains untouchable. Yet, behind him, windsurfers multiply the runs but that’s not good enough. The American is still the fastest. The day had started well for windsurfers.
From the start, the wind angle is most favorable to the windsurfers and they score the first 6 spots. After an hour into the heat, Antoine Albeau displays a nice 33.5 knots on the clock. Rob Douglas with 29 knots is the first kiter to cross the finish line.
Rob and Antoine (Photo credit Mondial du vent)
The kiters were able to make a come back as the wind turned and got stronger for about 20 min.
Sylvain Hoceini links run after run smoothly close behind Antoine. Rob Douglas finally cuts short any suspense by burying the competition with a remarkable time of 39.5 knots.
Kiters finish well in front of windsurfers:
1 Rob Douglas
2 Sylvain Hoceini
3 Jaime Douglas
4 Antoine Albeau (1er windsurf)
OSC overall results after 4 innings (57 participants):
1 Rob Douglas
2 Anders Bringdal
3 Antoine Albeau
5 Jaime Douglas
9 Morgan Douglas
10 Christophe Pringuenon
16 Sylvain Hoceini
17 Philippe Planas
20 Alex Caizergues
24 Benjamin Petit
25 Geoffrey Mascarel
26 Jean Yves Terrien
28 Bruno Dandine
29 Jochen Bock
30 Wolfran Reiners
31 Manu Taub
34 Chris Harduin
35 Jean Charles Paupardin
36 Jernej Privsek
37 Florent Gautier
38 Renaud Romain
40 Maxime Richard
41 Emmanuel Mogicato
42 Bill Lynch
44 Anthony Chaffron
45 Julien Taub
46 Sebastien Cattelan
47 Brock Collen
48 Sylvain Moret
Orange Speed Crossing Pro: Interim Results
Here are the interim results after the first 3 races of the OSC.
Overall standings after 3 races – Men
Overall standings after 3 races – women
Vas y Sophie!!! **** the team is cheering you on ****
Could Seb be back in the race?
On Tuesday, the organizer of the Mondial decided to make use of the light 20.25 knots of south east wind and put on the “Funny Race”. The Long Distance Race is an 8 km and back to the start. From the start, the windsurfers took the lead with Antoine Albeau and Cédric Bordes. The strong south east choppy conditions are not favorable to kite surfers.
Antoine Albeau crosses the finish line first leaving a gap between him, Ross Williams and Cédric Bordes
SEB CATTELAN with the Genetrix Origin and Xelerator board (photo Tisag)
Sébastien Cattelan takes the lead and is the first kitesurfer to cross the finish line in front of Rob Douglass and Sylvain Hoceini. He was riding a 12m Genetrix and the Xelerator 198×40 board.
Until now, Seb had not been able to compete due to his missing boards. We are glad to see him back in despite an injury to his ankle.
You can find out more re the board he is using here: http://www.xeleratorkiteboarding.com/
The strong Tramontane is announced again for tomorrow with a skipper’s meet at 8:00 am.
Alex Caizergues et Geoffrey Mascarel are out!
During the second heat, two of the top kite surfers got injured. Alex Caizergues injured his right knee and Geoffrey Mascarel his wrist! Rob Douglas is the only kitesurfer left facing the top windsurfers.
For now, no news re Seb Cattelan …
Orange Speed Crossing 3rd Heat
Today, the best times had been recorded in the early part of the day due to a declining Tramontane as the day wore on. 4 windsurfers finished in the top five but Rob took the lead again with the fastest time over 42 knots. In the absence of Alex Caizergues it was Geoffrey Mascarell who was the second kiter to finish.
Orange Speed Crossing 2nd Heat
Rob Douglas (42.5) winner of the second heat of the Orange Speed Crossing in front of Antoine Albeau (41.5)
We are sorry to hear that Sebastian Cattelan wasn’t able to take part in the last 2 races. “My racing gear is somewhere on an airport carousel between Maui airport and South Africa. I was able to borrow some equipment left and right, but it is not easy without my personal settings. Plus I’m cold, so for now I stay on the beach (smile).”
Alex Caizergues also had no chance today. He fell hard in the second inning and had to be evacuated by firefighters, having apparently suffered a knee sprain. He was in fourth place in this heat! This might compromise his season.
Charlotte Consorti consistently finished in the first half every time at the scratch, leaving behind about thirty men!
Anders Bringdal, who won the first round is 7th in this second round and falls back overall.
Heat 2 results:
1 Rob Douglas Kite
2 Antoine Albeau Wind
3 Cedric Bordes Wind
4 Alex Caizergues Kite
5 Geoffrey Kite Mascarell
Le mondial du vent 2012
Leucate, France will host the Mondial du Vent from April 7th to 15th 2012. The worldwide event was created in 1996. 16 years later, Leucate is still the first kitesurf and windsurf meeting in France and one of the most important international events in these disciplines.
see more here: http://www.mondial-du-vent.com/home.php
ORANGE SPEED CROSSING Pro: 7 to 12 April
For the fourth consecutive year, the Mondial du Vent et Orange have organized the Orange Speed Crossing in Leucate from 7 to 15 April for the 16th edition of the Mondial du Vent. A unique opportunity to watch the world’s best athletes of kiteboarding and windsurfing go head to head on speed runs.
A total of 30 professional athletes including kitesurfer Rob Douglas (world speed record holder), Alexandre Caizergues (3 times world speed holder), Sebastien Cattelan (50 and 55 knot recordbreaker) and windsurfers Antoine Albeau (speed and slalom windsurfer world champion) and Anders Bringdal, will participate in this unique event. Charlotte Consorti and Sophie Routaboul will also compete to see who is the fastest woman on the water.
In 2011, kitesurfers proved to be fastest. Will the windsurfers take the speed record back this year?
As of now, here is the list of the riders in the Orange Speed Crossing.
10 riders will compete using Genetrix kites
| Kitesurf | Windsurf |
|---|---|
1- Anthony CHAFFRON  2- Wolfram REINERS  3- Alex CAIZERGUES 4- Rob DOUGLAS  5- Geoffrey MASCAREL 6- Jamie DOUGLAS 7- Morgan DOUGLAS 8- Manu TAUB 9- Damien LEROY 10- Brock CALLEN 11- Sébastien CATTELAN 12- Chris HARDUIN 13- Christophe PRIN-GUENON 14- Jean-Charles PAUPARDIN 15- Maxime RICHARD 16- Bill LYNCH 17- Sylvain HOCEINI 18- Florent GAUTIER 19- Romain RENAUD 20- Emmanuel MOGICATO 21- Sylvain MORET 22- Charlotte CONSORTI 23- Sophie ROUTABOUL 24- Julien TAUB 25- Jean-Yves TERRIEN 26- Bruno DANDINE 27- Jernej PRIVSEK  |
1- Thomas GAUDIOT 2- Nick VARDALACHOS  3- Gauthier BOURGEOIS 4- Antoine ALBEAU 5- Cyril MOUSSILMANI 6- Benoit MOUSSILMANI 7- Sylvain MOUSSILMANI 8- Anders BRINGDAL  9- Olivier BERNARD 10- Cédric BORDES 11- Andrea BALDINI  12- Christophe RICHAUD 13- Xavier JOLY 14- Pascal BOULANGER 15- Cyril MICHEL 16- Christophe FIORENTINI 17- Gilles PAREDES 18- Valérie GHIBAUDO 19- Karin YAGGI  20- Romain DONADA 21- Alain MONTAUZOU 22- Damien NICO 23- Jacques VAN DER HOUT  |
2012 Genetrix Origin V2 Kiteboarding Kite Review
The Kiteboarder’s video review of the 2012 Genetrix Origin V2 kite. For the complete review (including comments directly from our testers) on this and 52 more 2012 kiteboarding kites and boards, download the TKB 2012 Freeride Gear Review in the TKB Store.
Happy New Year 2012
Happy New Year from Team Genetrix.
Construction of the canal and speed run video. Luderitz 2011.
Here is a video of the construction of the new canal and of some the top speed tests recorded last month in Lüderitz to polish the speed run for the Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2012.
Source : Lüderitz Speed Challenge/Adrien Freville
Taro Niehaus’ 51.64 knot speed run video
Taro Niehaus breaking the African Speed Record on November 10 2011
Sebastien Cattelan improved to 52.6
Stefan Metzger set a new Namibian record of 51.36 knots which equals Hydroptere’s record, Anthony Chaffron improved to 42.92 despite being injured, and Humberto Torrinha improved the Angola record to 41.21.
Anders Bringdal had yet another 50 peak (50.1) and improved his Swedish record to 47.44 knots. This should land him first place on the windsurfing GPS rankings.
Congratulations Lüderitz Speed Challenge 2011
13 November 2011:
Mother nature had the final say today, and it only blew 30 knots with occasional gusts. Seb clocked the best speed of the day with 51.36 knots. He was the only contender over 50 knots.
Congratulations to Anders Bringdal (50.72 Vmax) and Taro Niehaus (51.64 knots) for their performance record, and to Seb, Sophie and the rest of the team and sponsors for making this event possible.
Sébastien is confident he can reach 60 knots in kitesurfing, and is making it his goal. Windsurfing speeds currently trail that of kitesurfing, but Sebastian has made it his first priority to create optimal conditions in the canal for the windsurfers to push the limits.
Positive energy is needed to manage this adventure, and an interesting challenge lies ahead for us to discover how best to achieve this. We need to share ideas and opinions with people who have different experience with the sea so we can collaboratively create the ideal run.
The new canal has proved to be more beneficial for windsurfers than for kitesurfers thus far, but some options still remain to improve this for both disciplines.
Although the organizers treated this year as a test for the new canal (which was dug just before the start), the results look very promising and windsurfing legend, Anders Bringdal, managed to reach truly impressive speeds on his first day. He had a 50.72 Vmax, which is a first in windsurfing history.
Kite surfing records and performances will follow – step by step the dream of this Team has been realized over the past 5 years, and the much improved run in the ideal location will usher in a new era in speed sailing and become the perfect platform for international and outright records.
Sponsors who choose to be part of this will play a pivotal role in shaping sailing history.
Source:
http://www.speedkiting.org
http://www.luderitz-speed.com
Taro Niehaus – 51.64 knots – New South African record
Taro Niehaus of team Genetrix has set a new South African record of 51.64 knots, and Seb had 51.2. I’m not sure what Anders’s 500m average was, but he had another 50+ peak today (50.3 kts).
This is a phenomenal effort and well deserved; Taro didn’t hold back, which takes a lot of guts and confidence in your equipment and ability. It was not easy going out there, and despite this he came out unscathed and clocked the best speed so far.
Well done Lighty, I salute your achievement !!!
Strong wind is forecast until Sunday, so I’m sure the speeds will climb further.
Seb took a break over the past week and I have not doubt that he will dial it in before Sunday, which is forecast to be the strongest day.
Source: Basil Cambanis
http://www.speedkiting.org
Rob Douglas – Winner of the 2011 North American Speed Sailing 2011
The French team
From left to right: Sylvain HOCEINI, Jérôme BILA, Alex CAIZERGUES, Chalotte CONSORTI, Patrice MENOSSI and Seb SALERNO. Christophe PRIN-GUENON is not on the shot. (He had to leave the competition early due to injury)
The USA team
From left to right: Morgan DOUGLAS, Jamie DOUGLAS, Rob DOUGLAS, Micheal GEBHARDT (olympic coach ) and Bill LYNCH.
France Team wins the “Lynch-Cup” with a total of 109 points set by Alexandre CAIZERGUE, Sylvain HOCEINI and Seb SALERNO
USA Team wins the speed competition with 136 points. Rob DOUGLAS takes the price for Best Average Speed.
The 2011 North American Speed Sailing Invitational comes to a close with 12 races completed. Racing occurred on almost everyday of the event and this was the first ever speed event to have port tack races.
The 2011 NASSI was the second event ever to have speeds greater than 50 Knots. It also featured the biggest prize purse in kite Sailing ($27,000) and the first National team trophy, the “Lynch Cup.”
As the best speed sailors in the world battled storm force conditions they well exceeded there expectations with speeds over 50 knots. Two riders Alex Caizergues and Rob Douglas hitt V max speeds greater then 55 Knots in Martha’s Vineyard.
Final results of the 2011 North American Speed Sailing Invitational:
|
Position |
Rider |
Best Speed |
|
1 |
Rob Douglas |
50.994 |
|
2 |
Alex Caizergues |
48.873 |
|
3 |
Jamie Douglas |
47.365 |
|
4 |
Sylvain Hoceini |
44.769 |
|
5 |
Seb Salemo |
45.904 |
|
6 |
Patrice Menossi |
44.370 |
|
7 |
Christophe Prin-Guenon |
44.339 |
|
8 |
Jerome Bila |
41.193 |
|
9 |
Morgan Douglas |
44.783 |
|
10 |
Charlotte Consorti |
39.908 |
|
11 |
Bill Lynch |
39.981 |
Source:
http://www.sebsalerno.com
http://www.thekiteboarder.com
