The Distance

Making as many kilometers as you can in 24 hours - of course, on the windsurfing board - so called "distance" somehow made its way into speedsurfing world. I am not convinced that it belongs there, because it is sort of an endurance discipline. Ok, if you go faster, you will make more distance, but actually it is more a matter of how strong and determined you are; or, honestly, how badly you want that number on your GPS device screen, in spite of ruined hands and uttermost tiredness next couple of days.

But, however you look at it, it is here: if you are into speedsurfing, you will have to deal with the distance.

I don't like it, actually, because, from all speed disciplines it is the least fun. After couple of hours (and you have to windsurf many hours if you want to make a notable result), it gets boring. You have to occupy yourself with some other thoughts, otherwise you are in danger of literary falling asleep.

Well, this summer, in spite of what is written above, I used one nice day on Karpathos to make 200 km of distance for an Odyssey of Speed competition. For a while it was the best result. Johan Huitema from Netherlands made 216 km, a week latter (his best distance is 398 km, just to be noticed). In that moment I told Tim Otte, an organizer of Odyssey of Speed event that Vladan Desnica, from Croatia, the defender of the crown for last year competition, will surely made 300 km.

And he did (322 km). At the moment, due to other amazing results, specially 500m alpha turn, he is in a tight race for an overall win with Alexandros Petikidis from Greece.

At the same day (August 31, 2015), Urška Desnica, Vladan's spouse, made also an impressive 134 km distance - very rare for a lady windsurfer (6th all time place for ladys on GPSTC). Again, just for noticing, the best posted distance on GPS Team Challenge site is 538 km (Craig Hollins, Australia) for gentlemans, and 207 km by a unnamed lady from Belgium going with the nickname "speedfalconster").

Here is what Vladan says about that day:

"The day before we made a recovering pause from windsurfing, to gather the energy. I started at 09:20, and ride in 6 blocks for hour and a half (see GPSR picture), with 15-20 minutes rest in between. I ate some 5-6 bananas, 1 twix, 1 bounty, 1 snickers and 1/2 lit energy shake. And a lot of water. All in all, 8,5 hours pure windsurfing. I finished after the sunset, around 19:20. The secret of making distance is a good trim; everything has to be perfectly aligned, to avoid blisters on hands and unnecessary tiredness in jibes. I made some 250-300 turns without falling from the board."

New Croatian GPS Speed Record

photo by Branko Aničić

For the end of the year, congratulations to Pierre Milutin, who broke his own previous unoffical GPS speed record in Croatian waters!

Day after Christmas, on strong jugo wind (SE), in Jadrtovac (middle Dalmatia, near Šibenik) with Mistral Speed 55, Loft Blade 5,6 and Raven 28/CLweed 26, Pierre did the following:

photo by Urška Kavčič Desnica

38,536 kt average 5/10; 35,578 kt 500 met run; 42,133 2sec; 39,592 10sec; 41,128 100met; 23,511 nautical mile; 22,420 @500

Congratulations to Pierre on two Croatian records - 2 sec 5/10 average, and we expect from him even more in new year!

***

Great session on jugo (SE) wind also in the northen part of Adriatic: Vladan Desnica, Soline (Slovenian and Croatian border).

39,052 KTs max peak, 35,761 KTs average 5/10, 34,038 KTs 500 met run - not easy to acheive on chop! Congrats to Vladan!

Soulwindsurfing the 2012!

It's time for summing up the windsurfing impressions of 2012, and for reviewing some lovely numbers. (I am fond of statistics. While I’m doing it, I am somehow re-creating the experiences.)

So, during the whole year of 2012, I danced with the wind exactly 84 days!

Total distance made on board was 3232 kilometers!

I didn't freeze too much: the lowest air temperature while I was out there on the water was 10 °C (the highest 35 °C).

Board (Starboard and RRD) statistics

Surprisingly, the most days I was using speed boards and small (<90 liters) slalom: 36 times!
Individually, however, my SB iSonic 97 was under my feet 35 times last year.
Medium slalom boards (107, 113, 117) - 23 times.
And, the biggest board I own (RRD X-Fire 129) - 21 times.

Sail (Loft and Neil Pryde) statistics

7.0 sails - 37 times
8.6 sails - 24 times
6.2 sail - 20 times
7.8 sails - 12 times

Spot statistics

Karpathos, Greece - 36 times and 1647 km distance
Srima, Croatia - 16 times and 610 km distance
Košljun, Croatia - 10 times and 444 km distance
Karin, Croatia - 7 times and 210 km distance
Ždrijac, Croatia - 6 times and 98 km distance

Some results

This year I didn't increase the speed, although there was plenty of chances for that (in Greece and in Croatia, too).

I did, however, increase 1 hour (from 21,3 kt made in 2009. to 21,8 kt), @ turn up to 22,6 kt and distance on 215 km in one day.

All together, it is not impressive for some competitive level, but for me it's not a priority anyway. In spite of that I made it to the 4th place overall among Croatia GTC speed and slalom participants  (2009. - 2nd; 2010. - 2nd; 2011. - 6th).

In domestic waters (Slovenia and Croatia) according to WKC table, I am somewhere around 10th place depending on the discipline.

I also participated in two international GPS events on Karpathos (Swedish King of the Paradise - 9th place, and Odyssey of Speed - 8th place).

CRO Soulwindsurf Team

CRO Soulwindsurf Team was quite numerous this year (20 members, 3 women). That will change for 2013, because there will be some new teams in Croatia, adding to the fun. Regarding results - most members live on the continent, not on the shore, so we don't have an advantage of easy access to Adriatic. However, we are 5th in overall yearly ranking, taking 1th place (November) and 2nd place (August).

New Year resolution

Personally, I don't plan some speed records during the year, because, it seems to me that more or less it's up to conditions now. If it happens, it will happen. But, I will do my best to improve my skills, especially in turns.

I am planning to return to somewhat neglected training of cardio vascular and respiratory efficiency. I noticed that with years (50 now!), right approach to training is becoming more and more important.

And, of course, as many days with the wind and as much enjoyment as possible - that is my windsurfing New Year resolution!