LÜDERITZ – Surfer Chris Benz started on a high note on Monday at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge after two national records were tumbled for the first time this season.
During the first day of the Lüderitz Speed Challenge, Danish and Swedish kite surfing records were broken, despite the light windy conditions, which blew at an average of 20 knots. While the windsurfers were waiting for stronger conditions and getting used to the channel, the Danish and Swedish kite surfers, Ole Kjaer and Roger Ornvang broke their national kite surfing records. Kjaer set a new Danish kite surfing record of 39 67 knots, while Ornvang set a new Swedish kite surfing record of 36 92 knots. More than 50 of the world’s top wind and kite surfers from 20 different countries competed at the 2013 Lüderitz Speed Challenge, which continues till November 17.
Since the first Lüderitz Speed Challenge was held in 2007, windsurfing legends like Antoine Albeau, Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Anders Bringdal have all performed impressively at the event, which has also seen numerous world and national records being broken every year. The Speed Challenge was officially opened by Minister of Environment and Tourism Uahekua Herunga last Sunday.