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English version follows

In the channel of the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia, the 25 November 2022 Heidi Ulrich (Patrik Boards, Patrik Sails) set a new world speed record in women's windsurfing by completing a run of 500 meters 47,16 nodes (47.2 nodes on GPS and 49.94 speed knots’ maxim) and beating Zara Davis' previous record in 2017 a 46,49 nodes.
RIWmag reached her to get to know her better and learn more about her challenge.

RIWmag: Hello Heidi, First of all, congratulations for this record! After a few weeks from that day you managed to metabolize all the emotions of this result?
Heidi Ulrich: Thank you very much. To be honest it's still super exciting and I still can't realize it. I still get tears of joy when I see photos and videos of the day of the record. It was all really extraordinarily special. After failing to 0,3 knots for the world record and 0,14 knots for Karin Jaggi's Swiss record in 2019, then in 2019 I came home empty-handed, without any records … So I made my workout more intense than the 100%, physically, mentally and with the technique of windsurfing. I gave everything. Three full years of training, every free minute. But the most important thing was always to have fun.. When I realized I had set the world record I collapsed … I was so damn happy.

RIW: Let's start from your origins on sailboard. How long have you been windsurfing and why did you choose the speed specialty??
H.U.: I started windsurfing in 2009. In that year I also did my first DefiWind without strap, but I finished all the races on a freeride Patrik from 125 liters and a sail 3.7 with 30-40 nodes.
Stupid, I know That year I went to Luderitz with Patrik and Remo Diethelm. The boys competed in the speed canal and I learned to windsurf with straps and trapeze in the bay. Every hour I went to the canal from the bay to watch the guys on the canal and it was so crazy. And then I told them … I want to do it too. I said it and I did it. In 2015 we got back together with Karin jaggi. They helped me get on the speed board in the bay. I could always get up with my left foot in front, then Karin brought me the slalom board and I came back with the speed board. After a while’ by practice I was allowed to go on the canal. Well, I had to wait for the competitors to finish, then Patrik, Karin and Remo practiced with me until it got dark. I did 36 average knots on 500m and 39 nodes such as speed’ maxim. So I became permanently addicted to it..

RIW: Dresses in Switzerland. What is your home spot and where you train for speed?
H.U.: We live in Switzerland with the windiest lake right in front of our house. Lake Uri. Most windsurfers know this enchanting lake because of the famous Föhn storm. This year we sailed for about 180 days only on our lake (without foil), so just awesome. But this lake is too rough for a speedboard. To practice on the small table we always go to the south of France, at The Palms. They are about 9 hours of drive for us, so not very far and is definitely one of the best speed spots on Earth.

RIW: Windsurfing is a sport whose attendance is predominantly male. Probably in speed this predominance is even more accentuated. What do you think?
H.U.: I think now with IQFoil we have a lot of girls windsurfing, So I wouldn't say windsurfing in general is dominated by men.. But speed is definitely still a male domain. There are certainly many reasons. It takes a lot of courage and it's a risky sport. In addition, many girls respect speed. But honestly, Between you and me, Speed doesn't feel crazy or uncontrollable on the channel. Well, if the angle is wrong, then it becomes crazy stuff. But I have much more respect for the jumps from the waves during the Föhn storm in 40 knots on our lake that for the descent along the canal. In addition, Size and weight are also definitely an important point. The perfect physique for speed is high 2 meters and weighs 100 kg, I instead weigh 70kg and I'm 172cm tall. I have to be perfectly fit to carry a weight vest of 10-20 kg and my technique must be impeccable. This certainly scares many …

RIW: For the speed performance of male competitors the morphology counts a lot (Height and weight). How do girls and women compensate for these morphological aspects?
H.U.: Definitely a human being of 2 meters and 100 kg has the perfect lever for speed. But also for me with 172cm and 70kg it worked. Smaller and lighter you are, more technical you need. It's a matter of technique, of courage and commitment.

RIW: What weather conditions occurred during this Luderitz Speed Challenge 2022?
H.U.: To be honest it was crazy. The first three weeks we had almost no wind. We did a lot of SUP and on some days the wind was good to do some quick runs to Diaz Point in the open sea. But I wanted to go every day on the canal, even in light ones (30 nodes) to get used to the channel, to get used to it on arrival, and be prepared for strong days. But to be honest it was boring with no wind and it was mentally very difficult. In total I have been 7 days on the channel and I did more than 120 Racing. The record race was race number 102.

RIW: How did that start 25 November? Did you imagine that you would be able to set a new record?
H.U.: The race to the record was an absolutely insignificant race. Run number 4 of this penultimate day of the event. As usual I was the first person in neoprene and ready for the channel. I did the first run. 41 average nodes. It was very traverse and easy. Christian, my friend put 4 kg of extra lead in the ballast jacket and I did the second run. 42 average nodes. Yet 2 extra pounds of lead and the third run was 43 nodes. Then I wanted to take a short break and Christian said: Heidi go again. The wind is cooling and now it is turning more äl loose.” Put other 3 kg of lead (in total 16 kg). I jumped on the board, I had almost no wind at the start, I accelerated very well around the corner and I felt that the wind was no longer crosswise but lazy. Although the water was already very choppy, I tried to pull out my upper body and let go without hesitation.. It went well and I only had a small wind hole. It didn't seem quick but easy. At the finish line I did my 360, I braked and looked at my GPS. Then I collapsed with happiness when I saw the 46,9 nodes. Oh. I couldn't believe it. I was brought back and everyone was waiting for me and applauding.. An indescribable feeling when I was allowed to stand in Christian's arms. We did it. I did an interview with Ben Profitt and did another run. The same feeling, only much more chop … I gave it my all as always. And watch … 47,2 Knots on GPS. The feeling was overwhelming.

RIW: What did you feel immediately after becoming aware of the measurement of your speed?
H.U.: I just collapsed because all this pressure was feeling over my shoulders and I just wanted to go back to the beginning.

RIW: What changes for you after this result and what are your next goals?
H.U.: The need for speed is still here. And we have already discussed with Patrik and Karin what we can do to go faster., So I know this wasn't my limit yet.. Can I go faster. My goals in the 2023: The World Speed Championship and the World Record Attempt on the Mile. I'd like to improve a bit’ My world record on the mile. We'll see if it works. But Luderitz not next year, perhaps in the 2024.

RIW: Your record is already official or for when it is expected to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)?
H.U.: Normally it takes about 3-6 months before the WSSRC ratifies it. But 47.06 should be fine for the 99%

 

 

English version

In the channel of the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia, on the 25th November 2022 Heidi Ulrich (Patrik Boards, Patrik Sails) set a new female windsurf world speed record by completing a 500m run at 47.16 knots (47.2 knots on the GPS and 49.94 knots as vmax) and beating the previous record of Zara Davis in 2017 at 46.49 knots.
RIWmag reached her to get to know her better and learn more about her challenge.

RIWmag: Hello Heidi, first of all congratulations for this record! After a few weeks from that day, were you able to metabolize all the emotions of this result?
Heidi Ulrich: Thank you so much. To be honest it is still super emotional, and I can still not realize it. I still get tears of joy when I see pictures and videos of the record day. It was all really extraordinarily special. After failing by 0.3 knots for the world record and by 0.14 knots for the Swiss record of Karin Jaggi in 2019, then in 2019 I went home empty, without any record … so I made my training 100% more intensive, physically, mentally and as well the windsurfing technique. I went all in. Three years of full of training, every free minute. But the most important was always to have fun. When i realized I did the world record I collapsed … i was so damn happy.
the best wind days were also the last days of the event and afterwords we had to left immediately and now we have been working without a break… we didn’t have or i didn’t have a lot of time to process this. but the vacations are coming now and i’m really looking forward to it.

RIW: Let’s start from your origins on the sailboard. How long have you been windsurfing and why did you choose the speed specialty?
H.U.: I started windsurfing in 2009. In this year I also did my first DefiWind without straps, but I finised all the races on a 125 liters Patrik freeride and a 3.7 sail in 30-40 knots.
Stupid, I know On this year I went to Luderitz with Patrik and Remo Diethelm. The boys were competing in the speed canal and I learned how to windsurf with straps and harness in the bay. Every hour I went up to the canal from the bay to watch the boyS on the canal and it was soo crazy. And then I said to them … I wanna do this also. I say it and I did it. In 2015 we came back together with Karin jaggi. They helped me to go up on the speed board in the bay. I was always able to get up with the left feet in front, then Karin brought me the slalom board and I sailed the speed board back. After some practice I was allowed to go on the canal. Well, I had to wait until the competitors finished, then Patrik, Karin and Remo practiced with me until it gets dark. I did 36 knots average on 500m and 39 as vmax. So I was definitive addicted.

RIW: You live in Switzerland. What is your home spot and where do you train for speed?
H.U.: We live in Switzerland with the most windiest lake just in front of our house. The lake Uri. The most of the windsurfers know this lovely lake because of the famous Föhn-Storm. This year we sailed around 180 days just on our lake (without foil), so just amazing.
But this lake is too choppy for a speedboard. For practice on the small board we always go to south of France, to La Palme. It’s around 9h drive for us, so not that long and it is for sure one of the best speed spot on earth.

RIW: Windsurfing is a sport whose attendance is predominantly male. Probably in speed this predominance is even more accentuated. What do you think about it?
H.U.: I think now with IQFoil we have a lot of girls who windsurf, so I wouldn’t say that windsurfing in general is male dominated.
But speed is definitely still a male domain. There are certainly many reasons. You need a lot of courage and it is a risky sport. In addition, many girls have respect of the speed. But honestly, between you and me, the speed doesn’t feel crazy or uncontrollable on the canal.
Well if the angle is wrong than it’s getting crazy.
But I have a lot more respect for flying over the wave water in the Föhn storm at 40 knots on our lake than for going down the channel.
Further, the size and weight is certainly also a point. The perfect speed body is a 2 meter body and 100kg, and there I am with 70kg and 172cm far away. I must be totally fit for carring a weight vest of 10-20 kg and my technique must be flawless. That certainly scares off many …

RIW: For the speed performance of male competitors the morphology (height and weight) counts a lot. How do girls and women compensate for these morphological aspects?
H.U.: For sure a 2m and 100kg human has the perfect leverage for speed. But also for me with 172cm an 70kg it worked. The smaller and lighter the more technich you need. It’s the technich, the brave and the commitment.

RIW: What weather conditions occurred during this Luderitz Speed Challenge 2022?
H.U.: To be honest it was crazy. The first three weeks we had almost no wind. We went paddling a lot and on some day’s the wind was nice to do some speed runs at the open water Diaz Point. But I wanted to go every single day on the canal, also on the light (30 knots) ones to get used on the canal, to get used on the finish line, and to be prepared for the strong days. But to be honest it was boring without wind and it was mentally super hard. In total I was 7 days on the canal and I did more than 120 runs. The record run was run number 102.

RIW: How did that November 25 start? Did you imagine that you would be able to set a new record?
H.U.: The record run was a totally unremarkable run. Run number 4 of this second last event day. As usual I was the first person in the neoprene and ready for the channel. I did the first run. 41 knots average. It was super square and easy. Christian, my friend put 4 kg more lead in the weight vest and I did the second run. 42 knots averrage. Again 2 kilos more lead and the third run was 43 knots. Then I wanted to take a short break and Christian said: Heidi go again. The wind is freshening up and it is now turning more downwind. He put another 3 kg of lead in (total 16 kg). I jumped on the board, had almost no wind in the start box, accelerated very well around the corner and felt that the wind was no longer square but downwind. Although the water was already very choppy I tried to bring my upper body out and just let myself go without oversheets. It went well and I only had a small wind hole. It didn’t feel fast but easy. On the finish line i did my 360, braked and looked at my gps. Then i collapsed with happiness when i saw the 46.9 knots. Wow. I couldn’t believe it. I was shuttled back and everyone was waiting for me and cheering. An indescribable feeling when I was then allowed to be in Christian’s arms. We didi it. I did an interview with Ben Profitt and did another run. The same feeling, just much more chop … I gave my best as always. and look … 47.2 knots on the gps. The feeling was overwhelming.

RIW: What did you feel immediately after becoming aware of the measurement of your speed?
H.U.: I just collapsed because all this pressure felt from my shoulders and I just wanted to go back to the start

RIW: What changes for you after this result and what are your next goals?
H.U.: The need for speed is still here. And we already discussed with Patrik and Karin what we can do to go faster, then I know this was still not my limit. I can go faster. My goals in 2023: the speed world championship and the world record attempt over a mile. I’d like to improve my world record over a mile a little bit. We will see if it works. But Luderitz not next year, maybe in 2024.

RIW: Is your record already official or when is it expected to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)?
H.U.: Normally it takes around 3-6 month until WSSRC ratified it. But 47.06 should bi fine for 99%

 

interview: www.RIWmag.com
photo by Jaco Wolmarans and provided by Heidi Ulrich