English Version Follows
Vincent Valkenaers: Smart, great will, natural talent of speed!!!
Won the latest Mondail du Vent 2016 and from 2016 every month he improved his skill in Speed … year after year he wins always went faster not only on GPS 10 seconds, where was already a phenomenon, But even in the 500 meter and nautical mile.
The last Prince of Speed at The Palms, Vincent, the 21 July 2018 with an average speed of 42.23 kts has smashed the world speed Record on the nautical mile (belonged formerly to Bjorn Dunkerbeck: 41.14kts, Namibia 2006) and got second place overall in the race of 500 meters at an hairsbreadth winner Antoine Albeau.
This November to Luderitz Channel did a miracle: over 51kts over 500 meters on her first day ever in a channel …
And not yet satisfied has placed an immense 51.77 (the fastest of the day) the last good day of the event!!! Belgian records on the 500 m!!!
Principle: “as I wrote after the ITEM of July, a star is born!!!”
Principle: Hey Vince, Welcome to the Speed Knights!!!
Vincent: Thank you.
P: What were you thinking when you were going to Luderitz … What were you dreaming about … What was your greatest fear?
V: I really wanted to go to Luderitz, first of all to make the record of Belgium about 500 meters and have a good official result. My second goal was to get close to the world record on 500 m or below. My biggest fear was how to get all the money and be ready for something completely different.
P: Unreal!!! You've gone very strong on your first day ever in a channel … This is the feeling of my Knight!!!
Let us know your feelings after your first day … 2 November 2018 beyond the 51kts!
V: Accomplish this as early as the first day was really amazing and gave me a lot of confidence in the weeks to follow … but I could handle much more wind … If he did!!!
P: Then you were the fastest of the day the 18 November with 51.77 kts about 500mt!!! What equipment did you use on that occasion: fin, table, Vela, tree etc …
V: After trying in earlier days with different equipment I had a good feeling with my Neil Pryde Evo X 5.2 with tree tpx 100 and my JP custom 40 by Werner Gnigler and Zfins 19. I waited for the right gust … I went … and I gave you everything 
P: Which were the 3 the biggest thrills in your life of Speed Sailor?
V: 1) the first time I've made over 50 knots in open water.
2) Having conquered the World Record (and Belgian) on the mile (1.852 Mt) the Prince of Speed.
3) Beat the record of Belgium about 500mt in my first day ever on channel of Luderitz.
P: How was the atmosphere in Luderitz?
V: The atmosphere was really good in Luderitz. I met many new people with the same passion really great, I also learned a lot about the channel and other, everyone was pushing very strongly to go faster.
P: How fast do you think you could go to channel in a perfect day?
V: I think when we have a strong and steady wind, I think I can beat the world record, the channel is super fast and also my equipment … and I know what to do.
P: How do you train at home?
V: I try to surf as much as possible, play volleyball 3 times a week and I go mountain biking 1 or 2 times per week.
P: Where is your favorite spot speed ?
V: My favorite place is obviously at The Palms: Le Rouet! And one of the most beautiful places in the world, but I also do a lot of exits Speed in Holland.
P: Last summer you were great at the Prince of Speed. World Record on the nautical mile and second overall (very close to the Great Antoine Albeau) in the race of 500mt!!! That's why I gave the trophy ( Vincent to the POS won a Chris Benz Watch, a silver Trophy with the sceptre from Prince engraved forever speed, and a cup of the Banque Populaire …)
V: POS it was indeed a great event! And to beat the world record NM was super; and I also need some official results to get sponsors to make my dreams come true. Will be there again next year!!!
P: What is the difference between 500 meters to the channel, and the nautical mile offshore? Feeling, equipment … mental approach?
V: In the channel this is a good start, close and go and keep it until the end and hoping to get the burst right till the end … Here you also have smaller material.
The Nautical Mile, in open sea, You also have to here be lucky, but you have to keep the sail much longer: I think it's better to take an outfit a little’ larger to maintain the power and pressure on the fin. After a run on Mile leg really Burns You must navigate a lot more "loose" with the material.
P: How was the atmosphere at POS?
V: I think it was really great: everyone was there with the same passion and with the aim to go faster and faster.
P: What do you suggest to a young surfer that is beginning to be taken from the thrill of speed?
V: Train hard and surf a lot; even when you think the conditions are too hard trying to make some run and watch the rider faster than you … This is also a way to learn a lot.
P: What part do you think you could improve equipment to go faster? … Where did you hear the biggest barrier in Luderitz?
V: For me it wasn't the material to keep me as a barrier, It was more the wind was not strong enough but I think if we could do that same wind sails generate more power … at that point we could go faster in light winds.
P: I think in the future we could go to 60kts with 30-35kts tops … Now we are fighting with the elements … is more savage … even more exciting!!! If I had the opportunity to travel into the future … Would you rather browse to 60kts 30kts speed of wind with futuristic ultra-efficient equipment … or stay here and do your battle with the elements?
V: Maybe a little’ of two things, but I really need to learn a lot and also now that I know better how it works the Board and sail and what changes will make a difference I think we can develop faster equipment 
P: Dear Vincent, for several years I was sure about what you're doing now … Thank you for sharing your experience with us!!!
V: And’ been a pleasure … and thanks for getting pushed and helped where I needed it … This helped me a lot to continue.
Hang Loose, a greeting,
Vincent Valkenaers BEL-62
English Version
Vincent Valkenaers: a Star is born!
Vincent Valkenaers: Intelligent, big will, natural speed talent!!!
He won the last Mondail du Vent 2016 and since 2016 every month was improving his skill on the speed run … year after year Vince was going faster and faster not only in GPS 10 second run where he was already very fast, but in the 500 and Nautical Mile.
At Prince of Speed 2018 Vincent cracked the World Speed Record on the Nautical mile and he got second place, just close to Antoine Albeau, on the POS 500m course!
This November at Luderitz he did a Miracle: over 51kts the fisrt day ever in a Channel …
And 51.77 ( the fastest of the day) in the last good day of the Event!!! Belgium record!!!
Principle: “as I wrote after the POS, a Star is Born!!!”
P: Hey Vince, welcome to the Speed Knights!!!
V: Thank you.
P: What did you have in the mind when you were going to Luderitz … what were you dreaming … which was your bigger fear?
V: I really wanted to go to Luderitz first of all to brake the 500mt Belgium record and to have a good official result. My second goal was to come close to the world record or to break it. My biggest fear was how to get all the money and be ready for something completely different.
P: Unreal!!! You have been iper fast your 1St day ever in a Canal … that’s sensibility my Knight!!!
Let us know your feeling after your first day … over 51kts!
V: To get this result already on the first day was amazing, really crazy and gave me a lot of confidence about the next weeks. but I could handle much more wind.
P: Then you were the fastest on the 18th November with 51.77!!! What was your equipment this day: fin, board, sail, mast etc …
V: After testing the days before with different gear I had a really good feeling with my Neil Pryde Evo X 5.2 with tpx 100 mast and my JP custom 40 from Werner Gnigler and Zfins 19 and waited for the right gust and go and give it all :p
P: Which were the 3 biggest emotions on your speed Life?
V: 1st the first time i did over 50 knots on open water.
2nd to break the world record on the mile on the prince of speed.
3rd to break the Belgium record on my first day ever on the Luderitz speed challenge.
P: How was the atmosphere at Luderitz?
V: The atmosphere was really good in Luderitz. I meet a lot of new people with the same passion really great, also learned a lot on the canal and from the others, every one was pushing really hard to go faster.
P: How fast you think you can go in the Canal in a perfect day?
V: I think when we have a strong and constant wind there I think I can break the world record, the canal is super fast and the gear also and I know what to do.
P: How do you train at home?
V: I try to surf as much as possible and I also play volleyball 3 times a week and I go mountain-biking 1 or 2 times a week.
P: Where is your favorite speed spot where you train?
V: My favorite spot is of course La Palme. Le Rouet is one of the most beautiful spots in the world but I do also a lot of speed sailing in Nederland.
P: Last Summer you were great at the Prince of Speed. World Record on NM and 2ND (close the the Great Antoine Albeau) on the 500mt Course!!! That’s why I gave you the trophy
V: It was a really great event! And to break the world record NM was super; also needed some official results do get some sponsors to make my dreams come true. I will be there again next year.
P: What is the difference between sailing 500 on the Channel and NM in Open Sea? Feeling, equipment … mental approach?
V: In the canal it’s all about a good start, sheet in and go and hold till the end and hoping you have the right gust all the way down. Also smaller material.
On the NM you need to also be lucky but you need to hold it much longer. I think there it’s better to take a little bit bigger gear to hold the power and pressure on the fin, and after one NM your leg really burns ;p there you need to sail much looser with the material.
P: How was the Atmosphere at the POS?
V: I think it was really great: every one was there with the same passion and to go faster and faster.
P: What do you suggest to a young sailor who is going on the speed trill?
V: Train hard and sail a lot also when you think the conditions are too rough, try to do some runs and look at people faster than you … that’s also a way to learn a lot.
P: In your opinion which part of the equipment could have some improvement in order to go faster? Where were you feeling the biggest barrier …
V: For me it was not the material that gives me a barrier, it was more the wind that wasn’t strong enough but I think if we could make sails that hold the wind and power more then we can go faster in light winds.
P: I think in the future we could go 60kts in 30-35kts wind maximum … Now we are fighting with the element … it’s more wild … but also more exiting!!! If you have the possibility to travel in the future … would you prefer to sail at 60kts with a futuristic equipment ultra efficient … or you prefer to stay here and make your battle?
V: I think a bit of the 2 ones but I really need to learn a lot and also to know better how the board and sail work and what changes will make the difference but I think we can make faster gear ;p
P: Dear Vincent, I was sure since few years about what you are doing now … thank you to share your emotions with us!!!
V: You are welcome and thanks to push and help me where needed, that helped me a lot to keep going.
Hang loose ;p Greetings
Vincent Valkenaers BEL- 62
interview: Andrea Baldini 4 www.RIWmag.com
Photo: Courtesy Andrea Baldini , Vincent Valkenaers
All pictures from Luderitz Speed Challenge by STEFAN CSÁKY | PHOTOGRAPHY | VIDEOGRAPHY
All pictures from Prince of Speed by Forever Speed Vision
