Markus Schwendtner

Title: IKA Executive Secretary for Speed - www.speedworldcup.com

Race Officer for Speed World Cup, founded www.speedworldcup.com in 2005.

 

Team NASSP had a chance to sit down with IKA Executive Secretary Markus Schwendtner and talk about speed sailing.  I met Markus last year at the 2008 PKRA Fuerte speed sailing world tour event where Markus was the race director and operating the video timing equipment.

Rob: Where are you from?

Markus: Germany, Berlin

 

R. What is your involvement with speed sailing?

M.  I started in 2004 with some other guys to bring speed windsurfing back to life, since 2005 I have been the race director for kite speed events, organizing Speed World Cup for windsurfing and kitesurfing.  I work as observer for WSSRC for some events and have developed a video timing system for speed sailing.

 

R. Previously you were a windsurfer, correct?

M. Yes, 2 years ago I switched to kiting but my kiting level is still low.

 

R. When was Speed World Cup started and why?

M. Speed World Cup was founded in 2005 when Bjorn and Finian’s record attempt sparked interest again in speed sailing.

 

R. How many speed events were on the tour in 2005?

M. 3 events, Lecaute, Fuerte and Nimibia (Walvis Bay).  Walvis was as a combined event with windsurfers and kitesurfers.  Port Saint Louis was added in 2006.

 

R. Who were the main guys in speed kiting in 2005? 

M. Olaf Marting, S. Africa, went 41.79 knots in Walvis Bay, Manu Taub was the first to break 40kts and  Speed World Cup Hall of fame kitesurfer Seb Cattelan.

 

R. How come there are no speed events in USA or N. America?

M. Kite speed started in Lecate, France…where 90% of the competitors are French.  Some events like Weymouth, England and Welvis Bay Namibia are traditions in speed sailing and have been running along time now.  We need to get something started in the USA.

 

R. Do you think it would be good to have invitational only events? 

M. It would work for a record event, limit the number of competitors.  But I suggest that all competitions outside of France should be combined with windsurfing.

 

R. What was the biggest prize purse for any kite event?

M.10,000 euros in Fuerte in 2007.

 

R. What do you think is currently the biggest threat to kitespeed records at this time?

M.  Marquis Innovation, the sailboat in Sandy Point Australia just passed 50kts but they are currently running outside and maybe above their wind envelop.  Kitesurfing speed development just started, so they can still go faster I believe….. they have a higher potential than the boats and windsurfers.  Boats only have 1 – 2 attempts per day as well when kites can make 20 runs or more per day.

 

R.  Kites were not allowed in Dungarven Ireland last year….correct?

M.  No, we wanted to test the spot.  This is one of the best spots I’ve seen.  It works in pure West, 140 degrees off the wind….as well as other directions. It has great potential for speed sailing.

 

R. Will the Irish event happen in 2009?

M.  I hope so, we are planning on it in October or November. 

 

R. What about Leucate France again?

M.  The tourism office in Lecate is not really interested in promoting that venue as particulary windy place…not too good for tourism.

 

R. What type of speed event could happen or work well in the States and where?

M.  An exhibition event with GPS could be good and introduce spectators and riders to what speed sailing is all about.  A world cup event could happen but it gets more complicated. There are options with timing…… run traditional video timing with display or to go with GPS on the riders…a problem with GPS is that there is no feed back for a display for spectators.  The GPS Championship System like we had in Fuerte in 2008 is expensive…(note:  The GPS System in Fuerte was in conjunction with video timing and allowed people all over the world to watch each riders runs live on Google Earth) Video timing must have the riders run parallel to a beach so the video equipment can be in place and capture each riders speeds.  A speed event could happen in California at the Ponds or maybe where you live? (Martha’s Vineyard USA)

 

R.  Describe the difference between kitesurfing WSSRC timing with video and the system for Trimble GPS system for boats like Hydroptere…

M.  Kites use video timing, between 2 fixed points 500m apart and the average speed is calculated afterwards.  Hydroptere, Sail Rocket and Marquis Innovation (sail boats) use an onboard Trimble GPS system, a highly accuracy survey GPS systems and they sail wherever they want, taking the fastest 500m wherever they sail over any distance traveled. 

 

R. Is there an advantage for the big boats using Trimble? 

M.  Yes, they can pick the fastest section or 500m part of their voyage.  Kites could do the same with enormous technical effort……they would need video cameras every 10meters.

 

R.  What are the costs to have an event?

M. About  3.5 thousand euros is minimal cost to make an event if GPSs are used by kitesurfers and windsurfers.  Currently an event costs 10-15,000 euros…for timing and race comte. personel.  We need to bring costs down and make it easier to make an event…this is what we have to do with kiting….this is the future.  Entry fees can then pay for a lot more and get one sponsor like Cabrinha involved.

 

R.  Well thanks for the time Markus and I look forward to more speed sailing in 2009.

M.  Your welcome…….