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barney831 said..sailquik said..KA360 said..From World of Windsurf
"New SPEED WORLD RECORD in windsurfing on ice is reached few days ago - impressive 58.98 knots (2 sec). Check out his video from the record session.
rider: Henrik M?rd S414."
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While this
MAY be the fastest speed reached on a ice windsurfer sled, it is definitely NOT the World Record. The World Record conditions were not met in a number of ways and it can not be validated and ratified. The current Official world record is held by Jeffery Brown of the USA.
www.gps-icesailing.com/default.aspx?mnu=recordsHere is one his sessions:
Sounds to me like a new world record category is required, e.g. Faster than the "official" world ice sailing speed record (or FTT"O"WISSR RECORD).
Perhaps new FTT"O"WISSR records could be published in the Journal of Irreproducible Results.
Congratulations, Henrik!
It has always been the case as long as I can remember that there are claims of faster speeds than existing World Records. It has become more prevalent with the advent of GPS technology.
Two examples: In 1989 we had timing gates set up at Sandy Point that were not approved by the WSSRC as they did not meet their technical and other requirements. It just happened that Mal Wright was recorded by them doing a run of 41.9 knots which was faster than the existing World Record. Of course, that run could not be ratified as the World Record. Fast, but
not the World Record.
In 2010, David Trewern called me over one day at Sandy Point and said: "Have a look at my GPS. I think I have just smashed the world Kiting speed record!"
He had speeds over 46 knots on his GPS when the World Record was around 41 knots. After analysis, the figures suggested he had gone significantly faster than the existing World Record, but of course it could not be claimed as such.
One of the main reasons the World GPS Speed Surfing Record Committee (WGPSSRC) was set up was to make official World Records far more accessible to ordinary people. At that time, WSSRC Records were the sole preserve of very the very wealthy (or those sponsored by the very wealthy). Not much has changed today, but the introduction of the Luderitz speed challenge event has closed the gap
slightly for those that have the means to attend. On the other hand, in stark contrast, WGPSSRC Records are accessible to just about anyone who has access to a few hundred dollars worth of GPS technology and the ability to follow a few simple procedures outlined in the rules for validation.