Jenna Gibson Sets New World Record for Female Windsurfing Speed

Dorset-based athlete Jenna Gibson, 27, recently stated that the sensation of establishing new records and participating in speed windsurfing competitions is “unmatched.” Last week, she achieved a new world record speed for a female windsurfer while competing at the world speed windsurfing event held in Luderitz, Namibia. Gibson completed the 500m course with a record speed of 48.03 knots and also became the first woman to surpass the 50-knot threshold for peak speed. “You don’t really know straight away if it was a quick run,” Gibson informed BBC Sport. “The fastest runs come from when you feel most comfortable and I did get a feeling right after that it was quick because slowing down right at the end was a lot harder than usual!” She added, “There’s only quite a short stopping distance too due to it being a man-made trench. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind since but I’m super-happy and excited about it all.” The event takes place in a trench specifically designed to provide optimal ground wind speed, thereby maximizing speed performance. Throughout the competition, Gibson surpassed the previous world speed record of 47.96 knots on six separate occasions, ultimately establishing the new benchmark at 48.03 knots. Gibson, who resides and trains in Poole, typically participates in the Slalom IFCA class, where she is a four-time world champion and has maintained an undefeated streak for six years. “The sport is such an adrenaline rush and the buzz you get after is unmatched,” Gibson further commented. “This last year I’ve put quite a lot into trying to improve my speed and it really paid off.” She concluded, “I also love competing on the racing scene with windsurfing so I definitely won’t be stopping that any time soon.”