FRANCESCO D’URSO

Nation: Italy

Craft (wind / kite): Windsurf

Where do you live? Milan

Your Home spot: Colico, lake of Como

Sponsors: I had a big help from Luis Marchegger, Italian Neil Pryde’s agent

Your equipment: Various

Do you use new gear? Any innovation? All “traditional” but I have some good idea in mind

Performances reached (please specify if it’s over 500m or top speed): 46.09 knots on 500 metres

Other notable achievements: Former Italian outright and production boards’ record holder (before Patrik Diethelm’s era), vice master world slalom champion

How long for and the last time you have sailed in speed? 25 years, last time September this year in Karpathos

Your favourite spot for Speed Sailing? Why?: Saint Marie de la Mer, not the fastest of spots but an endless run in a splendid environment and the view of the church at sunset from the run is incredible. A soul spot!

Your biggest objective for 2015? Getting over 48 knots on 500 metres and winning the 50+ category at Le Defi

In your opinion, what speed can be achieved in windsurfing this year considering the best conditions and the 2015 riders list?

*male (currently 52.05 kts) = 53+

*female (currently 45.83 kts) = 47+

In kitesurfing?

*male (currently 56.62 kts) = 57+

In your opinion, what are the most important criteria to achieve top performances?

Score: 1 – 5 / 1 = very important & 5 = less important

• Training   3
• Equipment 2
• Sailor 1
• Wind conditions 1
• Type of water / stretch of water 1

If you have sailed the Lüderitz channel before, in only 3 words, express your feelings when you sail it? Absolute sheer adrenaline