ProFiles
AndersBringdal
Faster at Forty
An interview by Robert Masters
Born in Sweden on the twenty seventh of July,1967, Anders Bringdal learned to windsurf at the “Stockholm archipelago” in 1980 - at the age of thirteen.
He immediately got involved in the local amateur windsurf racing scene, competing in Division II windsurfing competitions.
The desire to turn pro came in 1982, when a sailor by the name of Robby Naish came to town. “He showed up in Sweden back in ‘82 sometime and showed us all what windsurfing was all about!”
Several years later, Anders emerged on the world windsurfing scene - and along with teen sensation Bjorn Dunkerbeck, took on his hero - world champion Robby Naish - and set the windsurfing world ablaze with a battle of the Titans that would rage on for years.
Anders has recently made the headlines by leading the 2007 Maui Speed Sailing Challenge - and his recent signing with Naish Sails. I caught up with the living legend to ask him about soul, work, his new boss - and of course, sailing at Stable Road (at 40 knots)!
Let’s talk soul. How would you describe the feeling you get when you windsurf, to someone who has never sailed?
AB - Having the freedom to go where you want, being so close to the ocean gliding forward, gives you the feeling that you can go where you first did not think was possible!
Where are your favorite places to sail? What makes the places so special?
AB - I love Maui, Jaws, Hookipa and even the south side. There are lots of waves to be had and each place has its own trick to it but when they go off they really go off!
As this is an interview for StableRoad.com - of course, I have to ask - what feelings do you get when you come to Stable Road?
Back to the future! We have all sailed lots there as in the old days most of the photo shoots and videos were done there. Now I mostly go to visit friends that have way too much money who are among the lucky few who live there!!!
On the subject of competition... you entered the pro scene at around the same time as Bjorn Dunkerbeck. How was it having to compete year after year against such a driven guy? How did you stay motivated?
AB - Simple. I didn't - but the ride was unreal.
Let’s talk technique for a moment. You were one of the first sailors to really throw a proper forward loop. There was no cheese in your roll! How did you psyche yourself to do what could end up being so painful?
AB - That sounds nice! The truth was more like this. As I spent half a season not figuring out how to do this jump, I finally sorted it out - but it looked different. Well, it worked for me!
You were around when the sport collapsed in the early nineties. What went wrong?
AB - I think one of the reasons was that windsurfing really became an extreme sport. In the old days, one board and one sail worked fine, like the original Windsurfer.
In the early 90's, you needed a flock of stuff and you still could not sail in less than 15 knot of wind. The part of windsurfing which was low performance exploring and just gliding around died - and in came short boards with cambered sails.
But now there seems to be a new energy in certain places. What are you sensing?
AB - Windsurfing has been around now for some time - and now the materials have been more adapted to what real windsurfing is, so now there is something for everybody out there - from the extreme to the beginner.
This, as well as a surge of new kids getting into the sport, has helped get the sport back on track again.
I filmed you at Jaws in the late 90's. On this one 40' wave, you did this huge off-the-lip that was one of the sickest things I've ever seen done on a windsurfer. Here are a few pictures. How did things look from your perspective?
AB - I was too late to make a turn and I needed a quick exit! Being too deep at Jaws you have three options...
Option one - kick out and hope that the wave you were on was bigger than the one behind. If the one behind is bigger then you will find yourself in the prime impact zone. I do not normally recommend this one.
Option two - you can choose a high line to get as much speed as possible. When you see you will not make it, you use the speed to square off and out run the wave for as long as possible. Then you take it like a man and get steam rolled, but normally the wipe out is not too bad, as you will only get hit by white water.
Option three - hit it and fly across your trouble's and aim for the channel. This is the only option if you want to save the swim and a broken rig. Obviously you would want to be in sync with the timing, as missing and arriving too late and sailing into the lip would not be good.
The next thing to know is that the wind howls at the top of the wave, as it is so offshore. This means that once you have made all the effort and hit it right, the rig will rip out of your hands if you are not careful.
Then there is the moment of you going, ‘I did it!’ You’re very high, you spot the landing way down there, all is good, right about then the wave passes under you - and you get stuck in the back draft and basically get hammered into the water in one foul heap. So much for ‘doing it.’ I‘m still swimming!
Looking back at that transatlantic race you competed in, how much fun was that?
AB - It was one of the best experiences that I have from windsurfing. I dove off the ship at the mid point and dove down a few meter's. It was 4000 meters to the bottom. What a feeling it was like you could imagine being in space.
Which sailors do you respect?
AB - I may have said something different in the past but now I will go with this... Robby Naish, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Phil McGain, Bernd Flessner and the rest of the ‘Old Guard’, Why? Duracell!!! Still going!
Who is the most under-rated windsurfer in history? What made him or her so good?
AB - I think the cat's out of the bag. I used to think that Antoine Albeau was unreal, but that his results did not reflect his ability. Now his hours and hours on the water has paid off.
What does it take to be a good speed sailor?
AB - Never sheet out!
The Maui Speed Series events that you compete in... how do you enjoy the GPS based format?
AB - Well, it is really low key with a goal of going fast. Maui is not the easiest place to go fast as we have plenty of chop, but it makes for a fun and wild ride!
Still images by Robert Masters, Jonathan Weston, Naish Sails and The Maui Windsurfing Association
Speaking of wild rides - you travelled at over forty knots at the spot where we shot Laird Hamilton speedsailing for “Rigmarole” in 1991. How was that ride?
The reef is very shallow and there are some places where there is no water, so that makes for some interesting sailing! So far, the carnage includes Alex Aguera shearing off a fin on either the reef or a turtle. Jacques Peavert spun out and crashed. Once he was ready in his water start position, he touched the reef and got a foot full of sea urchins. He got over fifty of them! That was not a good sight to see.
On my side, it has been less eventful. I have been able to run just on the inside of the reef and found the water to be flat enough to get some good speeds. My new Naish Stealth 5.2 has been working very well in the conditions, which allowed me to better my own personal best time in Maui by almost a knot to 40.2 knots.
I think we have not seen the last of this place, I think we should be able to add a few knots to that.
Talk about how speedboards have evolved since the days of 15" super streamlined Jimmy Lewis designs of the late 80s?
AB - Not too much, Shit, I should have spoken to Jimmy then! The truth is that the sails have changed more, which allows for better control. The boards have just been altered a bit - they are a bit shorter and the foot straps a bit further back but other than that, Jimmy was on the ball already a long time ago!
So what’s the advantage to having the straps on your speedboard so far back?
AB - The straps back only means that the rocker is also a bit back and the tail is normally a bit wider to hold the control. This all will make for a tighter package that will give you more direct power onto the fin which in turn will give you more control and speed.
On the subject of boards, how are things going with your company, AB+?
AB - Great, thanks. I am just now in the middle of creating the 2008 line of board's.
What defines AB+ as a brand?
AB - My goal with AB+ is to have high quality boards that work the best for its given purpose. I focus on getting the board to be faster, turn better, be lighter and stronger. Once I reach the level of performance that I am looking for I wrap it up with a killer board bag and sell it with a board specific AB+ fin and Da Kine foot straps. I really want that when you buy an AB+ board you will leave the shop with a full package ready to go sailing. I guess if I have to say what defines my brand, that would be it.
Why should people use your gear?
AB - People use my boards because they find them easy and fun to use. I try to get the maximum performance out of the board in the most simple way.
You now work with Naish Sails, working with Nils Rosenblad. How involved are you going to be in the development of new gear?
AB - Yes I am very exited about it. Nils is a fantastic sail designer and I find it easy to talk to him about the different designs. I am working with Nils on the new Stealth racing sail for 2008. I am also really looking forward to going back to competing next year with them.
What will your focus be?
AB - My main focus will be on speed and Formula 42 for next year.
You were teammates with Robby in the early 90's - and now you're working together again. What is it about Naish and his operation that you find appealing?
AB - I like the way that Robby has set up his company. They are a bunch of good guys working together - and it is something that I wanted to be part of.
In closing. For you in general - what will your goals be during the next few years?
AB - Get fit. Get faster. Keep on sailing - and have fun!
