SAM LATHAM: MY DFI WIND EXPERIENCE!SAM LATHAM: MY DFI WIND EXPERIENCE!IntroductionThe Biggest Windsurf Event on EarthEvery year, thousands of windsurfers from around the globe descend on the south of France for one reason: The Dfi Wind! This year, Worthing Watersports shop owner Sam Latham took on the challenge and it was a memorable one. From 58-knot gusts and chaotic race starts to aching muscles, borrowed kit and crazy racing, heres Sams full Dfi Wind story.The Journey to GruissanThis year I flew from Gatwick down to Montpellier, hired a car and drove to Gruissan. If you drive, it is about a 14-hour drive from Worthing if youre going by road most people drive through France, hop on the ferry or Eurotunnel and battle the toll roads.You can sleep in your van right on the beach at the venue, which is brilliant, though this time I stayed in a chalet with Rafferty and Alix Reed. All in, expect to spend around 1,000 once youve covered travel, accommodation and entry.First ImpressionsThe AtmosphereNothing prepares you for the Dfi.1,500 competitors, young and old, male and female, all levels of kit and the standard is just extraordinary. Some people on older, more basic gear were absolutely flying past.The wind was so fierce the photos genuinely dont do it justice. Someone broke their leg, someone broke their ribs, and still everyone lined up for the next race. That tells you everything about this event.Getting an EntryTickets sell out fast, especially when the forecast looks good. This year they hit the maximum capacity of 1,500 competitors and I imagine after a year like this one itll go even quicker. Keep an eye on the website and get in early.Living the Dfi WeekI stayed in a chalet with Rafferty and Alix Reed. Rafferty had an incredible weekhe completed the full Dfi trio: Dfi Kite, Dfi Wing and Dfi Wind, all in one week. An absolutely massive achievement.Racing in 58 KnotsEquipment and SetupWe had five brutal races over three days in winds peaking at 58 knots.I borrowed a Duotone 99L Falcon from Simon Pettiferthis board is available from Worthing Watersports as used windsurfing equipment at a great price. For the fin I ran an F-Hot race fin, available directly from F-Hot.For sails I was on Duotone Superhero wave sails.a 3.7m for race one when it was absolutely howling, gusting 58 knots and a 4.7m for the rest of the event. I also tried a 5.0 Duotone Warp but found the boom diameter too large and switched to Duotone Mega Slim booms for the remainder of the event, which completely solved my forearm pump issues.For harness I used the ION Axxis with the ION seat attachmentbeing able to sit into the harness rather than hanging from a waist harness was a total game changer for comfort over long races.Jordy Vonk, Duotone pro racer, was also at the event and won race one. I was lucky enough to borrow some of his kit toothat was incredibly generous.You Dont Need Full Race GearOne thing I really want to highlightyou absolutely do not need full race equipment to do well at this event.Andy Bubble Chambers finished an incredible 64th on freeride and wave kit. I finished 109th on wave sails. The Duotone Blitz and Duotone X-Pace would be the ideal combination for most peoplecomfortable, fast and more than capable of competing at the very highest level.You can also browse our full range of Duotone windsurfing boards online.Worthing Watersports Duotone Specialist Store Wing Foil, KitesurfingWhat a Dfi Start Feels LikeImagine 1,500 people all lined up behind a start boat in 50+ knots. Its controlled chaos.My first races I got away well, but as the wind shifted the top of the line became extremely busy in the final two races and my starts suffered as a result. Positioning and commitment is everythingyou just have to back yourself.The Physical ChallengeRacing in the Defi was brutal but incredible.My worst race was when forearm pump set in badlyI genuinely wasnt sure I was going to finish. The Mega Slim booms solved that for the remaining races.Over the three days I covered more than 150 miles of windsurfing, hit a top speed of around 29 knots and finished 109th out of 1,500 competitorsinside the top 10%. Sore hands, sore feet, but proud to have completed every single race.Biggest Highs & Toughest MomentsRacing alongside Ben Proffitt from windsurfing.tv in 58 knots was a massive highlight we were incredibly close considering he was on a wave board, which says a lot about the conditions.The last race was my best. I moved my mast track back, the board flew and I nailed every gybe.The low point was definitely the forearm-pump racegenuine pain and self-doubt. But you get through it.The Crazy Reality of Dfi WindSailing around before the start, looking at the conditions, thinking: how on earth is this going to happen? How is any of this possible?And then 1,500 people just do it. Every time. That never gets old.Final ThoughtsPeople travel from all around the world to take part in this incredible eventAsia, Australia and across Europe. Its a truly global event and you feel that energy on the water.The biggest thanks go to the organisers. What they take on must be incredibly demanding and challenging, yet they just get on with it without complaint, always putting safety first. They do an extraordinary job and the event is all the better for it.Dfi Wind is a real spectacle of what humans can do with the power of the earths wind. I hope it lives on for many more windy years.See you out there next year!SamThe post SAM LATHAM: MY DFI WIND EXPERIENCE! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.