 Performance was further enhanced by placing sandbags upwind of the run, and by using temporary wood “chop killers” that reduce the chop caused by the Lüderitz to winds.The total course length is 800 m, including the launching and slow-down zones, before and after the 500-metre official WSSRC distance.The first "Speed Challenge" event was held in 2007, in which French kitesurfer made the best 500-m run at 47.92 knots – only short of the then-current world record, set in 2005 on The Canal by windsurfer Finian Maynard.