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Turkey heaven for windsurfing champion: Surfer
Turkey heaven for windsurfing champion: Surfer
Turkey is a heaven for windsurfing as it is surrounded by three different seas, professional surfer Lena Erdil told state-run Anadolu Agency. Click through for the story in photos...
“The potential of Turkey [for windsurfing] is very high, because it is surrounded by seas and the wind is perfect. Not only can one do windsurfing in summer [in Turkey], but also right now. Although we are in November, the weather is beautiful [for windsurfing],” said Erdil, who holds the Vice World Champion title in slalom windsurfing for 2018. (Photos: Alamy)
According Erdil, there is also a misperception that the sport is only for rich people.
“Once you buy surfing equipment, sea and wind are free,” Erdil said. “The windsurfing races last 3-4 minutes, very short, fast and full of adrenalin,” she added.
Speaking about her journey to becoming second-best in the world category, she said: “I had a world record project. l wanted to be the fastest surfer in the world. l tried to break the record in 2012 in Namibia and reached 85km/h speed but l missed the record by just 0.024 knots.”
“It was a sad but really important experience. Now, l am the fastest surfer in Turkey and one of the fastest in the world.”
Erdil also shared her experience with a shark during windsurfing in South Africa.
“l hit a shark when l was surfing. It is true but l do not even believe it. l saw something pass below me in the sea and l tried to calm myself on the board.
“l wanted to convince myself that it was not a shark. It was one of the scariest moments of my life."
"l sat on the board couple of minutes and could not move and thought that it will not attack me. l managed to stand on the board but l fell into the water and but safely and quickly returned to the shore,” she added.
Story: Anadolu Agency
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