“Girls of the wind” want to stay permanent in the surfing world

ÇANAKKALE (AA) – ÇİĞDEM ALYANAK – SEVİ GÖZAY ASLAN – Promising windsurfing 12-year-old Elisa Özer and 11-year-old Alya Güneş Canan are preparing for the European Championship in the Dardanelles. Elisa Özer, who came second in the techno 293 category for girls under 13, and Alya Güneş Canan, who came third in the 5.0 category for girls under 13, at the Techno 293 World Championship held in Foça district of Izmir between 3-9 April with the participation of 265 athletes from 17 countries, continue their training under the management of sailing coach Nadir Demir under the roof of İÇDAŞ Sports Club, where they started training as trainees 3 years ago.

Two athletes, students of Hüseyin Akif Terzioğlu Secondary School, go to İÇDAŞ Sports Club in the city center after their training at school. Athletes prepare their surfing equipment according to the weather conditions and train under the guidance of coach Demir, who accompanies them in the sea by boat. Two successful athletes are preparing ambitiously for the European Championship to be held in Poland in August. – “We need to learn to do things at the same time” Hüseyin Akif Terzioğlu Secondary School 6.

Grade 1 student Elisa Özer told the AA reporter that she had been doing gymnastics for about 7 years and that she started windsurfing at the suggestion of her father’s friend. Elisa stated that she came first in the Turkish Championship she attended a year ago and joined the national team. Stating that she finds it fun to move with the wind while surfing, Elisa Özer said, “Of course, this sport is difficult. We train a lot every week before the races.

Çanakkale is very cold in winter. It can be difficult to go out into the water in the cold. Sometimes the weather is very harsh. We wear clothes accordingly. One somehow gets used to it.” he said. Stating that she starts the day by surfing and checking her school bag, Elisa continued: “Sometimes I skip the last class and go to training, but I attend my very important classes. I usually try to do my homework during lunch breaks or breaks at school.

My teachers are also very understanding towards me. I also make time for myself, I rarely look at my phone. I read books. Being involved in this sport has also helped me with my studies. “We need to learn to do sports and things at the same time.” Expressing that she wants to surf in Spain, Elisa Özer noted that she continues her studies with the goal of world championship and Olympics. – “I want to make the general podium in the European Championship.” Alya Güneş Canan, a 5th grade student of the same school, stated that she saw her friends training at İÇDAŞ Sports Club 3 years ago and decided to start this sport.

Explaining that windsurfing had its difficulties but overcame them with the training she received, Alya Güneş said, “I continued as a trainee in the club for a long time. After my coach Nadir Demir came to İÇDAŞ Sports Club, I started to participate in races professionally. I want to make the overall podium at the European Championship and get a place in the girls category. “Thanks to sports, I became more social and had friends from different provinces.” he said.

Alya Güneş Canan added that she has participated in national and international competitions in the country so far and will go to Poland for the European Championship for the first time this summer. – “Our closest goal is to rank in Europe.” Coach Nadir Demir also said that talent gets the athlete so far, but desire is also a very important factor in success. Stating that windsurfing is a costly but rising branch in Turkey, Demir said, “Due to the cost, the number of athletes increases in certain periods and decreases in certain periods.

However, when we look at the European and world rankings, we achieve good rankings in both categories.” he said. Demir stated that the Olympics should be every athlete’s dream and said: “For the Olympics, we need an athlete who is not only about getting a ranking, but also who makes winning a habit and who is always on the podium. There is a need for an athlete who wants to constantly improve both cognitively and mentally.

When we look at the near future for Alya and Elisa, I can set the world championship as a target every year. Our closest goal is to rank in Europe.” Coach Demir thanked İÇDAŞ for supporting all the equipment and competition budget of the athletes.