Windsurfing brings family together

ANILAO – Looking for a challenging activity without spending much, Liza Martinez tried to get her feet wet through windsurfing.

Twenty one years later and she’s still hooked on the sport.

“Windsurfing is all-natural because you’re powered by the wind,” she said during the 2016 Anilao Windsurf Regatta at Janao Bay.

“It’s exciting because there are a lot of skills involved. It’s challenging always and you never stop learning. There’s a speed rush because once you experience going fast, you always want to go fast.”

The 55-year-old NGO worker from Quezon City treasures every chance she gets to surf, saying that the sport provides her a momentary break from the stress of her city life.

“It’s not only physically challenging as a sport but also mentally. You forget about all the problems of work. Coming here, you forget about the stresses of life and it’s always good to go back to the sport that you do,” she said.

But it’s not just Liza, as the whole clan are all avid windsurfers, making the activity a family bonding for all ages.

Martinez is happy to see the windsurfing community continue to bloom, with surfing hubs all over the country blossoming in beaches like Lake Caliraya, Lake Taal, Puerto Galera, and Boracay.

And she’s glad that the sport reaches even the younger ones.

“The groups these days are encouraging people and the younger generation to learn. There’s newer emphasis on getting younger people and children to be interested to the sport.”

One of them is Noelle Fajermo.

Getting into the sport due to fairly similar reasons to those of Liza’s, the 13-year-old is happy to get to the water with her cousins.

“I always enjoy windsurfing because I’m with my daddy, cousins and uncles,” she said.

Fajermo encourages other kids and teens to try the sport, the same way his father persuaded her to test her skills.

“Try lang nila Just try. It’s hard at first but when you get used to it, it becomes really enjoyable. It’s fun to be outdoors and enjoy the breeze,” she said.

This is what Martinez is happy to see, with the windsurfing community growing with every event staged.

“It’s friendly to kids, competitive enough that there’s an excitement to join, and the beach is always attractive to people,” she said.

“It’s a natural high. It’s a speed rush, and you don’t pollute the environment.”