Tanya Saleh
| Name: | Tanya Saleh |
| Sail Number: | |
| DOB: | |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Sponsors: | NeilPryde / JP Australia / Fatface |
| Discipline: | Wave / Freeride |
| Website: | |
What age did you start Windsurfing?
At 14
On NeilPryde Team since?
2007
How did you get into windsurfing:
I tried it when I was on holiday with my mum and was instantly hooked. The problem was that I wasn’t from a windsurfing family so being from the UK it took a LOT of determination to convince my parents to let me do it at home. It paid off.
What is it about windsurfing that’s got you hooked?
It was a while ago, but it just felt so good! And also, none of the other kids in the group could do it apart from me.
Biggest achievement to date:
1st Womens Wave White Air 2006, 4 x National student girl
Favorite Windsurfing Spot:
Probably Topocalma in Chile. It’s unreal, the wave is super long, you can just get turn after turn after turn….. and the best bit – there is no one else around, just you and your friends cruising this amazing long wave in the middle of the Chilean coast line.
Favorite windsurfing discipline:
Waves. Because you can express yourself however you want, everyone’s style is their own and it is just so creative. You can be as aggressive or as gentle as you want. And on top of that it just feels so good having the power of a wave under your feet.
Favorite manoeuver:
Table top. Again it is a really expressive move, it can be tweaked, or not, one handed, high….I think it looks good and it feels good too.
Favorite Windsurfing Moment:
Too many. One which springs to mind is the first time I did a baby aerial. We were in Chile and there was no one else around apart from me and my 3 friends. You could easily get 6 turns on a wave, and I hit the lip for the first time and it felt so good. Two of my friends had seen it and I ran up the beach so happy. But at the same time confused as to why I hadn’t tried it sooner because it was not difficult to get the air!! (Obviously landing is a different question!)
How do you keep fit and healthy:
When I’m not windsurfing I go to the gym to make sure I get cardio training at least 3-4 times a week, and when there is no wind but swell, then I’ll surf in the evening. I’m a bit of a food snob – luckily I love nice food so looking after my diet isn’t really an issue.
Plans for 2009:
This year I would like to go for the more windsurfing journalism side of things– visit some new places, write some more articles. It’s something I really enjoy doing – discovering a new place with a few friends. I would also really like to do the Tiree event this year; it’s such an awesome island and I haven’t been there for a few years.
