Damla Kurtdemir

"It s a dream came true for me to be a part of the Duotone community. I have been windsurfing since I was around 7 years old. My sister was also a windsurfer so I was always around the beach in the summer. That led me to start windsurfing at a very early age."

Nationality
Turkish

Discipline
Slalom/Foil

Homespot
Alacati, Turkey

Date of Birth
22/02/2009

Sail No.
TUR 2201

Favorite Spot Tenerife / El Medano

BIRTHPLACE İzmir, Turkey

CURRENTLY LIVING IN İzmir, Turkey

STARTED WINDSURFING? I started windsurfing at the age of seven in Alaçatı, known for its perfect winds and flat waters. My sister was also a windsurfer, and I used to wait for her at the beach. With my sister’s encouragement, I stepped onto the board for the first time. As I took my first steps, the excitement of riding the wind began a lifelong passion for this exhilarating sport.

PEOPLE YOU LIKE TO SAIL WITH? I love to sail with my friends the most. We get the chance to compete, learn from each other, and make unforgettable memories at the same time.

FAVORITE FOOD? Definitely pasta!

FAVORITE MAGAZINE? Fashion and sports magazines

HOBBIES? Windsurfing for sure… But also playing tennis, baking, and going out with friends.

PETS? I have a German shepherd. She also loves the beach like me!

FAVOURITE MUSIC? Pop and rock

WHY DUOTONE? Duotone sails are powerful yet lightweight, ensuring exceptional performance. They’re engineered for incredible speed, stability, and responsiveness while the boards glide effortlessly across the water. Duotone truly delivers a superior experience on the water.

WHAT IS YOUR TRUE WINDSURFING MOMENT?
When I arrive at the beach on a sunny, windy afternoon, all sense of time and worries disappear, and I become completely immersed in the joy of windsurfing, embracing the freedom of sailing across the sea.

WHAT DOES TRUE MEAN TO YOU?
The meaning of “true” is doing what I love and enjoy.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR? I want to be remembered in the windsurfing community as someone who inspired others to pursue the sport and enjoy the thrill of the wind and water.

Windsurfing was just a hobby for me for years until I met Jimmy and Çağla. My whole perception of this sport changed. They showed me the adrenaline of racing, and the passion for this sport, and taught me to work with discipline to achieve my goals.

During my training in Tenerife with Jordy, I was impressed by his method of experimenting with different tunings each session.He wrote down how every tuning feels to find his ideal setup. Inspired by this, I began testing various fin types and sizes, as well as adjusting the battens. After taking a few runs, I would change the settings just a little bit to maximize my sail’s performance.One aspect I love about Duotone is how easy it is to tune allowing for a broad range of wind conditions. As I became more aware of how even the smallest tuning details could impact my performance, I started exploring different brands. After trying nearly every option available and spending countless hours on the water, I realized I couldn't get the amazing feeling that Duotone provides. Their sails are powerful yet lightweight, ensuring exceptional performance. They’re engineered for incredible speed, stability, and responsiveness, while the boards glide effortlessly across the water. Duotone truly delivers a superior experience on the water.

My goal’s for the next season is first of all to improve myself in both fin and especially in foil but also to move up a step and try myself in the PWA with the big girls. I want to race with them in challenging conditions like Fuerte to gain some experience.This year, my plan was to go to Japan as my first big PWA event but unfortunately the dates are the same as the qualification of the Turkish National Team. So to be able to compete in the IFCA events, I have to attend. My plan for next year is to go to Fuerte and Japan. To prepare for both events I’m going to Tenerife for three weeks in my school holiday. Also I want to defend my title in the PWA youth and junior girls in fin and move up to first place in foil. I am dedicated to being in the national team this year as the last two years. I aim to get the Junior girls title in IFCA and I’m ready to give it all to achieve it. I am willing to train every time I possibly can.One of the biggest struggles girls face in this sport is that windsurfing has been a male-dominated sport, which means that the design and testing of equipment have often focused on male athletes’ preferences and physical attributes. I am passionate about bridging this gap. I want to be a tester for windsurfing equipment to advocate for designs and be able to give feedback and I hope to influence the community in making windsurfing more accessible and enjoyable.As always aiming for the top, my biggest desire is to carry the PWA World Champion title when I grow older.

What I would love for Duotone to organize are trainings for the riders to get to learn from each other, train together and do some photoshoots. I think it would be excellent to have a clinic where we can spend some time on the water gaining insights from one another and practicing skills and techniques.

Latest Results

2024 PWA Youth Alacati / u17 and u21 girls Fin Slalom 1st place

2024 PWA Youth Alacati / u17 girls Foil Slalom 2nd place

2024 IFCA Grand Slam Denmark / u17 girls Fin Slalom 3rd place

2024 IFCA Men and Women Alaçatı / Women category Fin Slalom 5th place, Youth 3rd place

2024 IFCA Men and Women Alaçatı / Women category Foil Slalom 4th place

2024 IFCA Europeans Croatia / u17 girls Foil Slalom 3rd place

2023 IFCA JYM European Championship Lake Garda / u15 girls Fin Slalom 1st place

2023 IFCA JYM European Championship Lake Garda / u15 girls Foil Slalom 1st place

2023 PWA Youth Alacati / u15 girls Fin Slalom 2nd place

2023 PWA Youth Alacati / u21 girls Foil Slalom 1st place

2022 PWA Youth Alacati / u15 girls Fin Slalom 3rd place

2022 PWA Youth Alacati / u21 girls Foil Slalom 3rd place

2022 IFCA JYM Alacati / u15 girls Fin Slalom 2nd place

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