TURKISH DELIGHTS

Éric de Cruz takes a road trip in Turkey in the company of his son Esteban and PWA slalom sailor Benjamin ‘Babou’ Augé. Éric tells us why Turkey’s freeride windsurfing delights need to be sampled!

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You can’t mention windsurfing in the Mediterranean without talking about Turkey! It’s a country blessed with great conditions but is much more than that. We decided to take advantage of the regular north wind that sweeps the Turkish coast from July to August to discover this destination that is undergoing profound transformations.

Modern Turkey came out of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s rule in 1923. His portrait is everywhere, the identity references to the creation of this new nation are present in every city and on every promontory; it’s impossible to look into the distance in Turkey without seeing a Turkish flag!

English is quite widely spoken and the favourable exchange rate of European currencies ensures a comfortable stay. Driving in Turkey is the same as much of Europe, except for a friendly but frequent use of car horns! Turkish Airlines is the best way to travel, with affordable rates from many European capitals and a “friendly” policy with oversized luggage, handy for our 100 kg quiver! We brought slalom/freeride equipment and 2 wave boards, as well as a complete set of freeride foil kit in case the wind was capricious! We opted for a 10-day trip as we wanted to discover Turkey from east to west, from the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea.

ISTANBUL