Hagit Oz Kitesurfing -
Continue of the champion's interview

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Are there any issues you need to cope with?
As for challenges – the easiest thing in the world is for a person to give up on anything and say, OK, why do I need this? The coldness, the fear, thoughts, mental struggle, the crazy day I have to pull off between working and surfing, at this stage of my life. Maybe in the future I will face other challenges, like raising a family, etc.

What does this sport mean to you?
Hagit Oz: Happiness. Period. I don’t experience true happiness in everyday life, in general. Here I achieve real excitement, that is very strong, internally, and I get filled with emotions, which stay with me for the whole day, and provide me with strength to go on.

What does this sport demand of you?
Hagit Oz: To keep in shape, and to keep my diet – in general I have been aware, ever since I was young, of the importance of maintaining my health. Ever since I remember myself I have been training, and keeping fit. I start every day with at least an hour of yoga. Flexibility is the key to kite surfing. The more flexible you are, the easier you will find it to perform.

In addition, yoga gives you tranquility, which lets you balance the pressure, fear and exciting. I also maintain muscle endurance- I train with an elastic cord, weights and a lot of bodyweight – pull ups, parallel bars, push ups and sit ups, all three times a week. I keep a healthy diet, except for one day in the week on which I eat whatever I want, which is usually on Friday or Saturday.

Have you made any sacrifices in your personal life?
Hagit Oz: Pregnancy, having children, etc. I would give up on many things for surfing – of course I consider every case individually. I had a boyfriend for some time, and I was away from the sea, which is not so good – you need to know how to balance things, how to give the right amount of time to each person, and to everything that you love. As for having a family and children, this is definitely something I would make time for, not tomorrow, but I am definitely grateful for everything that comes my way.

I know how important a family is, I grew up and am still growing up in a wonderful family full of endless, unconditional love, and I want the same thing in my future family. After all, the family is at the basis of everything – it is not good for a person to be alone, you need to create continuity, but at the right time, and most importantly – love is still the strongest thing, like the sea – so this is not any less interesting for me.

Does your involvement in this sport deter men?
Hagit Oz: This is an interesting question I would like to know the answer for. Some meet me in a different setting, business, training or anything else unrelated to surfing, and so they don't know that I surf, at least not initially, and when they ask me what I do, it is difficult for me not to tell them about my love of surfing – if I don't tell them about it I feel like I'm not being true to myself.

On the other hand, some know me only from the sea,and I usually talk with them only about surfing, surfing and surfing, which is OK. These people don't know me very well. I think that men are very supportive of women active in extreme sports, and especially kite surfing. It is very beautiful to watch a woman surfing, although it could be intimidating – depending on the man.

This depends on the man's character. Yes, the power, freedom and independence could be intimidating for some, but for others it's the complete opposite. They love it and even appreciate it. I don’t have a clear answer for this. I think that women in extreme sports have interesting and full lives which can only make things more interesting, and there's nothing to be intimidated about. But maybe it's better to ask them? I think that's a good idea for an article.

Is fashion involved with it?
Hagit Oz: Of course fashion is involved. To start with, I personally see surfing as the main pastime in my life, and so I go out to the sea more often than pubs or parties, and for this reason it's important for me to feel good in terms of clothes, just like when going out, and I always try to be colorful in life, whether in special surf suits, the pants I wear on the suit or not. I love to go wild. This is my playground where no one can tell me what to do or look at me funny. I can choose to surf in the wildest clothing I want – it's just me and the sea.

Have you ever been in an accident?
Hagit Oz: Yes. Winter 2006 – it was a stormy winter day and I was on the shoreline with the parachute hoisted up. I felt my equipment was not in tact and the parachute lost its power and turned into a nylon bag that reached the end of its wind window and entered 360 degree loops (it spun around itself into a whirl), I was dragged onto the beach with my stomach face down, and feeling like I was going to die. My only option was to release the parachute so as to distance it from my body, which I did, and thank god, I am still alive.

Vision...you wishes for the future….
Hagit Oz: My true vision is pretty far removed from reality – that all the residents of the state of Israel dedicate quality time to extreme activities, whatever they may be. That we may see people who are more at peace with themselves, happier, less violent, more love and brotherhood, that the radio and television stop reporting tragic news and instead report about extreme activities from Israel and around the world. A kind of dream that we become Hawaii – a distant dream but still realistic…..

And it is very important for me to raise a family; Hagit Oz:that I have kids who I will expose to the sea when they are very young and I hope they experience the same feeling that I do.

Thank you very much Ms. Extreme, the impression we get from this conversation is that we conversed with a lady who has the manners, grade and dignity of a lady. When she enters her world, she is a kind of panther.

Hagit Oz site: www.b-oz.co.il
hagitoz1@gmail.com

Article made by "Beach Brother" magazine
Photos @ Sami Ben Ami, Eliran Cohen, Shiran Valk, Tommy, Itamar, Rotem Ben Haim

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