Graf back on crest of Asian surfing

Filipina windsurfer Nanette Aguirre-Graf left her female rivals struggling in her wake as she ripped through choppy waters and 12- to 23-knot winds to win in the recent second Jeju Funboard Cup in Jeju, South Korea.

The victory further strengthened her standing as one of the top female surfers in Asia and elevated her status in her company Neil Pryde, a top windsurfing sail outfit.

"It’s like being nominated for an Oscar," Graf said on her new ranking.

Graf said she couldn’t help but feel proud of her achievement when she bested women surfers from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Saipan, Taiwan, Australia and many others.

An estimated 80 windsurfers from the Asia-Pacific region were invited to participate in the competition. Graf’s teammate, Robbie Radis, ruled the men’s slalom division.

It was the second Jeju Funboard Cup victory for Graf. Last year, she also whipped opponents in the slalom event. However, Graf considers her victory this year more special.

In the early stages of the race, she had a minor accident that left a cut on her head.

The wound required 10 stitches that sidelined her for several rounds.

But Graf took to the water again in the final two rounds and impressively won the women’s title. She took home several prizes, including equipment and money.

Graf, who took windsurfing a few months after college, is the main organizer of the annual Boracay International Funboard Cup, which is one of the legs of the five-country Asian Windsurfing Tour. Her consistent performance both locally and abroad has attracted many sponsors, including philstar.com, The Philippine STAR’s online edition, and Neil Pryde, which invited her to join the ranks of its elite windsurfing team.

Despite feeling proud of victory, Graf has maintained a humble perspective. "I’ve always been competitive," she said, explaining her motivation for joining windsurfing tilts. "I feel I need to excel in what I want to do. But of course, I don’t top everything." She credits her second straight victory to constant practice and iron-clad dedication to the sport. She spends most of her time in Boracay where she hones her skills and manages her own business.

"One of the most important things to develop in windsurfing is balance and how to use the wind properly," Graf explained.

Though sometimes windsurfing can be deceptively easy when you look at it, the sport entails a lot of hard work, she added. However, as Graf herself proved in Jeju, Korea, a lot of hard work pays off.

For more information on Nenette Graf and her windsurfing lessons, please contact Green Yard Funboard and Neil Pryde Test Center at telephone numbers (036) 288-3663 or 288-3208.