"I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also a bit scared," said Melek Toraman with regard to the Lüderitz Speed Challenge during our interview in summer 2022. The trip to Namibia was worth it: the 50-year-old has just set a new German record of 44.18 knots (ratification is still pending) - and the event isn't over yet!
We met Melek Toraman in a gallery on Westerland's seafront promenade. Here she exhibits her colourful, very positive and abstract paintings. "I want to express how art can transform the viewer's feelings into joy and happiness," is how she describes her way of painting in an interview during an exhibition in Venice. During our conversation, Melek's primary school teacher enters the gallery and is delighted to meet her old pupil. She had already noticed Melek's artistic talent at primary school. The old lady knew nothing about windsurfing back then. But of course we are interested.
Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?
My parents came to Sylt in the early seventies. I was born here in the North Sea Clinic, grew up here and finished school here - so I'm a real Sylt native.
What happened next?
After school, I studied fashion design in Florence and attended a few fashion fairs after graduating. I really wanted to surf a lot and applied to the fashion label Dakine. They were on Lake Garda at the time and thought it was great that I surfed. I designed snowboard clothing and shorts for them in Madonna di Campiglio. When the company was sold, I went to Istanbul as a designer and worked there for ten years.
" I actually only wanted to have a quick look at Alaçati, but then I just stayed there."
But I really wanted to keep surfing and the city was just too much for me. Friends then told me I should go to Alaçati. There were always lots of surfers there and there was always wind. But my plan was actually to go to Sardinia. I only wanted to visit Alaçati for a week or two, but I liked it so much that I stayed there. There are a lot of surfers there, there's wind every day, it stays warm in winter and there are waves from time to time. That's how I ended up in AlaÇati in 2006.
But until then you had never surfed regattas, had you?
No, but some people then motivated me to take part in the Turkish championship. At that time, the PWA was also a regular guest in Alaçati - that's when I got fully involved and focussed on surfing. In 2012, I even came eighth in the overall slalom classification for the year, as I also competed in the cups in Korea and Italy.
So you were a complete professional, you could say.
Yes, I trained hard every day, especially with the men, and looked for sponsors. There were also international championships in Alaçati almost every year, which I took part in. But after ten years of racing, I had had enough and wanted to work more as an artist again. I am now travelling a lot more in Europe again through my art, but I still have a flat in Alaçati.
How did it come about that you are now so successful in speed surfing under the German flag?
For some time now, I've been back here much more often and for longer periods, like four or five months. I'm quite successful with my art, it's also hanging in large galleries or at the Biennale in Venice, like now. I got into speed surfing through my friend Thomas Moldenhauer, who also travelled to Lüderitz last year. Through him, I travelled to La Franqui in the south of France more often in winter. When he saw the times I was setting, he said that I should take part in the Prince of Speed. The organiser, Principe Baldini, then motivated me even more with his manner. He said you train for a year and then you'll be the best. So I took it very seriously - and as I actually see myself more as a Sylt native, I can now compete for Germany thanks to my dual citizenship.
There is obviously a very special atmosphere at the Prince of Speed.
That's right, the surroundings are unique and when the conditions are good, everyone comes. The best speed surfers in the world. Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful. This is certainly also due to the surroundings and the nature, everyone has space and freedom. Unfortunately, that's not the case at all spots.
If you're on Sylt more often now, do you also surf the waves here?
I don't have any material at the moment. But when I'm back here more, I'll bring it with me. However, I will then surf in the Königshafen. I only surf waves when they're small.
This is Melek Toraman
- Age: 50 years
- Place of residence: Alaçati/Sylt
- Profession: Artist
- Regatta debut: 2006
- Successes: 8th place PWA Slalom overall 2012; German speed record nautical mile 2022
- Favourite spots: Alaçati/Turkey, La Franqui/France
- Sponsors: Point-7, AV Boards
- Social Media: melektrmn (Instagram), Melek Toraman (Facebook)
