Leonidas Tsortanidis
Get to know Leonidas Tsortanidis, a competitive surfer
An article from the "Chasing the Greek Adventure" series, as presented on the Redbull website, edited by WayOut Adventures.
Greece is in the Top 10 windsurfing destinations worldwide and the successes of its champions reach to the far ends of the earth. Get to know Leonidas Tsortanidis.
We chose to learn the secrets of the sport through the eyes of a super-talented, promising and at the same time modest athlete, with many distinctions in pan-Hellenic and international championships, Leonidas Tsortanidis.
Leonidas Tsortanidis was born and raised on the beautiful island of Andros. He is the second of a total of ten children that were born into his family. A very athletic family, all children being involved in sports, we are today graced with the top champion, Leonidas.
Leonidas is a windsurfer and his athletic water initiation came at the age of eight. Just two years later, he won the first place in the Panhellenic championship, thus starting a sports career, full of successes and continuous victories. In total, to date, he is an eight-time Panhellenic champion, he holds eight international medals from European and world championships, with his crowning moment being when he became world champion in October 2015 in the Sardinia race. He is a great athlete who wants to make history and share his great excitement with the world of windsurfing. Read all he had to say below.
Make us a part of your solitary training. What are the feelings and thoughts that accompany you during the endless hours of preparation?
I believe it's all in our heads. Certainly training 6 times a week with double workouts and extra gym training, while being on your own no less, sounds difficult and maybe a bit boring. For me, every time I'm in the sea, it's just me and my board. I want to evolve and become better every day. Setting high goals and working hard for them makes my daily struggle easier and more fun.
What is your moral-mental reward for all that hard work you put in to stay on top?
Trying to stay on top is the most difficult part of the championship. You achieve this only through continuous training, absolute concentration on your goal and daily discipline in your schedule. But everything changes when the time of the race comes. A possible success rewards you mentally, offers you strong emotions, great joy and satisfaction.
The hug of your proud coach, the kiss of your mother who is eagerly waiting for you, the excited faces of the spectators, the award and honor ceremonies are what provide the strength and courage to continue.
Please describe to us the feeling of the start of the race. The trembling in the legs, the anxiety, the longing you feel in those seconds of waiting.
In my first races it was exactly as you said. Trembling in the legs and pounding in the heart. Little by little, growing up and gathering racing experiences, this changes and shifts into a longing and impatience for the race to start and do my best. For myself and all those who believe in me.
During training, do you focus and get inspired by music or do you prefer the sounds of nature?
In my trainings at sea, the feeling I feel in the arms of nature, which can’t be described with words is enough for me to concentrate and perform. Apart from training in the sea though, I spend several hours in the gym and on the bike as Olympic windsurfing requires a high level of fitness. In those moments, music is my favorite companion. My favorite tracks that inspire me and keep me going with passion are "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood and "Last Breath" by Future.
Thanks to your sport and your extraordinary talent, you traveled from a young age and got to know many beautiful parts of the world. Which one did you like best and why?
The truth is that I myself feel very lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to travel the world while doing what I love. I have done many trips, including transatlantic ones. The one that won me over the most was Bonaire in the Caribbean. I have been there twice for training when the winter cold and rain did not favor my training in Greece. The training conditions there were ideal and the people I met, with whom we shared a common passion and love for windsurfing, will forever remain in my heart.
However, wherever I travel, especially in the summer months, I do not exchange Greece for any part of the planet.
What are your dreams and goals? The Olympic Games perhaps?
As we all know, it is every athlete’s goal and dream to participate in the Olympic Games. I know that I am still young and will be given many opportunities to achieve my goal. What is certain is that I will do my best and I am very optimistic about the future. For this year, my main goal is the European and World Juniors as this is the final year I qualify for this category.
We would like send Leonidas our best wishes for success and may his sails always be accompanied by good winds.