Queenstown's Sue Bradley on her way to winning the open
women's title at the national slalom windsurfing
championships in Dunedin last weekend. Photo by Dave McFee.
Ten years after entering her first New Zealand slalom
windsurfing competition and just shy of her 50th birthday,
Queenstown windsurfer Sue Bradley achieved a long-held dream on
Otago Harbour last weekend.
Having come a close second to Christchurch-based friend and
rival Annie Crombie for the past two years, Bradley was
determined to make 2009 her year and become the national open
women's slalom windsurfing champion.
"I'm turning 50 in two weeks' time and next year I will be in
the masters class, so this was my last chance," she told the
Otago Daily Times.
The four-day regatta involved 21 races and after the first
two days, Bradley was a clear favourite, well ahead of
Crombie.
"Everyone was saying it was my race," she said.
However, lighter winds on the third day threatened to see her
lose her composure.
"In the previous two years I had been winning at the end of
day two but then lost it," she said. "I had an emotional
battle to contend with as well."
Originally from England, Bradley has been windsurfing for 30
years and has a long history of supporting the sport in New
Zealand.
When she first came to the country for a two-month holiday,
she fell in love with it and decided to stay.
Having worked in Greece as a windsurfing instructor, she
contacted Windsurfing New Zealand and offered her help to set
up a schools training programme in Christchurch.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.