78 years old and starts surfing in Costa Rica
Wah-Leeta from Fairview, Oklahoma, is a strong lady: she started her surfing career at the age of 78. Not bad! We had the privilege to instruct Wah-Leeta during her first tries on the board here at the Camp in Costa Rica. And we asked her about her interests, her life, and what does surf mean to her, …
Wah-Leeta is not the first time in Costa Rica, and with three visits she may be considered veteran status. The beauty of the country is what she likes, and the chance for wilderness adventures. On other trips, she went hiking, snorkeling, even white water rafting and zipping.
“The natural beauty is so outstanding”, Wah-Leeta says. Costa Rica is about “birding watching (scarlet macaws, toucans hummingbirds, etc), howler monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths etc., camping and just swing in a hammock enjoy life.” Her words in our mouth.
Well, Wah-Leeta takes risks. She went bungee-jumping out of San Jose off a bridge. “It was thrilling just over to fast. The hard part for me was swing upside down and hooking the rope on my harness to be pulled up.”
And she almost got knocked under a raft on the Rio Reventazon: “We missed our run and ended up in a hole high siding against a rock. The water was like a washing machine whirling over and over. I hung on the raft for a few minutes they said about five. I was the only passenger till hanging on to the raft and the guide told me to jump so I tried to miss the rock and get out of the whirling water . I made the jump and just started floating on my back down the river. The kayak picked me up told to the shore. We were all all right but one lady lost a lens in her glasses. I have rafted over forty rivers in the world but being locked against a rock in a hole was a new adventure. I am an adrenaline junky. I love the excitement of risk.”
So Wah-Leeta came to the Zopilote Surf Camp to try out something new - surfing. A friend of her recommended the camp and it took not too much time to lay flat on a surfboard for the first time: “A wave hit me I was amazed at the speed. I was going very very fast. The second thing surprised me was the ease in manipulating the board left or right laying down or on my knees. I would like to try surfing again because it was fun. I relize I must do some training to strength my legs and develop my knee flexibility. I could get on my knees but I need a cane to get from there to my feet. My balance could do with a bit of work also.
Wah-Leeta had a great week at the camp, and she promised to send us news about any of her new adventures. Mucha suerte!
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