About Zoe Najim::

• Age: 36
• Where I live: Breckenridge, Colorado and Hood River, Oregon
• Where I'm from: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Sport Interests: Windsurfing, skiing, snowboarding, tennis

How I got into windsurfing: I always was around windsurfers because as a young girl I sailed on sailboats and saw windsurfers buzzing around when it was so windy that our sailboat races were canceled.  I then met a guy who windsurfed and he taught me.  I then married him.

Athletic achievements: Forward loop, Vulcan and Grubby in freestyle windsurfing, bump line in skiing

Athletic goals: Learn a shove-it, Spock and Grubby on other tack, and compete in freestyle in a PWA content and in Hood River.

Inspiration: I am inspired by both improving my personal best and natural beauty.  I don't think it is mentally healthy or effective to compare yourself with others, you should compare yourself to yourself -- by looking at what your potential best could be and how you are doing now, and evaluating your training regimen accordingly.  Natural beauty inspires me also.  The beauty of mist on the water with low clouds cutting off the mountains and rays streaming through, or coming off of the water at sunset when all is quiet and seeing my wet strong legs step out onto the rocks, are all inspiring to me.   

My role models include Daida and Iballa Moreno, sisters who compete on the Professional Windsurfing Association tour.  They are incredible windsurfers, have great attitudes, work hard at freestyle and waves, and love it all.  They are physically and emotionally strong, and have really given the sport a lot of positive exposure.  My grandmother, she was intellectually and physically active until the end, and was always guided strongly by her forward thinking moral principles.

Favorite spot to do my sport: Hood River, Oregon, (Hatchery and the Wall)

Favorite Girls4Sport wear: Rashguards and string bikini

What I do when I’m not in the water: Work, go out for coffee, play tennis, ski

My job: owner and administrator for private post-secondary occupational school

Education: B.A. in Political Science, M.S. in Education

Interesting/unusual facts about me: I work at home which is great for sports that depend on weather, like windsurfing or skiing.  I have the flexibility to catch the powder and the windy days.  The trade off is the prestige you receive from a power-corporate job that some people want -- I don't have that.  I sing in a choir.  I actually love intellectual and artistic things as well as sports.  I have dual citizenship (Canada and US). 

Watch a video of Zoe in action!