Here’s Why Anat Lelior Has Given Israeli Surfers a Much-Needed Morale Boost

Photo: Zoltan Tasi

Like most East Coasters, Kelly Slater was my idol. I wore his accomplishments as a badge of honor, having grown up making the best of the same slop. I would search through the magazines for images of his mind-bending maneuvers while keeping up with his latest world titles. Slater was why I followed the ASP tour and he’s why I watched Baywatch. (Ok, Pamela Anderson certainly didn’t hurt.) In those days, I would have told you my life’s trajectory was headed west but, in the end, my heart was drawn even farther east to Israel, a country with little representation on the surfing world stage — until Anat Lelior arrived. Click here to continue reading at The Inertia