Karo van Tonder: the first female windsurfer to complete an 80-kilometer race

She is not just a pretty face. South African pro windsurfer Karo van Tonder is comfortable in all types of conditions.

Whether she's competing on a downwinder, a speed sailing event, or slalom race, Tonder always pushes herself to the limit.

In September 2017, the athlete from Langebaan became the first woman on the planet to complete an 80-kilometer race - the Défi Wind Mauritius.

"It was the most intense physical and mental experience of my entire life. I saw most of the strong men retiring at the 40-kilometer mark. All the hard work and training paid off," underlined Karo van Tonder.

A couple of months later, the always active sailor traveled to Namibia to compete at the Luderitz Speed Challenge and became the fastest windsurfer in Africa at 38.9 knots.

"It was an incredible experience! I only had three days of wind to do my best, so there was a lot of pressure to learn everything and get used to the channel as fast as possible," explained Tonder.

The 27-year old windsurfer has high expectations for the 2018 season. Karo hopes to return to the Indian Ocean, and try to complete the 100-kilometer marathon scheduled for July.