Nautique in Paradise at the Hillside Beach Club in Turkey

[TeamNautique]

Nautique boats are recognized around the world as the premier water sports towboat which means you can find them in some very unique locations. Team Nautique rider Danny Harf recently returned from an amazing trip with our Nautique dealer in Turkey to the Hillside Beach Club. This 5-star resort is situated on the Mediterranean coast and offers guests a first class watersports experience with a Ski Nautique 200, two Sport Nautiques and a Super Air Nautique G23. They frequently bring in Nautique athletes for special clinics and demos throughout the year to give guests the opportunity to experience wakeboarding, waterskiing, and wakesurfing with the best of the best. Danny checked in with us after his trip to Turkey where he met new passionate water sports enthusiasts and spread the stoke worldwide.

Words by Danny Harf:
The Hillside Beach Club in Turkey is one of the most beautiful places that my wakeboarding travels have ever taken me. When I set off solo to Turkey, which borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria I was a little nervous at first. I flew into Istanbul and then took an hour flight south to Dalaman, a tiny airport with one runway, located directly next to the Mediterranean Sea. I was picked up and driven along the coast and through the mountains for an hour until I made it to the Beach Club right at sunset! The resort is beautiful and I was pumped to finally arrive! I was greeted by the resort’s water sports staff Ercan, Ihsan, Burak, and Mustaf! These Turkish guys were so amazing and friendly both on and off the water! They all share a huge passion for water sports and I had the privilege of watching and helping them teach people to enjoy water sports for the entire week I was there. They have an awesome setup which includes a Ski Nautique, two Sport Nautiques and a G23!

Every morning I was there, the bay just in front of the resort, would stay glassy and pretty smooth up until about noon. Then we would break for lunch and start up again in the afternoon. We taught people to tube, waterski, wakeboard and wakesurf! The highlight of my trip was teaching a brother and sister, who were 5 and 7 years old to get up on combo skis for the first time. I started in the water with them and by the end of the week they could get up every time on their own and would cry when they had to stop. The crew at the resort has a great method of teaching, everyone got a rundown of what to do on the dock before going out and I didn’t see anyone who wasn’t having fun! Some of the coaches spoke three or four languages and I met really cool people from Turkey and all over the world!

I did several demo rides behind the G23 for the guests at the resort which was really fun. Some of the people had never seen anyone ride at a pro level so it’s always fun to show people what wakeboarding can look like! I did one demo at night for a beach party where there was a DJ and dancers on the beach. I rode by with spotlights on me and managed a few flips and raleys even though I couldn’t see a thing. A bunch of people told me later they loved my demo but I was definitely shown up by the jetboarder wearing a glow in the dark outfit hovering above the crowd! I got to shoot some photos for the resort’s website and rode doubles with one of the wakeboard coaches and taught him how to do a 360 and shoot with the GoPro while riding.

The trip was an amazing experience, and I met a lot of really cool people that I hope to visit again. It’s so cool to travel across the world and instantly have friends based on the love of water sports and to get to share that with others for the first time. I think getting to travel, meet new people and see the world is the best part of my job. Looking forward to the next one! – Danny Harf