Spain: Carmen Lopez can only imagine what the sea looks like, but the blind 21-year-old Spaniard is in her element riding the surf.
Guided by instinct and signals whistled by her coach, Lopez has been training hard to become Spain's first blind female athlete to enter the World Adaptive Surfing Championship in La Jolla, California, on Wednesday.
"The sea is where I feel peace and freedom, as if it were where I'm supposed to be," she said sitting on her surfboard after an hour and a half of wave-riding practice in the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, walks with her coach Lucas Garcia before training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
"I'm not different from other surfers," said Lopez, who was born with congenital glaucoma and lost her vision completely when she was a child.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, poses with her coach Lucas Garcia after training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
In its fourth edition, the La Jolla event for surfers with disabilities features its first team competition for visually-impaired female athletes, with Lopez representing Spain.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, puts on her new wetsuit before training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
Blind surfers such as Lopez' countryman Aitor Francesena or Brazilian Derek Rabelo have achieved legendary status in the sport, and Lopez, who only took up surfing a few months ago, is aiming high.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, takes a break from training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 6, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
After the La Jolla tournament, organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA), Lopez aims to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. ISA has been campaigning to make adaptive surfing a Paralympic sport.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, walks with her coach Lucas Garcia after training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
Lopez has also practiced figure-skating and horse-riding and her coach and friend Lucas Garcia praised her natural balance and instinct. Garcia, who swims next to Lopez when she surfs, is her 'eyes' when it comes to telling her about a wave coming up.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, and her coach Lucas Garcia pose for a photo with friends after training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 6, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
"A single whistle means the wave is coming on her right side, and a double whistle, on her left side," he said, likening the signals to the way dolphins communicate.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, is watched by her coach Lucas Garcia during training at Salinas beach, Spain, December 6, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso
Lopez wants to encourage others with disabilities to challenge their limitations, live a full life and perhaps try out radical sports.
Carmen Lopez Garcia, Spain's first blind female surfer who is to participate in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, plays with her dog at her apartment in Oviedo, Spain, December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso