Text and images by Phil Williams, Team England Para Surf Volunteer Manager
The largest group in history traveled to represent Team England Para surf, supported by MuscleFood, at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Para Surfing Championships at Huntington Beach, California, from 5th – 11th November 2023. The team, consisting of 14 athletes and 10 support staff travelled out to compete at this event which year on year continues to grow in size, and this year there were 185 athletes from 27 countries, including 62 women.
Historically the team has done pretty well at this event placing 7th in 2021, and 9th in 2022, so there was a bit of pressure to do well, but confidence also that it could be a really good championships, due to the amount of preparation from all involved over the last 12 months.
However, everyone in the team including myself were blown away when we found out that by the smallest of margins as a team, not only had we achieved one gold and two silver medals for individuals, but we had placed 4th in the world, ahead of countries such as Hawaii and Australia, a phenomenal feat for all involved, the first time any team from the British Isles have placed in the top four, in the history of the ISA games.
The para champs are divided into nine different divisions, both male and female giving a total of 18 divisions, and these range from visually impaired, to prone both assist, and non-assist, sitting, kneel, and then three stand categories. The challenge therefore from a team point of view is not only to find an amazing team to compete in all of these categories, but also to raise enough funds not just to support the athletes, but also to support the large team of helpers that are involved when it comes to any Para-Championships.
Huge hype launched us into the event with the parade of nations. This took place through the main street of HB, this was probably was the best that I had attended, and I have been to quite a few, with the colours and teams of all countries involved, but also a really good turnout of the local community cheering on the Teams.
The flag waver and sand pourer are always really special moments for the athletes and on this occasion the honours went to sand pourer Suzanne Edwards (back after a 4-year break from competing) and flag waver Steve Lightbown, it was great to see them both up on stage.
The main competition started on Monday, and as is traditional for these events the organisers the International Surf Association (ISA) run a round robin format, in each of the categories so that nobody goes out in the first round. The first-round seeding is based on the team’s performance at the last Championships, which are then re-drawn following the results of the first round for the second heats.
In simple terms this means that when you are surfing you are not trying to be in the top two in your heat as is most normal, but in fact you are trying to get in the top four or top eight depending on the size of the categories which is run throughout the whole of the heats.
This keeps excitement levels going throughout the first heats, and you are not either in or out until the end of the last heat of the second round.
Conditions for the event were pretty good with morning conditions normally offshore and light winds, generally sunny, and then by lunchtime winds turning onshore and picked up in strength. This meant the time of heats was really important although ISA tried to make sure that each category had a morning and an afternoon heat (although not always possible). Swell ranged from 2-3 feet, to solid 6 foot, which led to exciting spectating, and some challenging waves for our team.
With regards to the results for Team England Para surf it’s worth saying that everybody put in a fantastic performance, and had any of the surfers either not been there, or had placed one place lower in any of their heats, the team would have got fifth in the world and not fourth a great example of teamwork.
In the men’s division it was great to have our youngest competitor Harlum Lewis from North Devon competing for the first time in the prone non-assist division, at times surfing the biggest surf he has been out in. Also in that category was Bristol’s Steve Lightbown, who was at a second Championships. Both did really well in some tricky conditions but unfortunately failed to get through the round robin heats, but the points were in the bag.
It was great to have another new surfer David Jeffery, entering in the stand one division, a tricky first heat, then a better second heat, but again sadly failed to progress. However if you spoke to Dave afterwards you would realise just what an amazing experience this was for him, he knows what to do next time and I know will come back stronger.
One of the pioneers of adaptive surfing, Spike Kane, was once again back in action in the sit division, a really hotly contested division. Spike surfed a great heat but when it came to crunch a new generation of sit surfers progressed with a couple of barrels being seen and scored by the judges. Spike was injured last time but still got some points, so it was great seeing him this time competing, and getting some solid waves. Also on a personal level a thrill for me to see him receive his first medal as part of the team, after so many years supporting others in the adaptive surfing world.
The para kneel division is also one of the most spectacular divisions to watch, and a huge congratulations to Wales’ Llewellyn Sponge Williams for taking his second gold in a row in a fantastic final. However, our own two surfers also did really well with Martin Pollock getting a buzzer beater wave to getting through to the semifinals, ending up equal 5th, and Olly Vaughan Jones surfing so well in his second Championships but just missing out on a semi-final position.
The final category in which we had English interest in the men’s division, was in the very hotly contested para prone two division (which means you have assistance to help the surfer get out and also they can push the surfer into the waves). This means team support is huge and a massive thanks to not just the team involved with pushing and catching this division but all of the support staff. Both surfers did really well in this category in some pretty chunky waves with Andy Guy getting overall 7th and Mark Haggar (team captain) getting 10th overall, a really tough division and great surfing by both.
Although the team had a few less women representing, the quality was most definitely there, and in fact all our individual medals came through these categories. It was great to see Tash Davies back in the women’s prone assist division alongside Hannah Dines. Both athletes had trained so hard this year, and whilst both caught some great waves, conditions were pretty tough which meant a good workout for the support team, and in the end both girls just missed out on final getting equal 5th, so close, convinced they can go further next year, but earning again really valuable points for the team.
After around four years absence it was fantastic to get Suzanne Edwards from North Devon back competing in the prone non-assist division, she worked hard and placed 6th once again getting great points for the team.
Melissa Reid who is our most decorated adaptive athlete with three gold medals and a silver to her name was up against the young Puerto Rican girl Aleli, last year’s world champion. In a really good final, the lead went back and forth, before finally Aleli took the win, but a very creditable and hard-fought silver for Melissa. A big thanks also for Matty Hammersley acting as her support eyes in the water.
In the stand two women’s division we had further success with Bournemouth’s Zoe Smith winning another medal to add to her collection, this time a silver. It could have gone either way up against French surfer Laurie Phipps who managed to get a high-scoring wave towards the end to take the victory. Conditions particularly in the first round were hard with surfers having to decide whether to go out the back and risk it, or just ride white water, Zoe took the tougher option and thankfully was rewarded in the end. Also a big well done to Welsh surfer Kirsty Taylor in her first competition getting fourth in this division.
Charlotte Banfield has been around the para surfing competition scene for a number of years now, and after taking a year out last year she was back with the team in what they call the para stand 3 division. Like others she worked so hard this last year to train and to understand what she needs to do to go even further than before, and so it was a great delight and probably one of the most proud moments for all the team to see her dominate her final in some tricky onshore conditions, not really making any mistakes at all and when she took off outback on a big wave stuck the take off, and scored a 7.33 that was the icing on the cake.
As Champion, she was chaired up by the beach by the whole team, as well as support from all the other nations, and what a thrill it was to listen to her acceptance interview which went out live around the world.
As I mentioned before we were all a bit surprised when it was confirmed that due to everybody’s efforts, we got 4th place in the world, and as team manager for so many of our teams it brought a little tear to my eye just to see what this incredible bunch of athletes and support staff achieved. What a joy it was for all of us to take the stage at the presentation and for us all to be awarded a copper medal around our necks.
Team England Para surf throughout the week had been so disciplined, very early starts, and early to bed, so it was only fitting that on Saturday night everybody let their hair down at a party where everybody joined from the other countries, big thanks to Jib at second floor gallery bar, for hosting us all, and helping us out throughout the week in many different ways.
I have mentioned by name all the surfers, but I also would like to mention by name all the support staff, on a personal basis a huge thank you to Hannah Brand for her support to me as assistant manager, she did a fantastic job of course, and it was great to have involved. The coaching team consisting of Matt Harwood, Matty Hammersley, Dean Griffiths, Jack Patching, Marcio Dias, and Tom Barber. They did a great job in and out of the water, and also a special mention to those that supported the team in so many ways from the land including Toby Mai Smith, Grace Griffiths, Tanya Banfield, Dylan Hounsfield, James Lightbown, Steve, and Kristian. The energy from the team and support crew didn’t go unnoticed and very seldom did we not see the team running at rapid speed towing a wheelchair with an athlete in, and a surfboard on the ‘runaround’ from the south end of the pier up towards the pier itself a huge encouragement to those competing.
With an Adaptive Pathway Manager soon to join Team England, I think the future of Team England Para surf is really exciting and who knows what might happen if it gets accepted as a sport in the world para-Olympics in 2028. A massive thanks also to Ben Powis of Surfing England, and the team back at base, and to headline sponsors Muscle Food, and to Boardmasters Foundation, Caravan and Motorhome Club, and korev lager. It had been quite a 10 days also and huge thank you finally to each one of those reading this that gave support the athletes all the team during this event it really did make a big difference. Working together helped us to achieve so much more.
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