Team England Para Surfing – Impressive 7th in the World

The 9^th ISA World Para Surfing Championships has wrapped out in Huntington Beach, California, with over 150 para surfers and 24 countries attending. Over the years, Team England have always played a key role in Para surfing’s development. It was set to be an exciting event, and the team delivered.

Our team of 10 athletes launched into action hitting the ground in Cali pre-event for training. Performances were stellar, with the coaches and athletes showing good synergy. Including new athletes, Laurie Foti and James Price.

Sunday saw the event launching into action, kicking off with a parade of nations and pouring of sand. The crowds of Huntington came out in force to cheer the athletes and support teams on. Lighting up the atmosphere for 6 days of exhilarating competition ahead.

The iconic Huntington Beach pier was the backdrop for the event. At this time of year, the swell remains in the two to four foot range with light offshore winds in the morning, before a switch to onshore for more rugged conditions.

How the contest unfolded

When the last waves were ridden, Team England closed with 7^th in the World, missing out closely to 6th or even 5th place. With four less surfers less than last year this was a fantastic result. Standouts were the 2 gold medals, with fantastic performances from Zoe Smith in the stand 2 category. And Charlotte Banfield in the stand 3 category, earning a consecutive world title.

It was also fantastic to see Suzanne Edwards in the prone (non-assist) division making the podium with a copper medal (4^th). Coaches and athlete alike were impressed to see her development over the recent years.

Laurie Foti made her debut with the team in a way that impressed. Her determination to do well in her first ever World Championships, but also the buzz she brought to the team. She’s set to be a real asset and will go far in the future. Laurie completed 5^th overall.

Representing England in the prone assist division was Hannah Dines. She has been training so hard throughout the year and earnt some solid wave scores throughout the event. In a tough semi-final with big lulls between sets sadly Hannah exited the contest. It was great to welcome her pusher Auriel, from Costa Rica to the England crew.

Whilst the men didn’t take away any medals, each one of them performed so well in some fiercely competitive heats. In the visually impaired division, after taking a year off Dave Lewis surfed the best we had seen him in his second-round robin heat, scoring great waves both frontside and backhand.

Newcomer James Price and established surfer Mark Hagger filled the spaces in the Men’s prone assist division. James scored some of the biggest waves he’s ever surfed and having only started the sport in May shows a bright future ahead. World Champs was new for both athlete and pusher, Cyril and we look forward to seeing the progress. Mark progressed through to quarter finals, narrowly missing out on a semifinal position but getting 10th in the world.

In the men’s prone one division Harlum Lewis in his 2^nd World championships once again gave a strong performance. He was not shy to the bigger set waves, and opted to take off on some bombs.

Spike Kane has been with the team from the start representing England in the sit division. After a tricky first heat, he came into his own on the second heat scoring some really good clean waves, a real talisman for the sport and well respected man in the para surfing scene.

From the other UK nations, it was a shame that there was no Team Scotland there this year. However, a huge moment seeing Team Wales rider Sponge Williams once again taking the world title in kneel. A very popular win including a barrel in the final, great to witness the action in probably one of the most explosive heats of the event.

Presentation in sun soaked Cali

After finals, the event concluded on Saturday afternoon with the presentation under the delightful Californian sunshine. Medals were awarded, and it was great to have the national anthem played twice and see Suzanne collect her medal.

Overall, a fantastic result for Team England. The future is looking bright with a strong support crew, a planned pathway into the sport through the roadshows, and a more focused training schedule for each of the athletes.

Team manager Phil Williams said ‘With the reduced number of athletes and a number of new faces in the coaching team and the surfers it was always going to be a year of change. It was fantastic to witness everybody coming together so well, working as a team, and our beach support crew did a fantastic job, probably the best in the world without a shadow of doubt. The speed of the runarounds for the wheelchair athletes was a talking point of the commentators.

Proud to see the medallists of course, but also proud to see all the competitors doing so well. And a massive thank you to the support staff, Hannah Brand, in her role as Assistant Manager, Andy Banks taking on the new role as Head Coach. Thanks also to the rest of the key coaches, Jack Patching, Cyril Cox, Matt Jones, Deano Griffiths. And to team support Melissa Reid, Nick Hounsfield and his boys (Luca & Dylan), as well as Mark Lewis and Tanya Banfield.

I want to say a massive thank you to all those that encouraged us on social media posts and private messages. And of course, all the support we had through the sponsorship initiatives, and the prize draw fundraiser. I am convinced in 2025 we can further develop the sport and look forward to coming back even stronger, what a fantastic team!’

A very big thank you to Team England Para, sponsors Tregenna Castle, Boardmasters Foundation, Moulded Earplugs. And dryrobe for their amazing towelling robes and dryrobe Adapts. To roadsurfer for the use of the van, Shoretees for assistance with the team kit, and the donors for the prize draw The Wave, Bob Gnarly Surf, Decathlon UK, Finisterre, dryrobe, Tregenna Castle, and Hectic. Every entry in the prize draw helped so thank you to each one of you.