Adaptive surfers inspire with skills
THE country’s best adaptive surfers have lit up the waves at Cabarita on the Tweed Coast in a bid to claim places on Australia’s team for the world championships.
More than 20 athletes took part in the titles, where surfers adjust their stance or position on the board to allow for their level of physical ability.
Clean conditions of just under 1m greeted competitors for the start of competition, allowing the field to showcase their skills across a multitude of divisions.
World champion Mark “Mono” Stewart only took up surfing after losing a leg to cancer as a teenager.
He has seen the sport grow massively since he first started competing, with this year’s field attracting competitors like Gold Coast Paralympian Gavin Bellis, who won the prone division on Saturday.
“We have grown massively as a sport and in the end, it’s all about the ocean and its ability to heal and equalise,” Stewart said.
“It makes you feel at home and I just love it.”
Women’s assisted champion Sam Bloom, paralysed after a balcony fall in 2013, was among the winners on Saturday.
“I just use my weight to get over the inside rail, kind of like skating I guess,” said Bloom, who started surfing when she was just five.
Surfing Australia’s general manager of events Jake White said the body was fully supportive of adaptive surfing.
“It’s great to see the adaptive spirit in full flight at Cabarita,” White said.
“Surfing Australia is really supportive of the adaptive surfing pathway in Australia and we provide this outlet as a qualifier for Team Australia who then goes on to the world stage.” QBL