CREST OF THE WAVE
Top surfer off to the World Adaptive Surfing Championships in the US
EL surf star heads for world champs
East London’s adaptive surfing star Jean-Paul Veaudry is readying himself for another crack at the World Adaptive Surfing Championships which is scheduled for the US next month.
The action will take place in La Jolla, California and will see the best adaptive surfers from around the world battling it out for top honours once again.
This will be Veaudry’s fourth consecutive appearance at the event and he is keen to improve on his best finish, a bronze medal in 2016, which made him the second-best amputee surfer in the world as he also surfs with non-amputees in his division.
“I am going for nothing less than gold,” Veaudry said.
He will find some stiff opposition at the world event, including the two most recent world champions, defending champion Adi Klang from Israel and 2016 champion Anthony Smyth from Cape Town.
However, Veaudry beat both surfers in the final of the SA championships in Durban earlier this year and he will aim to take that momentum into the world champs.
It was his second consecutive SA title, to go with his secondplace finish in the first ever SA Adaptive championship three years ago, and he is now gunning to finish on top of the world stage.
“Obviously, the main challengers are last year’s champ, the previous 2016 champ, as well as my nemesis from Hawaii, Mike Coots,” Veaudry said.
“Surfing the small waves of La Jolla, San Diego, is extremely challenging, but knowing that I can beat multiple world champs, when the waves come my way, is most comforting.”
There are a number of obstacles that Veaudry has to overcome if he wants to become world champ, including a minor surgery he recently had that could hamper his preparations.
“I have been happy with my form this year, but just this week I suffered a minor medical setback and I’m hoping to make a full recovery soon,” he said.
“But I think, as always, the biggest challenge is leaving my family, especially as my wife and I had another daughter four weeks ago.
“Our family is now bigger and therefore more to miss.
“Another massive challenge every year is obtaining the financial support to get me there.
“We are in no way funded by our country that we represent and we all have to raise money privately.
“I seriously considered not going this year, as I was too embarrassed to once again ask the East London public to support me.
“But the amazing people of Windmill Roadhouse said that I will be going.”
They have challenged all businesses to back JP as they are, by helping with contributions.
“Since then, Marissa Nel from Marissa Nel and Associates has gone out of her way to do the same and is assisting me to raise money to get me there. So should anyone want to contribute, please contact Marissa on 043-721-1310 or myself directly on 083-611-0007.”
Veaudry will also be warming up for the world champs by participating in this coming weekends Spar Daily Dispatch Fun Run, where a percentage of each entry will go to the Sweetheart non-profit Foundation.
The starting point of the event is at the Orient Pools at 9am on Sunday, with a 4km and 8km run. Online entries can be found on the Spar Daily Dispatch Summer Fun Run Facebook page.