World Para Surfing Championship Opens with Spectacular Competition at Huntington Beach
The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship launched in pristine conditions at Huntington Beach, California, showcasing the remarkable talent and competitive spirit of the world’s elite para surfers. With consistent three-to-four foot waves providing an ideal setting, athletes across multiple divisions demonstrated exceptional skill and determination.
Day One Highlights
The competition’s round-robin format delivered intense matchups across eight divisions, with several past champions making strong opening statements. In the men’s Stand 3 division, four-time Silver Medalist Eric Dargent (FRA) posted an impressive 15.00 heat total, outperforming 2020 World Champion Colin Cook (HAW).
Team England made a particularly strong showing in the women’s combined Stand 2 and 3 division, with defending Stand 3 World Champion Charlotte Banfield and 2023 Stand 2 Silver Medalist Zoe Smith securing the top positions. Smith, who took the win, emphasized the supportive yet competitive nature of their relationship: “We just support each other, sort of emotionally be there for each other. Then maybe as the competition goes we’ll start getting really…like playing chess.”
Champions Showcase Technical Excellence
Jose Martinez (USA), the 2021 World Champion, demonstrated his continuing excellence with an outstanding 8.50 score on a lengthy right-breaking wave. Following his Silver Medal performance last year, Martinez remains focused on joining the ranks of multi-time World Champions.
“The conditions are pretty perfect,” Martinez said. “We have some energy in it, and it’s giving us the perfect section so we get a chance to actually show the judges that we know what we’re doing. I just wanted to make sure that my competitors know that I’m here to stay.”
International Competition Heats Up
Three-time World Champion Davi Teixeira (BRA) secured a victory with the day’s highest scoring wave at 9.00, narrowly edging out former World Champion Freddy Marimon (COL) in one of the day’s most competitive heats. “I really had fun competing with Freddy,” Teixeira noted. “He’s evolved a lot and that’s great to surf in the heat, more competitive and it’s better.”
Veterans and Rising Stars
South African JP Veaudry, an eight-time WPSC competitor, delivered the highest heat total in the men’s Stand 2 division with 15.67, showcasing his expertise with both backhand and forehand maneuvers. Despite multiple podium finishes throughout his career, including Silver in 2022, Veaudry remains hungry for gold: “Every year I say that, and every year something happens. It’s got to be this year. It has to be.”
In the women’s Prone 2 division, 2021 World Champion Jocelyn Neumueller (AUS) secured the day’s highest women’s single-wave score of 7.17, while defending World Champion Sarah Almagro (ESP) demonstrated her technical prowess with consistent 6-point rides. Almagro acknowledged the significance of the competition, stating, “It’s a big responsibility to be here, it’s a pleasure. It’s a big effort that the federation did to bring us back here.”
The championship continues with more divisions set to compete in the coming days, as athletes pursue their dreams of World Championship glory at one of para surfing’s most prestigious events.
You can live stream the events by visiting the ISA website.