Australian adaptive surfers strike gold as the sport makes its professional debut in Hawaii

Australia’s adaptive surfing team took to the pool at the first event of the Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour in Hawaii.

Adaptive Browsing allows participants with additional challenges, such as B. Persons with physical or visual impairments, use special equipment or a customized surfing experience that suits their abilities.

There were nine classifications at the event, held June 7-11 in Waikiki.

Mark Stewart, Jocelyn Neumeuller, Sam Bloom and Matt Formston each finished first in their respective divisions in small conditions at Queen’s Beach.

Northern Beaches surfer Sam Bloom defeated the vulnerable non-assist division.

Bloom said the win was particularly sweet because it was the first time she’d been in the water without her husband Cam pushing her into the waves.

Bloom said she was surprised when the competition organizers said she had the upper body strength to compete without him.

“I was super nervous, but then I was like, ‘Okay, what have you wanted to do since your accident,’ and that’s being able to surf on my own,” Bloom said.

The Hawaiian “Mana” prevails

Byron Bay’s Mark “Mono” Stewart, a veteran of competitive adaptive surfing, won the men’s Any Kneeling Kneel division.

Stewart came down the tube with a perfect score in one of his heats and took the overall win by a margin of 0.04.

In the midst of treatment for a melanoma tumor in his lungs, Stewart said he thought he was going to Hawaii to say goodbye to his friends.

A month before the competition, however, a scan showed that the tumor had halved.

“So I went there with full intention to say: I will see you all again.”

Stewart said the positive atmosphere of the competition and the Hawaiian “mana” helped him move from the wheel hair at the beginning of the competition and step into the water.

First professional tour

26-year-old Adelaide surfer Jocelyn Neumueller won the women’s prone class just two years after she first got into the sport.

Nuemüller said she was thrilled to be involved in the first professional adaptive surfer event.

“It’s great to be recognized as a professional athlete with a world championship tour that you can participate in that also offers prize money,” she said.

Lennox Head surfer Matt Formston won the men’s Partial Vision division in conditions he described as “challenging” due to the lack of waves.

Formston was assisted by his spotter, trainer, and best pal, Michael “Crispy” Crisp.

Crisp said Australia’s performance in Hawaii was exceptional.

“It’s just amazing to see how surfers who are often in wheelchairs are just so inspired and touching and feeling waves.”

The team will take first place when contestants line up for the next event in September in California.

Australia will also host an event when the tour heads to Yeppoon’s Surf Lakes wave pool in August next year.