2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship

Nov 5, 2024

Jose Martinez, Team USA Photo: Sean Evans

The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) kicked off in beautiful conditions in Surf City USA. Clean, three-to-four foot peaks lined up the Southside of Huntington Beach Pier for a great day one of competition. Pure joy was present on the faces of the world’s best para surfers as they were greeted with an incredible Southern California day for their return to the global stage.

Round 1 was completed in five of the men’s divisions and three of the women’s. The round-robin format allows for each surfer to compete in two rounds, with the highest scores across each heat contributing to an overall score to determine who advances.

The competition was strong from the start in multiple divisions. 2023 Bronze Medalist Pierot Gagliano (FRA) posted a 15.00 heat total, that included an 8.67 single wave score, to defeat three-time World Champion Matt Formston (AUS) and challenge defending World Champion Aaron Paulk (HAW) in men’s Visual Impairment (VI) 2. Four-time Silver Medalist Eric Dargent (FRA) also found a 15.00 heat total to defeat 2020 World Champion Colin Cook (HAW) and top the men’s Stand 3 leaderboard. In men’s VI 1, two-time Silver Medalist Thomas da Silva (FRA) took the lead over two World Champions.

Charlotte Bandfield, Team England Photo: Sean Evans

Team England went one and two in the combined women’s Stand 2 and 3 division. Defending women’s Stand 3 World Champion Charlotte Banfield (ENG) and 2023 women’s Stand 2 Silver Medalist Zoe Smith (ENG) pushed each other for the lead, with Smith taking the win.

“We just support each other, sort of emotionally be there for each other,” Smith said. “Then maybe as the competition goes we’ll start getting really…like playing chess.”

World Champions Martinez, Teixeira and Marimon battle to be the best

2021 World Champion Jose Martinez (USA) was one of three World Champions to open their campaigns with giant scores, along with Davi Teixeira (BRA) and Freddy Marimon (COL). Martinez found a long right that allowed him to drive through multiple turns for an 8.50. After winning the Silver Medal last year, the 36-year-old continues to be fired up to join the multi-time World Champion club.

“It’s just so much fun out there,” Martinez said. “The conditions are pretty perfect. 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, and gracefully, I showed off today. I just wanted to make sure that my competitors know that I’m here to stay as well, just as much as they showed me that they’re here to stay. So all the previous champions, two-time, three-time World Champions, I’m hoping that I get crowned the second time World Champion this time around.”

Team Wales Photo: Sean Evans

Teixeira and Marimon had a strong battle as they faced each other for the heat win. The Brazilian opened with an 8.87, the Colombian an 8.67, but an even stronger 9.00 delivered the win to Teixeira, the three-time and back-to-back defending World Champion.

“I’m feeling very great,” Teixeira said. “I really had fun inside of the water competing with Freddy. He’s a friend of mine and I saw that he evolved a lot and that’s great to surf in the heat, more competitive and it’s better. I really had fun surfing the waves, so clean, and yeah, it was such an amazing heat.”

Jocelyn Neumueller, Team Australia Photo: Sean Evans

Neumueller and Almagro set up race for second World Title

A huge end-section hit on a pier-bowl left delivered the highest single wave score of the day for the women, a 7.17, to Jocelyn Neumueller (AUS). The 2021 World Champion has won the Silver Medal for the past two years and is taking a measured approach to her campaign for a second World Title this week. Regardless, the Australian went straight to the top of the Prone 2 leaderboard ahead of defending World Champion Sarah Almagro (ESP).

“I think it’s good just to get out there, have a hit out and get acquainted back with the Huntington conditions,” Neumueller said. “I think the goal for this heat was really just to get one good score and hopefully try and build on a second score. But overall, great to get the win and great to see the level of surfing among all the competitors in the prone division growing and rising every competition.”

Almagro also had a solid start, opening with a 6.00 for a huge cutback, before strengthening her position with a 6.17 thanks to a big opening two-turn combo. The 24-year-old is intent on backing up her World Title, setting up a race with Neumueller to be the first to become a two-time World Champion.

“It’s a big responsibility to be here, it’s a pleasure,” Almagro said. “It’s a big effort that the federation did to bring us back here, so let’s see if I can bring back the gold medal.”

JP Veaudry, Team South Africa  Photo: Sean Evans

Dreaming of gold, Para Surfing veteran JP Veaudry opens strong

Appearing in eight of the nine WPSC events that have taken place, JP Veaudry (RSA) is officially a veteran of the sport. The South African has amassed a nice collection of medals, peaking with the Silver Medal in 2022 for his Stand 2 division, however the gold has so far eluded him. Veaudry had a great start to the event, earning an 8.00 after utilizing his strong backhand attack through a three-turn combo headed left on the pier bowl. Backing it up with a 7.67 on the right, Veaudry’s 15.67 heat total was the highest of the men’s Stand 2 division.

“The first heat jitters, they’re quite a thing,” Veaudry said. “Until I got that first decent ride, I was literally panicking. You have no idea (how much I want the Gold Medal). I mean, I lie awake at night thinking that gold is mine. Every year I say that, and every year something happens. It’s got to be this year. It has to be.”

Former medalists Philippe Naud (FRA) and Nachman Balulu (ISR) also earned heat wins. With no former World Champions competing in the division this year, the trio are each hoping that this will be their opportunity to finally claim gold.

The 2024 WPSC will continue tomorrow with men’s Kneel Round 1 at 7:00am, PST, at Southside Huntington Beach Pier.

Team England Photo: Sean Evans