This year will be the first time ever an ISA event has run in a pool. Zoe practising in a field outside of Bristol for an event in the inland desert of California. Photo: George Vale / The Wave
Zoe Smith Heads to the World Para Championships
This year’s ISA World Para Surfing Championships will be held at the new wave pool in California. We talk to Zoe Smith to get the lowdown.
The ISA World Para Surfing Championships kicks off November 19th. For the first time ever world champions will be crowned at a wave pool. 2024 World Champ Zoe Smith gives us a preview on this year’s event.
Interview by Joel Gray.
One of the boom areas of competitive surfing over the last decade has been in para surfing. National Championships, regional tours and increasing participation numbers all point to positivity in the scene. At the peak of the performance pyramid is the ISA World Para Surfing Championship. The ISA are pushing hard with president Fernando Aguerre on a mission to gain Paralympic inclusion. “Our commitment to Paralympic inclusion remains stronger than ever. We continue to believe that Para Surfing belongs on the Paralympic stage, and every edition of this incredible event brings us another step closer to realising that dream.” Inclusion in Brisbane 2032 is the goal for many.
This year’s 11th edition of the World Para Surfing Championships is set to attract 24 nations with around 140 surfers. One of those surfers and contenders for another title is Zoe Smith. We caught up with Zoe who’s been punching in the hours at Lost Shore and The Wave in preparation for the first ever Champs to be held in a wave pool. The brand new DSRT Surf facility in Palm Desert, California.
Hey Zoe. Ready for an event in the pool? What are your thoughts?
Zoe: I think the Para community in general are pretty stoked on it being in a pool. These events are pretty big with nine different subdivisions and it’s hard to keep everybody happy, especially in the sea. Often times the more able-bodied surfers who need less water assistance and safety sometimes end up getting a bum deal with the tides and stuff. At least in a pool hopefully everyone is able to get the same platform. Also we’re already used to it to some degree with the various para contests that have been run at The Wave in Bristol.
Zoe Smith is chasing a second world title at DSRT Surf in Palm Desert. Photo: George Vale / The Wave
How’s the team looking for this year?
Zoe: It’s actually a much smaller team this year with four athletes going this year. There’s three of us from the UK and then one who is based in Australia. In previous years we’ve had a much bigger team and of course this means that we will not be as competitive in the overall team category. I think you are allowed two genders per category so some teams will have 17 or 18 people.
In 2023 we got 4th in the world which was an incredible achievement and gave us all a lot of recognition. With a smaller team we will not be likely to get that but focus will be on individual successes. Surfing England are working towards a new model for elite teams that includes medal potential, training commitment and looking towards getting athletes ready for 2032’s Brisbane potential.
As it’s not a Paralympic sport yet I presume funding is limited?
Zoe: That’s right. In terms of this event Surfing England will pay for our entry fees and they cover the costs of the staff. That all means it is a very expensive event for athletes. We will all be doing our own funding drives and looking for whatever help we can get. Even one single training session out there pre-event will be like US$150. All of the training time in the pools over here adds up too.
What do you know about the pool and that venue?
Zoe: It’s a brand new pool and so that’s all pretty exciting. It’s a Wavegarden tech so similar to Bristol and Edinburgh but by all accounts bigger and better. In many ways it makes it easier to prepare for.
Zoe Smith: “I’m going to these world Champs with the sole goal of winning back the title I won in 2024.” Photo: George Vale / The Wave
What has your prep looked like?
Zoe: I’m usually based down in Cornwall now training with my coach Melissa Reid. We made the decision that for this event the training should be in pools so I’ve been spending a lot of time at Lost Shore in Edinburgh and the Wave Bristol. As well as the actual surf training it’s also a chance to really get comfortable with things like being in an amphitheatre and spectators and everybody being closer. The timings and pressure of waves and things like that.
You mentioned Melissa Reid as your coach now. How has that come about?
Zoe: We competed together on the same team for years. Melissa is a three-time world champion in the visually impaired category and so obviously knows exactly what these events are about and how to get things across the line. Melissa has been transitioning into coaching and as well as her qualifications, she’s also really my best mate and so I’m very comfortable having her in my corner. I asked her if for this world champs and she would just work with me rather than the whole team and so I’m making that happen too. We’re both really looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.
Finally, what actually are your goals for this event?
Zoe: That’s an easy one. I have the sole goal of winning back the World Title that I won in 2024.
For more information and to support or contribute to Zoe’s campaign, see Zoe’s GoFundMe page.
Follow Zoe and the rest of the action at the ISA event page.
