With beach wheelchairs, waxed boards and rash vests, some brave individuals with disabilities participated in the KwaZulu-Natal Para Surfing Championships hosted by Made for More
Nothing quite matches the feeling of catching a wave. When your board is picked up and pushed out by the ocean on a wave that sends you gliding over the water. Salt sprayed with the white wash. With the help of Made for More, people with disabilities can enjoy this feeling through para surfing or adaptive surfing.
Made for More is a sport, mental health and disability non-profit organisation that is headlining adaptive surfing in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province.
Similar to traditional surfing, individuals paddle out into the ocean and ride waves back to the shore on a surfboard. However, small adjustments are made to accommodate the disability. The surfer might stand, kneel or lie down on the board. They might require assistance in the water with paddling in or turning around the board, and surfers might make modifications to the board so that it is safer for to use.
Para surfers can participate in a number of categories including: Standing or kneeling for upper limb or below-the-knee amputees; Kneeling for above-the-knee amputees; Visually impaired/blind; Upright or wave-ski (in which the individual is seated on the board); Prone (in which the athlete is lying face-down on the board propped up by their elbows or holding onto a strap); and assist.
On Saturday, March 27, Made for More hosted the KZN Para Surfing Championships at Addington Beach, Durban. The clouds parted just in time for 34 athletes to take to the waters. More adaptive surfers attended this provincial event than the 26 athletes from across South Africa who participated in the 2019 national championship.
According to Made for More: “These numbers show how much the sport is growing in KZN and in our country at large.” The organisation hopes to see even more athletes at the national championship in May of this year.
Among the surfers who participated in the KZN Para Surfing Championships were four national athletes. Tracy McKay is a globally ranked surfer. She currently holds second in the world in the Prone Unassist division. Last year, Tracy competed in the 2020 World Para Surfing Championship. It was her first time appearing at the competition.
The 2020 World Para Surfing Championship was held in La Jolla, California, United States, on March 11 to 15 – before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and national lockdowns were enforced. At the event, Tracy claimed a silver medal in the Women’s Prone 1 – a division for surfers who lie on their boards, paddle out and catch waves without assistance.
“The organisation hopes to see even more athletes at the national championship in May of this year.”
Sabelo Ngema, who also attended the world championships and provincial competition, is ranked seventh globally in the Visual Impairment 2 division.
At the KZN Para Surfing Championships, Tracy placed first while Sabelo came second in their respective divisions. Also in attendance was Caleb Swanepoel and Erynn Geddie. Both placed first in their respective divisions.
Among the other athletes, there are some deserving notable mentions. Jodie Kroone was a newcomer at the event. She surprised the crowd and herself by absolutely dominating in her division. She won in the hotly contested prone assist women’s division.
David Williams, Amuri Mwanza, Krishiv Katuwaro, Oliver Sinclair, Danito Mondlane, Douglas Hendrikz and Sean Thompson were also newly crowned KZN Para Surfing Champions. Each para surfer out manoeuvred the competition to win gold in their division.
Aside from the skilled and competitive, there were many who took to the waters for the very first time to surf. Guided and supported by an excellent water-assist team, the joy felt by these first-time surfers was tangible and visible on their faces. Future para surfers in the making!
The athletes were undoubtedly grateful to Julia van Zyl, founder and director of Made for More, the rest of the Made for More team, the organisers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who made the day possible.
The South African Para Surfing Championships will be hosted at the New Pier beach in Durban, KZN, from May 28 to 30. Registration for the event is open and available up until May 15. There is a R250 registration fee. There is an option to participate in the “beginner expression session”, which is solely for surfers who would like to have fun rather than compete.
For enquiries about the event, contact Made for More on julia@madeformore.org.za. For enquiries about the classification, contact info@helenmillson.com.
Made for More hosts various other fun activities for people with disabilities. Visit their website (https://madeformore.org.za) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/madeformoresa/) for more information and updates.
Good luck to all the surfers who plan to participate in the South African Para Surfing Championships and congratulations to all the athletes who placed first in their division.
