FIVE new Australian Para Surfing Champions were crowned at North Haven last Thursday.

The good weather continued to provide for competitors, with the breakwall punching out clean, two foot waves.

The Australian Para Surfing Titles have been an integral part of the Australian Surf Championships since 2016, following the introduction of a world title by the International Surfing Association (ISA).

Competing at his first Australian Surf Championship last week was Port Macquarie para-surfer Toby Begg, who was involved in a life-changing shark attack at Lighthouse Beach on August 25, 2023.

Begg hit the waves in the PS-Kneel Division alongside para-surfing royalty Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart, who went on to win the event.

Stewart, who holds an impressive collection of seven Australian titles, first became involved in the sport after losing his leg in 1976.

“I was always an avid surfer as a kid and have now spent almost my whole life surfing with just one leg,” Stewart told News Of The Area (NOTA).

“Since the adaptive moment has come along it has just been fantastic.

“The international titles have opened up the world to bring our family of para-surfers together.

“Now, when we have a world tour, it is like having a family reunion.”

Stewart said the ocean is a “real leveller for adaptive people”.

“When we are on land you can see we are on crutches and in wheelchairs, but once we are in the water we don’t have that.

“That all disappears.”

Joel Taylor took out the PS Prone 1 event to secure back-to-back Australian titles.

“Last year I won after spending 20 years out of the ocean, so to go back-to-back champion is pretty cool,” he said.

“Conditions were great.

“It’s nice to hold the para titles in some waves that have a little bit of punch behind them so we can show our stuff.

“I would have liked to stay out there to be honest.”

Contest director Glen Elliott noted the continuous rise in the standard of para-surfing competitions.

“We have had really good waves and the performances out there are just peaking,” he said.

“The camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed among participants further highlight the inclusive nature of this competition and the sense of unity it fosters within the surfing community.”

Australian Para-Surfing Champions

PS VI 1 & PS VI 2 – Jack Jackson NSW

PS-Prone 1 Men – Joel Taylor NSW

PS-Prone 2 Mixed – Cliff Gralton NSW

PS-Kneel – Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart NSW

PS-S2 – PS-S3 & PS-Sit – Jake Matthews NSW

By Kim AMBROSE