Opening Ceremony for Para Worlds set to kick off competition Wednesday
The International Surfing Association (ISA) highlighted its commitment to the growth and development of Para Surfing by holding the AmpSurf ISA Para Surf Clinic on Tuesday at La Jolla Shores.
The objective of the clinic was to provide an opportunity for athletes with physical challenges to experience the sport of surfing and the healing qualities of the ocean.
Despite exceptionally stormy weather, 13 athletes participated, receiving expert guidance from top athletes and instructors in the sport.
“These participants are learning and experiencing what surf therapy is like,” said AmpSurf Founder and President Dana Cummings. “There is a great thrill in riding a wave for the first time.
“Our goal is to let people know that they can do anything they set their mind to and focus on their abilities. That’s what we want to instill in everybody. Whether they surf again or not doesn’t matter, just as long as they use this experience to maintain an active lifestyle. That’s what we want to see them doing.”
“Surfing for me is just a sense of freedom,” said clinic participant Lisa Franks. “I get to leave my wheelchair on the beach and I’m out there in the ocean catching a wave just like anyone else. I don’t see the disability.”
The clinic was held as the opening festivity for the 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship, which officially kicks off on Wednesday with the Opening Ceremony at Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores.
The Opening Ceremony will feature the Parade of Nations down the boardwalk at La Jolla Shores, followed by the one-of-a-kind Sands of the World Ceremony, where each nation pours sand from their nation into a container to symbolize the peaceful gathering of nations through Para Surfing.
A record-breaking 131 athletes from 22 countries are set to compete, representing their nations and going for Gold in the only and premiere World Championship for the discipline.
With the inaugural edition held in 2015, the ISA World Para Surfing Championship has accelerated the growth and development of the sport on all continents of the globe, with athlete participation nearly doubling since the event’s inception.
Over the past two days 93 athletes were formally classified in the Para Surfing classification system. A team of professional international Para Surfing Classifiers performed on-site classification assessments on all of these athletes, a huge step forward for the development of Para Surfing classification and its spread across the globe.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“The ISA is fully committed to empowering people with physical challenges to experience the healing effects of the ocean. Surfing has proven to be life-changing for so many of these athletes, we want to continuing spreading its joy.
“The clinic helps set the foundation for the next generation of para surfers, a generation that we hope can have the honor to compete for a slot at the Paralympic Games.”
Schedule:
Wednesday March 11
- Opening Ceremony, 9:30am-11:30am at Kellogg Park adjacent to La Jolla Shores
- Competition, 1pm-4:30pm at La Jolla Shores
Thursday March 12 – Sunday March 15
- Competition 7am-4:30pm at La Jolla Shores
Sunday March 15
- Closing Ceremony following the close of competition at La Jolla Shores
The 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship can be viewed live on www.isasurf.org March 11-15.