Pismo Beach CA— USA Surfing Para Surfers Win Team Gold in 2021 ISA World ParaSurfing Championship – A record nine medals is Team USA’s strongest showing in the event’s history
USA Surfing’s Team Toyota Para Surf team won the team Gold Medal in the 2021 International Surfing Association’s World Para Surfing Championship event presented by AmpSurf in Pismo Beach, Calif. It was USA Surfing’s stongest showing in the event’s six-year history, with nine American surfers making the podium.
The team was led by three Gold Medal performances from triple amputee Jose Martinez from Apple Valley, Calif. in the Prone 2 division, Liv Stone of Oceanside in Stand 1, and Sarah Bettencourt from San Diego in Prone 1. Liv and Sarah are two-time world champs, wining individual Gold Medals in 2020 and 2021.
San Diego’s Ethan Kairer and Jesse Billauer of Pacific Palisades, Calif. won Silver Medals — Ethan in the Open Sit division and Jesse in Prone 2.
Indiana’s Darian Bailey Haynes, who has surfed in every ISA World Para Surf Championship, and her teammate Barbie Pacheco of Valley Mills, Texas won Bronze Medals in Stand 1 and Visually Impaired 1 respectively.
Alana Nichols of Reno, Nev. and Katherine Beattie, Los Angeles, won Copper Medals — Alana the only woman in Open Sit and Katherine in Prone 1.
“I’m always proud to be a veteran, but this is on the ultimate level,” said Prone 2 Gold Medalist Jose Martinez. “To represent my country for a new sport that’s coming out, that I see as absolutely epic and is going to be so meaningful for the rest of the world, not just for us. I am grateful and I am honored.”
“I’m blown away by the level of skill by all female para surfers this year, we’ve all stepped it up to bring intense, suspenseful, crowd-roaring surf competition to the world,” said Prone 1 Gold Medalist Sarah Bettencourt.
Stand 1 Gold Medalist Liv Stone moved from Pennsylvania to California to pursue her dream of surfing. “It still doesn’t seem real. Team USA did incredible this year and each and every one of us put in so much hard work for the team Gold Medal. Absolutely honored to be a part of this incredible team,” Liv said. “This was a year to remember!”
USA Surfing CEO Greg Cruse said he would love to see this team on the Paralympic stage in 2028. “I’m super proud of these athletes who’ve been training hard all year and came out on top for the team and won nine individual medals,” said Cruse. “Thanks to the ISA for putting on a fantastic event and continuing to push for para surfing to be in the Paralympic Games in 2028. They belong on that SoCal world stage!”
USA Surfing’s powerhouse team competed against 150 of the world’s best para surf athletes from 26 national teams in nine para surfing sport classes. The double elimination format competition featured five days of non-stop action in beautiful Pismo Beach Pier conditions that strengthened each day.
The team was a mix of new and seasoned competitors, who bonded instantly. Team co-captain Christiaan “Otter” Bailey said, “From the second we hit the water, Team USA Surfing went FULL SEND into this comp with a comprehensive strategy to take back our World Champion Title!”
To learn more about the team and their inspiring stories – https://usasurfteam.medium.com/the-push-for-paralympic-surfing-continues-3f3ced1d3b33