Para surfing in France is going from strength to strength: it now federates eight classes of handicap, from «Accessible Waves» initiation sessions to elite championships. Behind the figures of style appear above all extraordinary human trajectories, witnesses of a Ocean without Limits where every take-off becomes a manifest of inclusion.
Adapted surfing: an overview of categories and new challenges in 2025
The French circuit has set up six major divisions, inspired by the ISA rules, but calibrated for the Landes sandbanks. Each family of supports - Stand, Prone, Kneel, Visuel, Adapté - has its own precise rules dictated by HandiSurf. In 2025, the new ranking takes into account power measured in turns and the ability to generate speed on soft sections, two criteria designed for the Hossegor beach-breaks.
- Stands 1 to 3: standing riders, differentiated by amputation or muscular impairment.
- Prone 1 & 2: recumbent rowing, variable take-off assistance.
- Kneel: kneeling, lowered center of gravity for carving without buried rail.
- Visual 1 & 2: blind people with voice guidance or visually impaired people on their own.
- Adapted: cognitive or sensory disorders, judged on fluidity rather than radicalness.
| Division | Main criterion | Champion-ne 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Stand 2 | Sub-knee prosthesis | Eric Dargent |
| Kneel | Paraplegia T12 | Maxime Cabanne |
| Visual 1 | Total blindness | Juliette Mas |
| Adapted Open | Intellectual disability | Peyo Milhau |
The FFS Technical Council is already deploying a «BlueAdapt» module: AI video analysis and pressure sensors fixed under the board to objectify each ride. Objective: prepare a label-ready quota French Championships 2025.
From categorization to training spots
Federal training courses follow one another between Hossegor's famous beaches and the Californian bowl of Huntington, site of the last Worlds. Why Hossegor? Because its beach-break is versatile: small rollers for «Ride for All» in the morning, solid barrels in the afternoon for «Liberty Wave» sessions.
Portraits of icons: when resilience rhymes with performance
The French line-up is based on pioneers who have broken the mould of doubt. Each name tells the story of a method, a mind of steel, a custom-made board.
- Eric Dargent Five Stand 2 sacres, an advanced volume shape to compensate for the missing thrust of the prosthetic leg.
- Peyo Milhau six Adapté titles, including three at U18 level. He combines «Surf Solidaire» club sessions with neuro-cognitive coaching.
- Maxime Cabanne Triple Kneel champion, adept at the extended twin-fin to get out of the tube fast.
- Thomas Da Silva Visual Master 1, voice guidance synchronized with the crash of the surf.
| Athlete | Category | National titles | Technical features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Dargent | Stand 2 & 3 | 8 | Articulated carbon prosthesis |
| Peyo Milhau | Adapted | 6 | Deck widened, nose rocker lowered |
| Maxime Cabanne | Kneel | 3 | Raised side pads |
| Thomas Da Silva | Visual 1 | 3 | Waterproof beeper |
In 2024, these riders gave a «Wheels & Waves Adapté» clinic in front of 200 kids from the program. French Surf Generation. Groms have discovered that gliding isn't just about perfect trajectory: it embodies the ability to transform adversity into track-bound power.
Technical case studies
Cédric Montagné calibrated his Prone 2 using the BlueAdapt algorithm: volume increased by 6 liters, central drift advanced by 2 cm. Result: a faster bottom exit. Laurie Phipps, on the other hand, goes for lightness: 100 % epoxy board, bamboo stringer, capable of engaging re-entries on reformed sections.
From beach to performance: customized training and equipment
The local «Surf Inclusion Lab» shaping workshop has become a benchmark on the Landes coast: handle implants for Surfeurs Différents, shock-absorbing rails, ergonomic straps for prone riders. Three field drills are performed before each launch.
- Wave reading Feel the movement of the blade with your hand, an exercise from the «Accessible Waves» method.
- Controlled flotation work-out in a neoprene suit to test the volume of underpallets.
- Dry take-off sliding mat rehearsal, useful for Kneel and Prone 2.
| Drill | Objective | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wave reading | Locating peak energy | 10 min. |
| Floating | Assessing static balance | 15 min |
| Dry take-off | Memorize the motor sequence | 20 min |
The staff mixes pool sessions with cross-training on the sand of Seignosse-Capbreton, before live practice on the north bank of Hossegor, a spot referenced in the «Surf Solidaire» database since 2015.
Targeted nutrition & recovery
The BlueAdapt medical center observes a protein:carbohydrate ratio of 1:2 to facilitate amputated muscle reconstruction. Mobile cryotherapy and heated vests take turns; a combo that reduces 30 % of microlessions, according to the in-house study published in the journal European Surf Medicine.
Competitions 2025: the road to the Paralympic label
The national agenda is getting denser: after Hossegor, a compulsory stop at the Coupe des Landes, then a wildcard for the French Adaptive Surfer Tank in Biarritz. The organizers of the French Championships in Hossegor have even included a mixed «Team Ride for All» challenge: a wave surfed in turn by an able-bodied and a para-athlete, with the scores added together.
- May 2025: Surf Landes Championship - spot La Nord (event details)
- August 2025: Accessible Waves Cup - Seignosse, tag-team format
- October 2025: Worlds ISA - Huntington Beach (USA)
| Test | Open category | Riders quota |
|---|---|---|
| Landes Cup | All | 60 |
| French Adaptive Surfer Tank | Stand & Prone | 40 |
| Worlds ISA | International | 200 |
The Federation is aiming for 10 medals, twice as many as in 2023. A joint training course with the able-bodied hopefuls, as reported in the chronicle of previous championships, is the key to this quantum leap.
Towards the Paralympic label
The Paralympic Committee has confirmed the short-list: Prone 2 men and Stand 2 women are set to join the 2028 program. Logistical tests at Taharu'u in Polynesia, spotted during the transatlantic race Hossegor-Tahiti, This is proof that a reef can host a secure contest.
Societal impact: boardsports as a lever for inclusion
In addition to perf, the movement is extending to civic clubs. The «Surf Solidaire» and «Ride for All» programs will have 3,500 group sessions by 2024. The network Surf Inclusion trains coaches to work with specialized schools, while the Wheels & Waves Adapted mobilizes mechanics to adapt all-terrain wheelchairs.
- Creation of 7 Liberty Wave ramps on the main beach access points.
- BlueAdapt x Hospitals partnership: 120 transplant patients initiated.
- Surfeurs Différents« label for 18 clubs, including 5 on the South Atlantic coast.
| Program | Objective | Result 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Surf Solidaire | Free U18 sessions | 1,800 wrinkles |
| Ride for All | Mixed valid/para | 900 shared waves |
| Liberty Wave | Beach accessibility | +45 % wheelchair passageways |
The buzz also encourages the sponsorship of young talent; the Young surfers from Normandy generated 120,000 views on FFS internal networks, proving the growing appeal of inclusive, responsible surfing.
Local echoes and a global perspective
The Capbreton authorities voted a participatory budget to add two electric winches and a fleet of Soft Top BlueAdapt boards. At the same time, the «Océan sans Limites» association is piloting a twinning project between Landes surf clubs and Colombian surf schools.
What's the difference between Prone 1 and Prone 2?
Prone 1 is aimed at athletes who can perform their take-off independently, while Prone 2 includes human or mechanical assistance for the take-off, with the scoring taking into account the adapted rowing amplitude.
How do I start surfing in Hossegor?
All you need to do is contact a HandiSurf-labeled club; a «Vagues Accessibles» test session will help determine the category and adapt the equipment before the first launch.
Will para-surfing become a Paralympic sport?
The IOC has confirmed the feasibility study: two events (Stand 2 women, Prone 2 men) should be included in the 2028 program, subject to the 2026-2027 qualification tests.
What equipment is right for a blind surfer?
A board with a protective foam nose, a waterproof audio guidance system and a reinforced leash are the three basic elements.
Are there any mixed disabled/disabled competitions?
Yes: the «Team Ride for All» concept requires one able-bodied surfer and one para surfer to ride the same wave, cumulating their scores for a single ranking.
English 
Français 
Español 
Português 
Deutsch 
Nederlands