French para surfing is gaining momentum: it now brings together eight disability classes, from “Accessible Waves” introductory sessions to elite championships. Beyond the tricks, remarkable human journeys emerge, bearing witness to a Ocean without Limits where every take-off becomes a statement of inclusion.
Adapted surfing: overview of categories and new challenges in 2025
The French circuit has established six major divisions, inspired by ISA regulations but tailored to the Landes sandbanks. Each support category—Stand, Prone, Kneel, Visual, Adaptive—has 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 rolling out a “BlueAdapt” module: AI video analysis and pressure sensors mounted beneath the board to objectively assess each ride. The goal: to prepare a contingent ready for the label French Championships 2025.
From categorization to training spots
Federal training camps follow one another between the Hossegor’s famous beaches and the Californian bowl of Huntington, site of the latest 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 titles, with an advanced-volume shape to compensate for the missing drive from his prosthetic leg.
- Peyo Milhau : six Adaptive titles, including three in U18. He combines “Surf Solidaire” club sessions with neurocognitive coaching.
- Maxime Cabanne : three-time Kneel champion, a fan of the wider twin-fin for getting out of the tube quickly.
- Thomas Da Silva : a Visual 1 master, with voice guidance synchronized to the crash of breaking waves.
| 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 led a “Wheels & Waves Adapté” clinic for 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 the hand, an exercise from the “Accessible Waves” method.
- Controlled flotation : a workout in a wetsuit to test the volume under the heels.
- Dry take-off : practice on a sliding mat, 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 combines pool sessions and cross-training on the sand of Seignosse-Capbreton, before the live practice sessions 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 calendar is becoming more packed: after Hossegor, a mandatory stop at the Coupe des Landes, followed by a wildcard for the French Adaptive Surfer Tank in Biarritz. The organizers of French Championships in Hossegor have even introduced a mixed “Team Ride for All” challenge: a wave surfed in turns by an able-bodied athlete and a para athlete, with scores added together.
- May 2025: Surf Landes Championship – spot La Nord (event details)
- August 2025: Accessible Waves Cup – Seignosse, tag-team format
- October 2025: ISA Worlds – Huntington Beach (USA)
| Test | Open category | Riders quota |
|---|---|---|
| Landes Cup | All | 60 |
| French Adaptive Surfer Tank | Stand & Prone | 40 |
| ISA Worlds | International | 200 |
The Federation is targeting 10 medals, twice the 2023 haul. A joint training camp with able-bodied prospects, 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 shortlist: Men’s Prone 2 and Women’s Stand 2 are expected to join the 2028 program. The logistical tests at Taharu’u in Polynesia, identified during the Hossegor-Tahiti, This is proof that a reef can host a secure contest.
Societal impact: boardsports as a lever for inclusion
Beyond performance, the movement is expanding into community clubs. The “Surf Solidaire” and “Ride for All” programs held 3,500 group sessions in 2024. The Surf Inclusion network trains coaches who 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 is also helping sponsors support young talent; the Young surfers from Normandy campaign generated 120,000 views on FFS’s internal networks, proving the growing appeal of inclusive and 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.