A local woman has returned home with a bronze medal from the prestigious UK Para Surfing Championships.
Sophie Veron’s Triumph
Sophie Veron, one of 75 para surfers competing, shone at the English Para Surfing Open in Bristol. The event was held at The Wave, an inland surfing lake capable of generating up to 1,000 waves per hour using cutting-edge technology developed by Spanish company Wavegarden.
Special Equipment and Support
Due to her disabilities, Veron surfed using a specially designed board lent to her by former Paralympian Hannah Dines, whom she met at the competition. This board allowed her to surf lying down.
Veron has hydrocephalus, which causes fluid buildup in the brain, and scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, for which she has metal rods inserted in her back. She competed in the prone category, designated for para surfers who ride waves while lying down.
The Competition Experience
Veron was among five competitors in her heats. “Each of us had a person known as a pusher who would push us out to the wave and launch us onto it, and then a catcher who would help us get off the board at the other end of the lake,” she explained.
The surfers rode waves for 25 minutes and were scored by three judges based on technique, effort, and other criteria. Veron faced the added challenge of adapting to the chlorinated water and the consistent, regular waves, which differ from the unpredictable nature of the sea.
“It’s chlorinated water rather than salt water, and all the waves are similar and come at regular intervals rather than being all over the place like in the sea,” she noted. “After a bit of practice, I got the hang of it.”
A Surprising Victory
Veron’s bronze medal win came as a surprise, as she had only started training for the event three months ago. “I’ve got such a buzz. I’ve got to say a big thank you to my instructors Ben Clifford and Rachael Green, as they were the ones who helped me get to this position.”
Inspired for the Future
The supportive atmosphere at the event has motivated Veron to pursue more competitions in the future. “What struck me most was the ‘can do’ attitude of everyone there; people were just getting on with it and helping each other. It’s got me wanting to do more events, maybe even further afield next time.”
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