The Australian Para Surfing Titles kicked off yesterday at Main Beach, Byron Bay, setting the stage for an unforgettable week of competition. For the third year, adaptive surfers from across Australia have descended on the picturesque coastal town, long known as a hub for both local and international surf culture.
The conditions were fantastic and didn’t ease off the entire day, delivering clean 3–4 foot offshore surf that, at times, pushed even the best. The first Sit Down heat of the day stole the show as our Sit / Waveski Surfers entered the water. The title would be decided over a two-heat final, with aggregate scores determining who would be crowned Australian Sit Champion! With last year’s title claimed by NSW’s Michael Johnson, all eyes were on the water.
As the tide dropped out, heaving, sand-spitting barrels were breaking across the contest area, difficult conditions for any surfer. Richard “Rick” Thomas started off strong with a long, maneuver-filled ride, scoring 7.83 and taking a commanding position in the man-on-man heat.
But Johnson wouldn’t be letting this one go easily – a perfect A-frame peak approached him, and with his gung-ho attitude, he took a couple of confident strokes, made the drop, and set a line for an incredible barrel as the entire beach watched, holding their breath.
The tube time was insane as he needled his waveski through the turquoise wall so synonymous with Byron Bay. The wave ultimately closed out with Michael firmly and confidently tucked deep into the curl. The beach erupted with cheers for such a daring and gnarly wave, ultimately earning him the Barney Miller Spirit Award for his committed surfing.
However, Rick wouldn’t let Michael steal the show that easily and backed up his already high-scoring wave with a 7.37, showcasing the smooth surfing he has honed at his local break, Moffat Beach in Queensland. Richard wrapped up the heat with an excellent total of 15.20.
In the pair’s second final, the last heat of the day, the swell continued to pulse into the afternoon, with 4-foot-plus sets dumping on the shallow sandbank. The rescue and assist teams, provided by Byron Bay Adaptive and Waveski Adventurers, were excellent in helping each surfer reach the backline safely.
The 20-minute heat passed quickly, with Johnson’s confidence helping him secure two mid-scoring waves to take the heat win. Based on the heat scores and aggregates, Richard Thomas was crowned the 2026 Australian Para Surfing Sit / Waveski Champion.
“I’d like to thank my support team—Darren, Pablo and Brucey—who helped me out in this shore break. I really appreciate it, and all the volunteers. This is my first event, and I’m keen for the next one.” When asked about his place in the Australian team, he added, “I’m honoured and appreciate being part of the team—thank you, everyone!”
As Waveski Adventurers, we are proud to play a role in this pivotal event as a Gold Sponsor, as well as volunteering with water safety, offering Come & Try Days, and being part of the stoke that makes this event so special. A huge congratulations and respect go out to each competitor.
Over the coming days, a large low-pressure system is generating storm swells down the point, with the Byron Bay Adaptive Pro having its first call on Wednesday morning.
Tune into our socials for live updates and news, and you can follow the amazing webcast at https://www.adaptivesurfproaustralia.com/
Content produced by Maroochy Media in collaboration with Waveski Adventurers
