Glen Anil para surfer hopes to shine on world stage

IT is never too late to get involved in adaptive sports. That’s the message from Glen Anil resident and para surfer, David Williams.

The 33-year-old recently won KZN Para Surfing Championships and followed that up by being crowned the SA Para Surfing Champ in the kneel division.

Williams was one of 46 competitors from various divisions who competed at Durban’s New Pier for the Tyre Life Solutions SA Para-Surfing Championships.

The national competition was hosted by Made for More, a local NPO that equips and empowers people with disabilities through sport.

The event, which is not only a national competition, also serves to select surfers to represent SA at the ISA World Para-Surfing Championships in the USA later in the year.

Read also: Durban hosts KZN Para Surfing Championships

Northglen News spoke to Williams about his hopes to shine on the world stage come December when the world champs will be staged.

“I’m very new to para surfing and the progress I’ve made in just over a year is remarkable. I was really chuffed with my performances from the KZN and SA champs. To be honest, my goal was just to try out the sport but as soon as the competitive bug bit I was hooked. It is such an honour to have made the SA team for the world champs.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic there is still a little uncertainty whether the champs will take place or not. If the competition goes ahead it will be my first international competition where I get the chance of representing my country and shining on the world stage,” he said.

Williams also spoke about his involvement with Made for More

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“I can’t thank Julia and Leon Van Zyl enough who run Made for More because I don’t think they get enough credit. Disabled sports is so hard and what they and the volunteers have done for adaptive sports is literally out of this world. I found out very late in my life about para surfing but it has completely changed my life. I’ve struggled first hand trying to get into adaptive sports but they’ve made athletes like me feel safe and empowered to realize we can be more.

“A big part of the message I want to send is that it’s never too late for elder disabled people who want to start a sport. For parents of disabled children, encourage them to get out there, get them involved in a disabled sport and with organisations like Made for More. It will change their life in ways they could never imagine. Disabled people will continue to amaze people and compete at a level that often can challenge able-bodied athletes. Don’t underestimate what your disabled children is capable of,” he said.

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