Fondly referred to up North as ‘Surf City, USA’, Huntington Beach remains true to its namesake, hosting the monumental ISA World Para Surfing Championship 2023 (WPSC). With diverse competitions all week long, the Eight Edition of the Championship is record-setting as Huntington Beach invites 184 of the world’s best Para Surfers to compete across 27 nations – with strong representation of Canada, of course.
Visit Huntington Beach CEO Kelly Miller and Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland welcomed the athletes and declared the event officially open.
“Surf culture is rich in our history and your name and experiences are going to add to that next chapter,” Miller said. “We’re stoked to be a part of Para Surfing, it’s a big part of what we’re doing. And I know you’re equally stoked to hopefully see Para Surfing as a part of the 2028 Paralympic Games.”
The Eighth Edition of the World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) add another major event tio Huntington Beach’s wetsuit pocket, joining a 40-year history of historical events like:
- ISA World Surfing Games (1984, 1996, 2006, 2022)
- ISA World Juniors (2005, 2018, 2019)
- World Flying Disc Federation World Beach Ultimate Championships (2023 – first ever in the US)
- US Open of Surfing (2022)
- Kneeboarding Surfing USA Titles (2004)
Through the Championship, Huntington Beach is proud to uplift accessibility opportunities for those with disabilities, joining WPSC in an effort to have Para Surfing included in future Paralympic Games. Believing everyone should be able to experience “the sweeping sense of peace the crashing waves and sea breeze bring”, Huntington Beach proudly offers year-round accessible experiences, including:
- Paved Beach Path: What better way to see the city than the iconic Bolsa Chica Multi-Use Trail. It offers nearly 15 kilometers of wide, flat and paved pathway boasting unmatched views of Surf City, multiple beach access points and shade structures.
- Mobi-Mats: Wheeling all the way down to the coastline is made accessible for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers. Beach-friendly wheelchairs are also available to rent, free of charge.
- Adaptive Surf Program: Former professional surfer Rocky McKinnon offers hour-long tandem surfing or chair boarding lessons, setting out to make Surf City, USA accessible for everyone.