Para-Surfer Beats Odds Yet Again Making History for Hopeful Para-Athletes All Over the Globe: “Keep On Competing Because…”

Surfing is an extreme sport. In tandem, if you look at the para-surfing category, which has its own challenges, you have a visual spectacle in front of you. World Parasurfing Champion Victoria Feige, made history by winning her 4th title at the 2022 ISA Para Surfing World Championship. The 37-year-old became the first female para-surfer to do so.

In a recent interview, Feige shared her story about how she got into the sport. Currently aiming for the 2028 Paralympics debut, Feige also talks about how the sport has grown, as more and more para surfers get motivated by watching her dominate the ocean.

Feige’s rise in surfing

In an interview with CBC Sports, Feige says, “I keep on competing because I love it, I love the community, and I feel like I have further to go. It’s exciting”. It isn’t money that fuels her; it is her love for the sport that drives her to compete more and more. “I loved it from my first wave. The burst of speed and the acceleration, being in the ocean, I knew I loved surfing,” said Feige.

The para surfer also loves the surfing community, for their wholesome attitude towards her, while also motivating her in her endeavors. Elaborating on this sentiment, she said, “Even though we compete against each other, we all help each other too. So a lot of coaching has been informally from the other adaptive surfers.”.

The Canadian began surfing at the age of 16. Although, little did she know that fate had something else planned for her. Fiege suffered a traumatic spinal fracture and spinal cord injury at the age of 18 while snowboarding. The life-changing accident made her lose hope of ever surfing again. Although, when Fiege discovered para surfing a whole new door opened up for her. According to Feige, “It’s been a wonderful, joyous surprise to progress in my surfing, and also do so well in the competitions.”

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What’s next for the emerging para-surfing star?

Just after getting into para surfing, three years later, Feige got her first world championship title and never looked back. Her latest win in Pismo Beach, California, has made her one of the top para surfers in the world. Although, this is not the end of her journey, as she has bigger goals to achieve.

The world champion’s next goal is getting the sport into the Paralympics. As the sport won’t be featured in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Fiege dreams of getting para surfing into the 2028 edition. Her country is proud of her initiatives, as is the surfing community, for using her progress for the betterment of the sport.

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Do you think the sport will be added to the 2028 Paralympics? Let us know in the comment section.