Multiple Adaptive Surfing World Champion Ant Smyth has been there since the early days of competitive adaptive surfing. Now based in California, the South African is still competing at the highest level while helping grow the sport through coaching. With adaptive surfing as part of the Wavepool Surf Tour, Smyth reckons wave pools could open up a whole new world for adaptive surfers.
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First up, Ant. How old are you, where are you from, and where do you live now?
I’m 55 and I’m from Port Edward on the South Coast of KZN. I grew up surfing all the little nooks and bays down there. My go-to spot was probably TO Strand, and during the winter swells I used to surf Glenmore Beach and some of the little hidden reef breaks. I currently live in California.
How did you get involved in adaptive surfing?
I got involved right at the beginning, when the ISA invited member nations to take part in the first World Adaptive Surfing Championships in La Jolla. I went over there with a team of four from South Africa, not really knowing what to expect, and I realised that I had a shot at being one of the best in the world.
I surf in the Upper Limb division, which is for people who paddle with one arm or have an upper limb deficiency, either one arm or bilateral. I got a second at that first event, and the following year I won it.
You’ve put together some serious results since then.
I’ve competed at seven World Championships. I’ve won twice, come second three times, third once and fifth once. There are some really good surfers at the top, and we have a regular battle to win World Championships.
I’ve also won two US Opens and had some good results in places like Bali and Costa Rica.
What took you to California?
I guess it was about giving back. We did a lot of work in South Africa getting adaptive surfing going, and I came here to compete a bit more and move into coaching adaptive surfing. Hopefully I can coach some future world champions from the adaptive community.
I still go back to South Africa every year and surf for the South African team, but I’m also here to try and grow the sport globally.
The World Championships are moving into a wave pool this year. That must be an interesting one for you.
It’s pretty exciting, and appropriate considering the Wavepool Surf Tour. We’re going to surf the World Championships in the California desert. That’s different and very cool. I think wave pools are made for adaptive surfing in some ways.
Why do you think wave pools could work so well for adaptive surfing?
In my division, we can surf pretty much anything. But for the prone guys, and the surfers who need assistance getting into waves, wave pools are made for them.
I’m really excited to see what this can do for the guys who can’t walk across the beach or paddle out and need assistance, as well as the blind divisions, paraplegics and quads. I think this is going to change the game for them, and I’m genuinely excited for them.
Does taking the randomness out of the ocean change the surfing as well?
I’m excited to see how the dynamic changes in wave pools and how everyone surfs. I think wave pools expose your surfing because they take some of the randomness out of it. Having more contests for adaptive surfing will improve the sport and raise the bar.
Would you change your equipment for a wave pool?
For sure. I’ll need to look at my equipment. I think I’ll go with less knifey boards, probably an epoxy with a little bit more volume and a little bit more rocker to try and squeeze into those corners. And I guess I’ll have to work on my air game.
That could be worth watching. Ant Smyth suddenly going above the lip.
It does seem to be more about airs, and these new wave pools have sections and contours for airs. You can set the wave up differently, and I think that air factor is important at the moment.
But I’m older and I like smooth, power surfing, and I feel that should be given space to get scores. I like seeing more done on a wave, more connectivity and almost poetry in the surfing. So that will be my approach.
So, two waves, lefts or rights. Where we going with this?
Smooth, power surfing. Although I can see myself eyeing out an air section and trying to go for one, and that might be interesting to see.
I think I’ll probably stick to the rights. I’m a regular footer, and forehand surfing suits me better. I feel like I have more speed and flow on the rights. Although I do like a left when it’s bigger and hollow, so we’ll see. For now, I’ll be zeroing in on the right-handers.
How do you feel about the Wavepool Surf Tour including an Adaptive division?
We’re very appreciative to be included in the Wavepool Surf Tour. Generally, adaptive surfers have to do their own thing. The logistics involved with combining a para event with an able-bodied event can be tricky, but having this Tour include para surfers is such an opportunity to bring everybody together.
It also gives adaptive surfers the opportunity to show that they can actually surf. The fact that somebody might be lying down doesn’t make them less of a waterman. There are some really hardcore guys who can’t move and are in wheelchairs, but they are really good watermen. So I think the WPST including adaptive surfing is such a positive thing for our community.
There’s already been quite a bit of interest in the Tour from the adaptive community. Do you think there are enough opportunities out there at the moment?
More events will improve adaptive surfing, raise the standard and give the sport more recognition. The Wavepool Surf Tour gives para surfers another opportunity to compete, travel and surf against their peers, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Could you see yourself travelling to some of the different Wavepool Surf Tour events?
Absolutely. I think I’ll travel to various events and try out different wave pools. What a pleasure to travel to wave pools around the world and compete against your peers.
The Wavepool Surf Tour is a great way to travel and surf different places, including places surfers wouldn’t normally go to. Switzerland, the Emirates, the California desert. I’ll be visiting places where there weren’t waves before, and now there are. That’s pretty cool.
Check out Ant's website
Ant is on Instagram
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