(ATR) International Paralympic Committee Vice President Duane Kale did more than get his feet wet at the 2017 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship.
Kale is a four-time Paralympic gold medalist in swimming but had never tried surfing before Friday, when he took to the waters of La Jolla Shores beach with among others Fernando Aguerre, the president of the International Surfing Association.
Aguerre was duly impressed, telling Around the Rings "He was really good (at) the other aspects of surfing. People think about surfing and it’s just the wave. No it’s all what you do before, during and after that makes surfing so special. You can tell that in the water he had no physical challenges."
Kale certainly seemed to enjoy the experience, telling Aguerre in an ISA webcast interview "I think being in the ocean as a swimmer, you’re concentrating on bringing in air. Being on the ocean in a board you’re taking in your natural surroundings. There’s a lot more interaction with people and just the whole experience of grabbing waves is awesome."
The IPC vice president told ATR on Thursday that it is important to have a member of the IPC board to come and see first hand what a para surfing event is like.
Aguerre believes that Kale being on the ground and experiencing surfing will only help the ISA’s efforts in getting para surfing into the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
"The fact that he’s here goes a long way to explain this. Obviously the culture, the lifestyle, all the aspects besides the actual surfing competition itself are what have appealed to a lot of the fans and followers for ages. I think that was quite clear to Tokyo and to the IOC. That’s why surfing is an Olympic sport and I think it will be a great value adding sport to the Paralympic Games as well."
Aguerre calls it "feet on the sand and salt water in your face!" It appears Kale is smitten after his day in the waves.
"I’ve surfed. Been there, done that and I loved it."
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Written and reported by Gerard Farekin La Jolla, California.
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