New Milton surfer Zoe Smith wins fourth-placed copper medal from ISA World Para Championships in California

NEW Milton-based surfer Zoe Smith stormed to an ISA World Para Championships medal after finishing fourth for England in California.

The international surfer and reigning English champion sealed the copper medal as the fourth-placed finalist, finishing as one of the England team’s only two medallists.

Smith ranked third in the world this year after taking back-to-back third-place finishes at the Association of Adaptive Surfing Professionals competition in Hawaii and Oceanside, California, in the US open.

Smith, who grew up in Bournemouth before joining Brockenhurst College and moving to New Milton in 2022, said: “My goal was to get into the ISA World Para Championships final. Sadly I was penalised on a technicality and went from bronze to copper, but still, I was thrilled to medal. The other competitors in the final were from Costa Rica, Brazil and Australia, so I had a tough bunch to compete against.

“A personal highlight from the competition for me was my semi-final heat. It was 7am, and the waves were clean and perfect for me. So I just went out and enjoyed myself. “

Smith will now turn her eyes to the next training cycle, which will see her prepare for the English nationals and the Para Surf League European Tour in the summer.

Those interested in supporting Zoe should contact zoe.e.smith@icloud.com

To follow her journey, visit her social media handle @zoe_smith_parasurfer