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(Oceanside, Calif.) - June 16, 2021 - The best Para Surfing athletes from across the U.S. mainland and Hawaii competed in the 2021 Toyota USA Surfing Para Surfing Championship in multiple divisions for the opportunity to join Team USA and represent their country.

Together, since the inception of the ISA World Para Surfing Games in 2015, Team USA has brought home a consecutive team gold, two team silver medals and team bronze.

Coach Sean Brody said the athletes gave it their all to secure their spots on Team USA. See team roster below. 

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“It was so nice to have everyone together again and to see everyone back in jerseys. We have a stellar team and are excited for the months ahead as we train and prepare for the ISA World Para Surfing Championship. Congratulations to all the competitors and to this year’s USA Surfing Para Surf Team,” said Brody. 

“Their commitment to athletic excellence, has developed Team USA into one of the most formidable players on the ISA Para Surfing World Championship stage,” said Bailey, who is a five-time USA Surfing National Champion and the first adaptive surfer to ride both Mavericks and Pipeline. A quarter of the 2021 team is comprised of veterans.

2021 Team USA Para Surf team members include: 

Stand 1

Ryan Gambrell, Oceanside, Calif. 

Liv Stone, Carlsbad, Calif. 

Darian Haynes, Hawaii

Stand 2

Carter Hess, Jacksonville, Fla. 

Dana Cummings, Atascadero, Calif. 

Stand 3

Ty Duckett, North Hollywood, Calif. 

Kneel

Mike Pingatore, Chico, Calif.

Prone 1

Christiaan “Otter” Bailey, Santa Cruz, Calif.  

Sarah Bettencourt, San Diego, Calif. 

Prone 2

Jose Martinez, Apple Valley, Calif. 

Jesse Billauer, Los Angeles, Calif. 

Quinn Waitley, Coronado, Calif. 

PS Waveski

Alana Nichols, Reno, Nev.

Ethan Kairer, Encinitas, Calif. 

PS VI 1

Joshua Loya, La Mesa, Calif. 

Surfers competed in several categories based on how the surfers ride the waves – standing, kneeling, prone, assisted and visually impaired.  

Toyota USA Surfing Para Surfing Championship results: 

Para Surf Stand division: 

1st  Faith Lennox

2nd Darian Bailey Haynes

3rd  Liv Stone

Waveski division 

1st  Ethan Kairer

2nd Jeff Munson

3rd  Alana Nichols

4th  Kyle Richardson

Prone 1 surfers

1st  Michael Pingatore

2nd  Casey Proud

3rd  Christiaan Bailey

4th  Sarah Bettencourt

5th  Jacob Pacheco

Prone 2 division 

1st   Jesse Billauer

2nd  Jose Martinez

3rd  Shay Eastham

4th  Eric Lazar

5th  Parker Olenick

6th  Quinn Waitley

Para Surf Stand 3 & Kneel

1st   Josh Bogle

2nd  Michael Pingatore

3rd  Ty Duckett

4th  Jeff Munson

Para Surf Stand 

1st  Carter Hess

2nd  Ryan Gambrell

3rd  Shawn Lewis

4th  Dana Cummings

5th  William Thompson

Vision Impaired 1&2 

1st  Aaron Paulk

2nd  Joshua Loya 

This week’s event takes on extra significance, as ISA and USA Surfing continue to advocate to have Para Surfing added to the 2023 Pan American Games and eventually the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

USA Surfing CEO Greg Cruse said the athletes and competition provide inspiration for the world to get moving again. “I look forward to seeing America’s adaptive athletes compete every year and am always moved by their skill, athleticism, and personal stories of grit and determination.”

Competition classifications are determined by the International Surfing Association (ISA) based on how the athletes ride the wave. 2021 Para Surfing Sport Classes include: 

• Para Surf Stand 1 - Any surfer who rides a wave in a standing position with an upper limb amputation or congenital or impairment equivalent.
• Para Surf Stand 2 - Any surfer who rides a wave in a standing position with a below-the-knee amputation or congenital or impairment equivalent, short stature, or leg length difference.
• Para Surf Stand 3 - Any surfer who rides a wave in a standing position with an above-the-knee amputation or both lower extremity amputations or congenital or impairment equivalent.
• Para Surf Kneel - Any surfer who rides a wave in a kneeling position with an above-the-knee amputation or both lower limb amputations or congenital or impairment equivalent.
• Para Surf Prone 1 - Any surfer who rides the wave in a prone position that does NOT require assistance paddling into a wave and getting back on the board safely.
• Para Surf Prone 2 - Any surfer who rides the wave in a prone position that DOES require assistance in the water, paddling into a wave, and getting back on the board safely.
• Para Surf Vision Impairment 1 - Any surfer who rides a wave in a standing position with IBSA classification Level B1.
• Para Surf Vision Impairment 2 - Any surfer who rides a wave in a standing position with IBSA classification Level B2 and Level B3.
• Para WaveSki - Exhibition Class - Not an ISA Division

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