South Africa has a new champion! JP Veaudry has ridden the wave of resilience, claiming gold at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships and proving once again that South Africans excel on the global stage.
California, USA (11 November 2024) – South Africans are champions at heart, shining on the global stage in every field we tackle. From our athletes to our innovators, we consistently prove that determination and resilience can achieve greatness.
And this past weekend, East London’s very own JP Veaudry added another victory to the nation’s story by clinching a gold medal at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, California.
JP Veaudry is a para surfer from East London who has dedicated over a decade to competing on the international stage. A familiar face at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships, JP has been inching closer to victory every year. His trophy cabinet already boasts two bronze and one silver medal, but this year he took it to the next level, earning gold in the Men’s Stand 2 Division.
At the Championship weekend, JP faced a tough final, squaring off against Forrest Weinberg (USA), Nachman Balulu (ISR), and Philippe Naud (FRA). The competition was fierce, but JP’s strategy and skill paid off. Learning from last year’s heartbreak, where an interference call cost him the gold, JP played it safe, picking his waves carefully to avoid any penalties.
“I actually let a couple of waves go when I had priority, as I didn’t want to take any chances at all,” JP shared after the final.
His patience and precision earned him a three-point lead over Weinberg at the final siren, securing South Africa’s first gold medal in this year’s championships.
Overjoyed by his victory, JP said, “I’ve been coming to World’s for the last 11 years, and it’s always so close. It has been frustrating. Right now, I can’t even express how happy I am.”
“I just want to thank everyone, especially everyone back in East London, for all the incredible support. So very stoked. This is for my family.”
While South Africa finished 16th overall in the team rankings, JP’s gold medal and Tracy McKay’s admirable 5th place in the Women’s Prone 1 Division showcase the strength and potential of our athletes. These results remind us that every wave ridden brings us closer to a future where para-sports are celebrated as widely as any other.
As ISA President Fernando Aguerre eloquently said, events like this bring hope to competitors and audiences alike. They prove that the power of sport extends far beyond medals—it inspires community, resilience, and a brighter world.
Congratulations, JP Veaudry! Your victory is a golden wave that lifts all South Africans, proving once again that we are champions in every sense of the word. Keep riding those waves of greatness!
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