Monday November 2nd 2026
Bournemouth para surfer Zoe Smith
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A gold medal-winning para surfer has been preparing for the 2026 World Para Surfing Championship with a training visit to Edinburgh’s Lost Shore Surf Resort.
Bournemouth athlete Zoe Smith travelled to the Scottish resort ahead of the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Para Surfing Championship, which takes place in California from November 19 to 22.
Zoe won gold in the women’s Stand 2 division at the 2024 World Championships and is now preparing to compete on the international stage once again.
Her journey to becoming a world champion has been one of resilience after a car accident in 2015 resulted in her having her leg amputated below the knee.
It was not until around 2021, following the Covid-19 pandemic, that she discovered surfing – a sport which helped her rebuild her confidence and find a renewed sense of freedom.
Within just three years of taking up the sport, Zoe had reached the top of the discipline, claiming world championship gold in 2024.
She visited Lost Shore to refine her technique ahead of this year’s competition, which will take place in a surf lagoon for the first time.
The resort’s consistent, repeatable waves provide athletes with the opportunity to practise specific manoeuvres, build confidence and work on the technical aspects of their performance.
Zoe said: “After my accident, finding something that made me feel truly alive again was incredibly important. When I discovered surfing, it gave me that feeling back. Being in the water, pushing myself and learning what my body could do was a real turning point for me.
“I only started surfing around 2021, so to win a world championship gold medal in 2024 showed me just how much is possible when you find something you love and commit yourself to it.
“My training regime in preparation for the World’s this year has been intense and with the 2026 competition taking place in a surf lagoon for the first time, I was keen to test my skills at Lost Shore.
“Training at Lost Shore has been a fantastic opportunity to work on my surfing in a consistent environment and really focus on the details that can make a difference at the World Championships.
“I’m excited to keep progressing, represent Great Britain on the international stage and see what I can achieve.”
The training visit also highlights Lost Shore’s growing reputation as a high-performance training destination for elite surfers and national teams.
Since opening in 2024, the Edinburgh resort has established partnerships with national surfing organisations including Scottish Surfing, Irish Surfing and Norwegian Surfing.
GB Surfing has also selected Lost Shore as one of its National Performance Centres and Olympic Training Facilities, providing a base for British athletes preparing for future international and Olympic competitions.
The resort is also home to an ambassador programme involving para surfer Jade Edward, who became the youngest female athlete to compete at the 2023 ISA Para World Championships in California, aged just 11.
The Aberdeenshire teenager is a quadruple amputee, having lost her limbs at the age of two after contracting the life-threatening condition meningococcal septicaemia.
For adaptive surfers, the wave pool provides an opportunity to train in predictable conditions, allowing athletes and coaches to repeat manoeuvres and focus on individual performance goals.
Unlike the ocean, where wave quality and frequency depend on changing weather and sea conditions, the controlled environment allows surfers to maximise their time in the water.
Lee Wood, managing director at Lost Shore Surf Resort, said: “Zoe’s story is a brilliant example of what surfing can make possible. To come through such a life-changing experience, discover the sport relatively recently and go on to become a world champion is an extraordinary achievement.
“We’re proud that Lost Shore can provide a place for athletes like Zoe to prepare, develop their skills and pursue their ambitions on the world stage.
“Consistency is a huge part of performance surfing, and being able to work on specific aspects of your surfing in a repeatable environment can make a real difference.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
