Note sull'episodio
What happens when the thing that was supposed to hold you back actually makes you better? On this episode of Yak Radio, Dave Stall sits down with three remarkable adaptive athletes to talk about surfing, resilience, competition, and why the ocean may be the ultimate equalizer.
Dave is joined by Ant (Michael Lewis), a two-time adaptive surfing world champion from Cape Town, South Africa, who began surfing at age five as physical therapy after a car accident, along with Charles “Chaka” Webb, founder of the Stoke for Life Foundation and a T7-8 paraplegic wave ski competitor. They discuss the U.S. Open of Adaptive Surfing at Oceanside Pier, the growing international adaptive surfing tour, and how advances in adaptive equipment are opening doors that once seemed impossible. They also explore how the sport embraced equal prize money for men and women early in its development.
Some of the most powerful moments are personal. Ant remembers being seven years old and dreaming of becoming a world champion like surfing legend Shaun Tomson—then, four decades later, winning a world championship with Tomson watching from the beach. Chaka recalls Laird Hamilton describing one of his ocean paddles as one of the most inspiring things he had ever seen, an encounter that helped spark what eventually became the Stoke for Life Foundation.
Perhaps the biggest lesson comes from Ant’s explanation of how his physical limitations actually made him a smarter surfer. Because he couldn’t simply paddle in a straight line, he had to become exceptionally good at reading currents, choosing waves, understanding positioning, and mastering timing. The ocean doesn’t care about your physical limitations—it rewards preparation, skill, determination, and the ability to adapt.
Listen to the full episode for their incredible stories and details about the Oceanside adaptive surfing competition, including the Parade of Nations and an opportunity to see some extraordinary athletes compete on the water.
YAK RADIO 09/06/26