Lennox Head disabled surfer Joel Taylor fundraising to compete in World Para Surfing Championships in California

Joel Taylor ended up paralysed from the waist down after a terrible surfing accident in Hawaii. Years later, he’s hit the water again – and the North Coast is jumping on board to help him onto the world stage.

The North Coast community has rallied to help a disabled Lennox Head surfer raise the cash to represent Australia at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships.

Joel Taylor was a professional bodyboarder when he suffered a spinal injury while surfing Pipeline, Hawaii in 2001 – paralysing him from the waist down at age 21.

At the time, Mr Taylor’s dream of nabbing a world championship was crushed.

But after two decades of being confined to a wheelchair, Mr Taylor is back in the ocean and pushing the limits at 42.

He won the 2023 Australian Para Surfing Titles at Port Macquarie in August.

Now, he’s eyeing off the ISA (International Surfing Association) World Para Surfing Championships at Huntington Beach, California in November.

Para Surfer Joel Taylor in the water at Lennox Head. Photo: Danny Mortison

Mr Taylor regained his love of the ocean through “para surfing” – also known as adaptive surfing. It simply means paddling out and catching waves to shore, just with some differences depending on disability.

Modifications to surfboards can help make disabled surfing easier too.

“I’m pretty stoked, I’ve been doing para surfing for just over a year – but hadn’t gone to the beach in more than 20 years before that,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor picked up the sport partially to inspire others living with disabilities to hop into the ocean, and to encourage his two boys, aged one and four, to grow up surfing,.

“I wanted my kids to have the same lifestyle and experiences as I did growing up on the beach at Lennox,” he said.

“I got myself out of my comfort zone and back into the ocean.”

Mr Taylor said he thought his first dip after years would be “overwhelming” and “emotional” – but it felt quite natural.

Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head on the North Coast. Picture: Rae Wilson

“I spent a lot of my youth in the ocean and surfed every day, so it was just part of me. It’s all I knew up until I had my injury,” he said.

“Even though I know it’s challenging to surf now compared to what it used to be, it just felt like the ocean was where I was meant to be.”

Mr Taylor surfs in the division ‘prone unassist’, which means he is able to lay down prone on his board to paddle and catch waves without assistance.

“I have no assistance out in the water. I can get help to the water’s edge in my wheelchair but once I’m in the water I don’t have any assistance – which can be challenging when the waves are big,” he said.

“When I first started, I had some flashbacks when I was getting smashed in the ocean. But I do a lot of training and mentally prepare myself for it so I can handle it.”

Mr Taylor has not let his injury keep him from hitting the surf once again.

Mr Taylor said he “didn’t expect so much support” when he launched his fundraiser online. Donors have backed the campaign from further afield than northern NSW.

“It’s hard for me to ask for help. Even after my injury, I never asked for help so it took me a while to decide if that was the route I wanted to go down, and I’m so glad I did,” he said.

“It’s amazing to have the support from the local community and worldwide … I feel blown away.”

Supporters had donated about $17,000 on GoFundMe by Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Disabled Surfers Association (DSA), based in NSW but with branches across the country, helps get people struggling with conditions as diverse as asthma to joint injuries, autism and cerebral palsy back into the water.

DSA volunteers helping a participant catch a wave. Photo: Disabled Surfers Australia

President Dylan Chisholm said DSA offers a safe environment for people with different needs to hit the water, or get back on a board.

“It’s less about teaching people how to surf. We cater to giving them an experience of riding a wave,” he said.

“It’s about being able to immerse yourself in the elements to get away from the situation that’s restricting you. It’s almost freeing, like all water submersion therapy.

“They get to get away from the daily grind and do something completely different.”

Mr Chisholm said it’s special to see participants grinning from ear to ear.

“For anyone that’s interested, all they have to do is give it a try,” he said.

“Worst case, they are going to get their hair wet. Best case, they may find a whole new release and a new way to break the cycle and do something different.”