‘Never give up’: North Coast adaptive surfer Leanne Whitehouse ‘gobsmacked’ by invite to pro Byron Bay contest

An inspiring North Coast disabled boardrider joined more than 120 surfers from 16 countries at Byron Bay for the Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships. Check out the video.

After suffering a brain injury as a passenger in a car crash Leanne Whitehouse was determined to get back in the surf – now she's competing. Picture: Hannah Jessup

An inspiring North Coast disabled boardrider joined more than 120 surfers from 16 countries between Main Beach and the Pass at Byron Bay for the Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships.

Leanne Whitehouse, 51, was heading towards the world stage when a traumatic car crash as a passenger put a dent in her dreams at 21.

“I was a sleeping passenger,” she said.

“I didn’t know I was in an accident.”

Ms Whitehouse was thrilled to be invited to take part in the event. Picture: Hannah Jessup

Ms Whitehouse suffered an array of nasty injuries, including damage to the right side of her brain, which paralysed the left side of her body.

Determined to return to the surf Ms Whitehouse has developed strength to “pop up” and is catching waves again after assistance from an exercise physiologist.

She has gone from catching about 30 waves a year to 2000.

Surfers flocked to the surf at Australia’s most eastern point from the US, Canada, Brazil, France and Japan, among other countries, to vie for title glory at the inaugural event between March 17-22.

The pro event ran nine divisions, including categories for amputees, those with visual impairments, and neurological impairment affecting limbs.

On the Monday, Ms Whitehouse was invited to compete as an unclassified invitational adaptive surfer in the event hosted by Adaptive Surf Byron Bay.

She was thrilled to compete in the stand-up 2 unassisted below knee category.

“To be able to compete in an international surf competition in my own back yard … I feel absolutely honoured, gobsmacked, everything.”

Ms Whitehouse wears a helmet and glasses to protect against impacts and to assist with vision and vertigo while on the water.

– Street Parade of Nations

Outside of competition, she has the assistance of a surf support person to help with specialised awareness skills.

Ms Whitehouse said: “Never give up. That is my adage on everything. Never give up.”

“And ask for help. Put your ego in your back pocket and ask for help,” she said.

Kicking off on Sunday, March 17 with the Street Parade of Nations, competitors and supporters marched to the event site for an opening ceremony.

The competition HQ sprung into action at Apex Park, Main Beach on Monday and culminated in a presentation at Byron Bay Services Club on Friday.

French surfer Guillaume Colin won the event. Picture: Instagram

Taking the top gong was French surfer Guillaume Colin, who entered following a sporting accident.

He wrote on Instagram he was “on cloud nine” after winning the first stop on the adaptive surfing professionals world tour.

Brazilian Fellipe Kizu Lima came in second. Picture: Adaptive Surf Pro Byron Bay

The runner up was Brazilian Fellipe Kizu Lima, while Americans Chris Oberle nabbed third and Charles Webb came fourth.

The championships began in 2021 and includes four events: the Hawaii Adaptive Surfing Championships, the Costa Rica Open Pro of Adaptive Surfing, the US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships at Oceanside California – and now the new Byron event.

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