Wheelchair-bound surfer Bede Durbidge won’t rule out competing next month

HE can barely stand on one leg but Bede Durbidge won’t rule out surfing against the best in the world at the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks in a month.

World Tour professional surfer Bede Durbidge to launch Simon ÒSwillyÓ Williams poster size surfing images at the Strand Shopping Centre. Pic John Gass

HE can barely stand on one leg but Bede Durbidge won’t rule out surfing against the best in the world at the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks in a month.

Just three weeks ago he struggled to wheel himself around agony because of the metal screws and plates in his still-fusing pelvis after a horror wipe-out the Pipeline Masters in December which left bedridden for about a month.

“I am not going to rule anything out until a week before the competition,” he said.

“I’ll see how I am progressing.”

World Tour surfer Bede Durbidge wheelchair bound but won’t rule out competing next month. Picture: John Gass

The surfer, who takes on most feared waves on the planet, took his first steps in a heated swimming pool just three days ago and said it was terrifying.

“I took my first steps the other day,” Durbidge said.

“In the water I was only carrying 10 per cent of my body weight but I was so scared.”

The 32-year-old said he could only just stand on one leg but was excited with every slight progress.

Bede Durbidge was injured during a wipe-out at Pipeline.

“It feels like I weigh about 200 kilograms and I get shaky pretty quick,” he said.

“I feel just as stoked getting spat out of barrels as I do about getting up stairs now.

“It is awesome how stoked I get making little steps.”

Burleigh Heads surf cam

Durbo made the comments as he lent a hand to sign the work of respected surf photographer Simon “Swilly” Williams ahead of an auction on March 17, during the Quiksilver Pro, to raise money for the Gold Coast’s World Surf Reserve coffers.

Durbidge is taken for treatment after being injured during the Pipeline wipe-out.

WSR Campaigner Andrew McKinnon said could not believe the support from authorities with the reserve from the Burleigh Heads to the Queensland border being approval in October.

“It’s going to be a hideous party with awesome music from Steph (Gilmore) and Neil Purchase Junior will get up on stage and play on the night,” he said.

“I’ve nearly fallen off my chair with the support we’ve had from council.”