Last year's eighth edition of the ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) was a resounding success. It was the first time the event was held in the iconic Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles.

The event featured some of the best performances ever seen in a Para Surfing competition, including a perfect 10 from three-time Paralympic Winter and Summer Gold Medallist Alana Nichols (USA).

More than 180 athletes representing 27 national teams competed in nine different Para Surfing events in 2023 (including a record 62 women), and the WPSC 2024 is sure to break records as the ISA continues its mission to include Para Surfing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, just as Surfing is now part of the Olympic Programme.

Para Surfing is currently under consideration by the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee (LA28) and in January 2023, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Board of Directors confirmed that Para Surfing has demonstrated the competitive viability and integrity of the sport, as well as the strategic benefits to the Paralympic Games.

Para Surfing has seen incredible growth since the first ISA World Para Surfing Championship in 2015 (originally called the World Adaptive Surfing Championship).

Since then, the International Surfing Association (ISA) has continued to refine the Para Surfing classification system to meet IPC requirements and has encouraged its network of 116 member nations to hold national and regional competitions.

Huntington Beach, known for its extraordinary surfing history, has hosted many major events over the years. The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship will be the ninth major ISA event to be held in Surf City USA. Previously, the city hosted four editions of the ISA World Surfing Games in 1984, 1996, 2006 and 2022, as well as the ISA World Juniors in 2005, 2018 and 2019, and the ISA WPSC in 2023.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre of Argentina said, "We eagerly await the news on the inclusion of Para Surfing in the LA28 Paralympic Games. The ISA has contributed greatly to the development of the sport and we believe it will add exceptional value to the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles".

"It has been amazing to witness the growth of the sport, which has expanded and strengthened exponentially each year under our leadership. We are thrilled to share these extraordinary athletes and this beautiful competition with the world," said Aguerre, who has led the ISA since 1994.

Kelly Miller, President and CEO of Visit Huntington Beach, a major sponsor of the championship's return to the beach between Los Angeles and San Diego, said, "Visit Huntington Beach, the official destination marketing organisation for Huntington Beach, is thrilled to welcome back the ISA World Para Surfing Championship for the second consecutive year this November. 

"Our consistent waves, unique coastal town vibe and over a century of surfing history and culture make Huntington Beach the perfect place to host this global competition.

"Watching these extraordinary athletes in action is an inspiring experience and we invite everyone to join us for this unforgettable event in Surf City USA," concluded Miller.