19.9 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Meet Byron’s surf champ, Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart

Latest News

Splendour 2024 cancelled

It's official, Splendour in the Grass 2024 has been cancelled.

Other News

Murwillumbah’s Rebecca Whan recognised for tireless work post 2022 floods

Murwillumbah was severely impacted by the 2022 floods and it was a huge community effort to support, rescue and inspire everyone to move forward. 

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Hiatus Beers

Launched to market in July 2022, Hiatus Beers is all about brewing crisp, refreshing, full-flavoured, non-alcoholic beer.  The founders...

Queer family visibility

Did you know that, statistically, if you’ve met a redhead, you’ve also met a trans person? Over 800 trans and gender diverse people live in the Byron Shire, which includes at least 200 children. They’re often a bit hidden though, so come on down and celebrate with them this Trans Day of Visibility!

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

Could the future of the Richmond River be a clean and healthy one?

Imagine a drinkable, swimmable, fishable Richmond River? That is the aim of the Richmond Riverkeepers Association.

Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart with his 2022 World Championship title belt, says he wouldn’t say no to some local sponsorship love for the 2023 season. Photo Tree Faerie

While Byron attracts surfers of amazing skill, there have only been a few world champions. 

Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart is counted among the best of the best, having just won both the amateur and professional surfing events in his category at this year’s World Championship of the inaugural Association of Adaptive Surfing Professionals (AASP): Any Knee Kneeling (AKK) in Adaptive Surfing.

Stewart has built on his past performance of winning three of the Association of Adaptive Surfing Amateur titles since its inception in 2015 – not bad for an old fella – that’s right, Mono will turn 60 next year, and a few weeks ago he beat a group whose average age is 28.

Stewart, who lost his right leg above the knee when he was 15, says he was always a keen surfer, but post-surgery he soon realised that in the ocean he became like everyone else. 

‘That sort of started my surfing career. One thing I thought I could do was get back into the ocean and learn to surf again. Being in the ocean you feel normal – no one notices that you’ve got one leg, and it’s such a healing environment too. 

‘I had a lot of support from friends and other people in the surf industry. 

‘They’d design boards for me and gave me some tough love. When I was young, the best thing that happened was my mates just treated me like me. 

‘I sort of didn’t even look at myself as being disabled. I just treated myself as just like everyone else, but I’m missing a limb. 

Best parking spots 

‘I didn’t even have a disabled parking sticker until ten years ago, but now I wish I had done it 20 years ago – I get all the best parking spots at the surf breaks!’

Stewart says his current board has a hollow on the side that his knee goes in and he feels lucky to have it, but what doesn’t come easy as an adaptive surfer, is sponsorship. 

Surfers at Stewart’s level on the ASP/WSL tour would have sponsors coming out of their thrusters, but as a World Champion on the AASP tour, Stewart hasn’t attracted such attention. 

‘I have product sponsors, and I’m lucky because I win quite a bit, so the prize money helps out, but I’ve always supported myself’. 

Married with three kids, now that he is on the professional tour, there is more chance for them to travel on the circuit with him. ‘I love surfing. They all love surfing. My wife Deb, she’s my number one supporter.’

Stewart says he is hopeful that the Paralympics introduces surfing to its roster. ‘It’ll be good – we’ll really be able to get the younger guys and girls involved and give them something to aim for’. 

If that happens, Stewart will go down in history as one of the pioneers of the sport. 

‘I wish that all happened 20 years ago, but that’s cool. It’s good to be known as sort of one of the forefathers of the sport. I’m one of the oldest guys still competing. I’m paving the way for the new guys, which is cool.’


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

We just love him!

If you’re over 50 you might not be a fan of Tom Jones, but you can bet your mum is. If you’re under 40 you might not even know who he is, but your grandmother probably wet her pants at the mere mention of his name.

Peter Garrett gives Bluesfest the nod

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Save Wallum finalist in NSW 2024 environment awards

The Save Wallum campaign has been named as a finalist in the Nature Conservation Council of NSW Environment Awards 2024. The award ceremony will be held in Sydney tonight, and Save Wallum spokesperson and ecologist James Barrie will be attending with Tegan Kitt, another founding member of the group.

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.