Australian adaptive surfing champion Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart has once again celebrated success on the international stage.
Mono claimed victory at the Hawaiian Adaptive Surfing Championships at Queen’s Beach, Honolulu, the second stop of the AASP World Championship Tour.
Building on that success, he followed up with another impressive win at the Japan Open Adaptive Surfing Championships.
Top world ranking
The back-to-back victories have propelled him to the top of the world rankings in his division as he sets his sights on an unprecedented seventh world title.
Stewart, who attended the Japanese event alongside his wife Deb, praised the hospitality and professionalism of both events but described the Japanese experience as one of the highlights of the adaptive surfing calendar.
‘Japan continues to be one of my favourite places to compete,’ Stewart said. ‘The people are incredibly welcoming, the food is fantastic, and the atmosphere throughout the event was outstanding.’
Competing against a talented field of athletes, Stewart delivered another strong performance to secure the win in near-perfect wave conditions provided by the state-of-the-art wavepool, PerfectSwell, Shizunami facility.
Beyond his own success, Stewart acknowledged the efforts of everyone involved in making the competition a success, including athletes, officials, volunteers, sponsors, and organisers.
‘The quality of the event and the waves was exceptional,’ he said. ‘It’s always special to compete in an environment where athletes can perform at their best.’
‘The commitment and hard work that goes into producing an event of this calibre is remarkable,’ Stewart said. ‘Everyone involved should be congratulated.’
Showcase for adaptive surfing
The annual competition continues to attract adaptive surfers from across the globe and has become a showcase for the sport’s growth and inclusivity.
With another title added to his impressive resume, Stewart said he is already looking forward to returning to Japan next year to reconnect with friends and once again compete in one of adaptive surfing’s premier events.
With strong performances on these two major international stages, Stewart continues to cement his reputation as one of the most successful adaptive surfers in the sport’s history.
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