Bournemouth para surfer, Zoe Smith, is ready to take on the world once again, having spent some time training at Lost Shore before heading stateside.

Zoe was a gold medallist in the women’s Stand 2 division at the 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship, and her journey to the top of the sport is a powerful one of resilience, rediscovery and the life-changing power of surfing.

After a car accident in 2015 which resulted in a below-the-knee amputation, Zoe faced the enormous challenge of rebuilding her life.

Around 2021, in the period following the pandemic, she discovered surfing, a sport which has transformed her outlook and helped her find a renewed sense of freedom.

Surfing began as a way for her to feel alive again, but it quickly became something much more important. Just three years after taking up the sport, Zoe reached the pinnacle of para surfing, winning gold on the world stage in 2024 and establishing herself as one of Britain’s inspiring adaptive surfing talents.

As she prepares for the 11th ISA World Para Surfing Championship, taking place from 19–22 November 2026 at DSRT Surf in Palm Desert, California, Zoe has been putting in a great deal of work at Lost Shore, where consistent, repeatable waves offer an opportunity to refine technique, build confidence and prepare for the demands of international competition.

Zoe Smith said: “After my accident, finding something that made me feel truly alive again was incredibly important. When I discovered surfing, it gave me that feeling back. Being in the water, pushing myself and learning what my body could do was a real turning point for me.

“I only started surfing around 2021, so to win a world championship gold medal in 2024 showed me just how much is possible when you find something you love and commit yourself to it.

“My training regime in preparation for the World’s this year has been intense and with the 2026 competition taking place in a surf lagoon for the first time, I was keen to test my skills at Lost Shore. Training at Lost Shore has been a fantastic opportunity to work on my surfing in a consistent environment and really focus on the details that can make a difference at the World Championships. I’m excited to keep progressing, represent Great Britain on the international stage and see what I can achieve.”

Lost Shore has a growing reputation as a destination for elite surfers and national teams who are looking for a high-performance training environment.

Since opening in 2024, the Edinburgh resort has been building a high-performance surfing ecosystem. The resort has secured partnerships with national surfing organisations including Scottish Surfing, Irish Surfing and Norwegian Surfing. More recently, GB Surfing selected Lost Shore as one of its National Performance Centres and Olympic Training Facilities, strengthening its position as a training base for British athletes working towards future international and Olympic competition.