Ling Pai Wins Bronze in the Women’s VI2 Division at the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship
Surf Canada proudly recognizes Ling Pai for earning third place in the Women’s VI2 Division at the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship in Oceanside, California. Her podium finish reflects exceptional athletic skill, disciplined preparation, and continued advancement within international para surfing.
The Women’s VI2 Division is designated for athletes with a moderate level of visual impairment, often characterized by restricted field of vision or low visual acuity that significantly affects wave reading and spatial awareness in the lineup. Competitors in this classification rely heavily on communication, timing, and directional support from an in-water coach or guide. The division demands a high degree of trust, precision, and real-time responsiveness between athlete and coach, making it one of the most technically coordinated classifications in the sport.
Competing in the VI2 category requires athletes to navigate shifting conditions with limited visual cues, depending instead on auditory direction, environmental awareness, and refined kinesthetic perception. These unique demands highlight the high-performance nature of the division and the substantial skill required to excel at the world championship level.
Ling Pai, alongside her long-time coach Shannon Brown, demonstrated outstanding teamwork throughout the event. Their communication system, developed over years of training and international competition, once again proved effective on the world stage. Pai’s ability to translate verbal cues into precise positioning and confident wave execution was central to her success in securing a medal against a strong global field.
Her 2025 performance reinforces Canada’s growing competitive presence in adaptive surfing and contributes to greater visibility for VI-classified athletes within the national high-performance pathway. Pai’s dedication continues to inspire surfers with visual impairments across the country and underscores the importance of building accessible, well-supported development structures for para athletes.
Surf Canada celebrates Ling Pai’s achievement and recognizes the determination, professionalism, and commitment she brings to the sport. Her bronze medal at the 2025 ISA World Para Surfing Championship stands as an important milestone for both her individual career and the continued evolution of para surfing in Canada.
