Surfing pioneer Spike marks return to North Wales

Spike Kane learned to ride the waves off Anglesey before moving to America’s West coast, where a horrific road accident left him with life-changing injuries.

He was reunited with his specially adapted surfboard at Adventure Parc Snowdonia in Dolgarrog three years after he first surfed at its artificial wave lagoon, which was the first in the world when it opened in 2015.

Spike, who now lives in Seattle, was back for the two-day Welsh Adaptive Surfing Championships held at Parc Snowdonia.

He was among 20 competitors, including some from the USA, France and Israel, and came first in the sitting category and third in the prone surfing category.

The 59-year-old said: "I took part in a competition over here and thought I'd be back within a few months so I left it here but it's been three years since I last saw it. I'm glad it's been well looked after.”

Llywelyn in surfing action.

Spike, who is originally from Bootle, took up surfing more than 40 years ago and would regularly travel to Rhosneigr on Anglesey to ride the waves.

After travelling to the USA, he "fell in love with the place" and decided to live there permanently, eventually getting married.

Spike's life took a dramatic turn in 2005 when he was riding his motorbike in Seattle and was struck by a vehicle that had run a red light.

He suffered a fractured spine and was paralysed from his shoulders down, spending weeks in hospital.

"I was aware of adaptive surfing and I'd taken disabled people surfing in Liverpool so I knew the resources available and that doors were not closing on me,” said Spike.

"I've always been active and being able to continue surfing meant the world to me.”

Spike in action. Photo: Kerry Roberts

The man-made lagoon was the world's first inland venue to host an adaptive surfing championship event three years ago and organisers Adventure Parc Snowdonia have been keen to have the adaptive surfers back - it’s for those with additional needs or challenges – and proved a big hit with the boarders.

The event features nine different categories surfers without limbs, competitors who are paralysed and who surf in the prone position and those who need to be assisted onto the wave and caught at the other end with two categories for the impaired surfers.

The driving force behind the event has been Llywelyn Williams from Abersoch, whose own dreams of becoming a competitive surfer began on the beaches of Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl in Gwynedd.

Those dreams were dashed by a horrific accident when he was 11, where he lost a leg yet was back in the water in less than a year.

“I started competing soon after and have travelled all over the world," he said.

Since then, he has won gold at the English Adaptive Championships in 2018 in the kneeling category and recently represented Wales at the International Surfing Association World Adaptive Championships in California.

He added: "At the US Open championships I wrote on a piece of paper asking if anyone would like to take part in a Welsh championship and more than 40 people said they would love to come.

READ MORE: 

New jobs at North Wales adventure park where staff can enjoy free surfing sessions

Surf Snowdonia Spa Dome plans revealed

“I set about organising it and we had a very successful event here at Dolgarrog three years ago but then Covid happened and put a stop to everything and this year we are back again and there are 20 athletes here taking part in the championships.

"I was a bit stressed before the event started but with everything underway, I'm as happy as can be," he said.

In the event, Llywelyn rose to the occasion and came away with a win in the kneeling category.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia Marketing Manager Iwan Phillips said: “It’s a privilege to welcome the adaptive surfers back to Snowdonia, their incredible spirit and camaraderie highlight the very best of surfing and how sport truly brings people together for all the right reasons.

“For us hosting this event showcases the benefits the controlled environment we have with our facility alongside our ambition to make surfing and outdoor activities accessible and inclusive to people of all abilities or confidence levels.”

The main sponsor for the event was The Mailing Room, a Bury-based family company with an interest in adaptive surfing. AmpSurf, an organisation set up to inspire and rehabilitate people with disabilities, and Llywelyn's family company, Hopalong Clothing, are also supporting the event.