Blind Surfer Steve Fox, 60, Rides Waves in Queensland

Steve Fox can't see the waves at Agnes Water beach, but that hasn't stopped the 60-year-old from riding them like a pro.

The national para surfing champion from New South Wales stunned locals during his Queensland holiday, wearing a rashie that reads "blind surfer" as he carved through the surf. Fox lost his vision completely about 10 years ago to retinitis pigmentosa, a condition diagnosed when he was a child.

Rather than give up surfing, he adapted. Fox now relies on the sound of waves, the direction of the wind, and the movement of water beneath his board to navigate the ocean.

"Because I lost my sight over a long period of time I kept making small adjustments," Fox said. "You just rely on the movements of the ocean, which way the wind's blowing, which direction the swells and the sounds are coming from."

Local instructor Shayne Silver helped guide Fox into waves using a clock system. When Silver calls out directions like "12 o'clock," Fox knows exactly which way to paddle.

Silver called the experience amazing and said he's excited to help more people with disabilities discover surfing. "What he does is something really, really amazing," he said.

Why This Inspires

Fox represents a growing community of adaptive surfers proving that disability doesn't mean limitation. He was crowned national champion at the Australian Para Surfing Titles in Byron Bay earlier this year and has competed internationally at World titles.

Para surfing accommodates people with various disabilities through specialized equipment and modified boards. Whether someone is blind, uses a wheelchair, or is an amputee, the sport welcomes them.

Surfing Australia has established a Para Surf Committee working to include the sport in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The movement is gaining momentum as more people discover that waves don't discriminate.

Fox hopes his visibility encourages others in the blind and vision impaired community to try surfing. "It's good for the spirit, good for the soul," he said.

His message is simple: if you want to surf, the ocean is waiting for you.