Fandom
What do Portugal’s monster waves, Arctic-circle chill, and Indonesia’s tropical swells have in common? They’ve all been conquered by a surfer who rides with one leg and zero limits. Known globally as Pegleg Bennett, this 55-year-old wave-chaser has turned what many saw as a setback into the fuel for a full-throttle life on the water.
Born with a birth defect that left his left ankle missing and foot deformed, Pegleg had his foot amputated as a baby. It wasn’t just a medical decision—it was the beginning of a story that would redefine what’s possible in para-surfing. “The ocean is my happy place,” Pegleg told SWNS. “When I’m riding a wave nothing else matters, nothing else is there—it is just me and that wave and feeling that glide and that ride.”
Pexels
Reinventing the ride: how Pegleg built a better way to surf
Growing up on the UK coast with a swimmer dad meant water was part of everyday life. As a self-proclaimed “water baby,” Pegleg felt at home in the sea. But turning that passion into action wasn’t easy. Early prosthetics weren’t designed for surfboards, and the NHS didn’t exactly offer beach-ready legs on demand. Persistence paid off. After years of asking, Pegleg finally got what the system called a “beach activities leg,” and his surfing exploded from there.
Being a natural tinkerer, he took that leg, drilled some holes into it for drainage and flexibility, and unknowingly kickstarted a DIY revolution in surf-specific prosthetics. Now, he uses a custom carbon fiber and titanium model with a titanium ankle joint, built to withstand the brutality of big waves and provide better stability on the board. “I have got a surf specific leg—it’s got a titanium ankle joint in it so I can stand on the board a lot better than I used to.”
Pexels
From Nazaré to the North Pole: chasing every wave
This isn’t just about learning to surf—it’s about dominating some of the most intimidating breaks on the planet. “There is a big wave spot in Portugal called Nazaré,” Pegleg said, listing his global surf map. “I have also done the entire European coast, I have driven the Moroccan coast right down into the occidental Sahara, Hawaii, all over the States, Indonesia, Japan. I have surfed on the Arctic circle.”
Each location adds to his legacy, not just as a one-legged surfer, but as a relentless adventurer who’s transformed adversity into adrenaline.
Building a global para-surfing movement
Pegleg isn’t just catching waves—he’s building them. The evolution of para-surfing over the past decade owes much to his passion and advocacy. When the International Surfing Association launched the Adaptive Surfing World Championships in 2015, it opened floodgates for inclusion. Today, para-surfing is one of the fastest-growing segments of the sport, and Pegleg has played a key role in shaping it. Team England now ranks seventh globally in para-surfing, a movement he’s helped coach and champion.
The community he’s built is as diverse as the waves they surf. “I coached someone with cerebral palsy, MS, I have got some blind guys that I coach, obviously some amputees,” Pegleg explained. “If somebody has got a disability and they want to get in the ocean and catch waves, I can make it happen.”
More than medals: what’s next for para-surfing?
Despite narrowly missing a spot in the 2028 Paralympic Games in LA, the para-surfing world is charging ahead with high hopes for Brisbane 2032. A Paralympic debut would mean more funding, more visibility, and more opportunities to inspire the next generation of adaptive athletes.
Pegleg’s message is clear: “I don’t believe in barriers. I believe in we can do it.”
Tips for aspiring adaptive surfers
- Start with the right gear. Look for prosthetics designed for aquatic use, or modify an existing one with help from your prosthetist and surfing community.
- Don’t wait for perfection. Pegleg started with a basic leg and improved it over time. Innovation often begins with experimentation.
- Find your tribe. Adaptive surfing groups and clinics are growing around the world. They offer instruction, support, and most importantly—camaraderie.
- Think global, act local. You don’t need Nazaré-sized waves to get started. Many adaptive surfers begin in small beach breaks and work up from there.
A legacy built one wave at a time
In a world that often defines people by limitations, Pegleg Bennett flips the narrative. This isn’t just a story of someone learning to surf with one leg—it’s a chronicle of turning a childhood nickname into a global identity, of building a community from scratch, and of making the ocean accessible to everyone who dares to dream.
Pegleg’s journey proves that it’s not about what’s missing—it’s about what’s possible.
