Ambassadorial role for inspirational Aberdeenshire para surfer
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Oldmeldrum's Jade Edward, who was the youngest ever female athlete at the International Surfing Association Para World Championships in California in December, has taken on a new role as an ambassador for a new inland surfing destination, Lost Shore Surf Resort, which will open in Scotland next year.
Last week, she was presented with a coveted Pride of Scotland award where she was recognised as a Child of Courage.
Jade, who is eleven years old is a quadruple amputee and had to have her limbs removed aged just two after contracting Meningococcal Septicaemia, a life threatening condition.
But Jade has never allowed this to be a factor in her life and has always had a sense of adventure, leading her to take up surfing a few years ago after meeting with a representative from Scottish surfing charity, SurfABLE.
A short time later she represented Scotland on the world stage reaching the semi-finals, making her the most successful Scottish surfer in international competition in recent times.
She hopes to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles where para surfing may make its debut.
The surfing lagoon will be able to create up to 1000 bespoke waves per hour and can be customised to suit everyone from professional surfers to absolute beginners.
There will be professional surfing instructors providing tuition and support for all abilities.
When it opens, Lost Shore Surf Resort will be Europe’s largest inland surfing resort. It will include waterside accommodation, food market, and a wellness spa and be set within a 60 acre country park.
It will also have para surfing specific facilities, with a range of surf therapy programmes, and be home to Surf Lab, which will house researchers from Edinburgh Napier University who will look into how surfing can improve wellbeing and support high performance surfing.
Jade is now looking forward to Lost Shore Surf Resort opening which will give surfers of all abilities the opportunity to surf in a controlled environment all year round.
Jade Edward said: “Being only eleven years old and being asked to be Lost Shore’s first ambassador is amazing.
"It is going to be such a fantastic place for surfers and people who have never surfed.
“I really cannot wait until it opens. It will be a brilliant place for me to enjoy surfing, train and perhaps help me attend future World Championships or even the Paralympics.
“Surfing in Scotland can be difficult because of the cold weather and unpredictable waves, but Lost Shore will be able to create waves whatever is happening.”
Andy Hadden, founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, said: “Having such an inspirational athlete like Jade onboard shows just how transformative Lost Shore Surf Resort will be when it opens next year.
"Her Pride of Scotland award last week demonstrates just how much she has achieved.
“Our team is really excited to have the support of such an up and coming surfer who represents everything that is great about surfing, and we can’t wait to see her on the waves at Lost Shore.
“For surfers like Jade training for competitions, Lost Shore will be a reliable location for them to hone their skills and gain more experience on different types of waves.
"For beginners, and for people who want to try surfing for the first time, it will provide an amazing place to get expert tuition and use high quality surfboards and wetsuits.
“Our highly qualified surf instructors will be able to teach people of all ages and abilities so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of surfing.
“At Lost Shore Surf Resort there will be something for everyone. It will be a world class resort that will attract people from across the UK and across the globe.”
