BBFF2025 - Beyond the Break (with Q&A)

Joel Taylor's surfing career ended with a paralysing wave. 20 years later, he's back in the water - as a World Champion.

On December 7, 2001, Lennox Head local Joel Taylor paddled out at Pipeline, the legendary surf break in Hawaii. At just 21, he was a rising star in bodyboarding, with state titles, magazine features, and appearances in the iconic Tension videos - a series that pushed the sport into the mainstream and fuelled its rapid rise in popularity.

Joel’s career was on the verge of a breakthrough when a single wave changed everything. It wasn’t the biggest wave he’d ever caught, but it drained more water than usual, driving him feet-first into the coral-covered limestone reef. As Joel tried to kick to the surface, he realised his legs no longer worked. In that moment, he knew he was paralysed. The years that followed were marked by a painful struggle to accept the loss of what he loved most. Three years of gruelling rehab only solidified what his doctors had never directly said: he would never walk again.

For 20 years, Joel stayed out of the water, grappling with the loss of his identity as a surfer. The birth of his son would eventually reignite his passion – he wanted him to grow up with the same connection to the ocean he had himself cherished. But returning to the waves was a daunting challenge. Joel hadn’t surfed in two decades, and his body no longer moved the way it once had. Yet, through sheer determination and the discovery of adaptive surfing, he reconnected with the ocean and found a supportive community of athletes - each with their own story of overcoming adversity to get back in the water.

In 2023, Joel achieved his ultimate dream, becoming a para surfing World Champion. Beyond the Break is a documentary about resilience, identity, and redefining limits. It challenges societal perceptions of disability and celebrates the courage and determination of those who turn adversity into triumph.

Screens with short films.

As a BBFF ticketholder, you can also enjoy 10% off at Mainstreet Burger and Tokyo Doll Byron Bay before 6pm each day of the festival (17-26 October) – just show your ticket when ordering.

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