Francesca returned to Malta permanently in 1998 with her two daughters and retired from competitive surfing.

Sunn was a pioneer in women's competitive surfing and water sports.

He made a high-profile decision to retire from competitive surfing in the mid-1990s.

He is known for his efforts to jump start surfing activities and competitive surfing in Turkey.

Although competitive surfing has become an extremely popular and lucrative activity, both for its participants and its sponsors, the sport does not have its origins as a competitive pursuit.

Even when she realized her professional aspirations would not involve continued competitive surfing, she described the sport as being "in my blood."

Disappointed, she decides to give up competitive surfing.

But on average, when you look at competitive surfing, the risk of significant injury seems to be low.

Alan Stokes, one of just half-a-dozen Britons who make their living from competitive surfing, concurs.

At 17, Greg won the NSSA National Men's Open Title in 2001, and looked to have a promising career in competitive surfing.