International Surfing Association

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International Surfing Association
ISA
Sport Surfing
Jurisdiction International
Founded 1964
Headquarters San Diego, California, U.S.
President Fernando Aguerre (ARG)
Official website
www.isasurf.org

The International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee[1] as the world governing authority for surfing, standup paddle racing and surfing, bodysurfing, wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment.

The ISA crowned its first Men’s and Women’s World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007 and World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Federations of 86 countries on five continents. It’s headquartered in La Jolla, California and is presided over by Fernando Aguerre[2] (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA's four Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Karín Sierralta (Peru), Debbie Beacham (USA) and Layne Beachley (Australia). The ISA promotes its World Championship events as the true “Olympics” of the sport.[3]

History of the ISA

The modern history of competitive surfing begins with the International Surfing Association (ISA). The sport’s roots reach back centuries, but on a summer day in 1964 the first ever World Surfing Championship was held at Manly Beach, Australia. In the new sport’s first major upset, Australian Midget Farrelly edged out America’s Mike Doyle and Hawaii’s Joey Cabell to take the win.

Holding the first world championship wasn’t the only pivotal event that year for the sport. In Hawaii, Greg Noll and Mike Stange took on outer reef Pipeline for the first time. Bruce Brown released his seminal film, The Endless Summer. And of course, “The World Contest” at Manly. Organized by Bob Evans, and with surfers in attendance from Australia, Hawaii, the United States and Peru, more than 65,000 people found their way to the beach to watch Farrelly hot dog his way into history. Up to that point it was the largest crowd to ever attend a surf contest. During the competition, the foundational meeting of the ISA (then called ISF) was held, and Eduardo Arena, from Peru was elected its first president. Arena also committed to organizing the second World Championship, the next year in Lima, Peru.

“A few things happened in surfing simultaneously to make it suddenly popular around the time of the contest,” recounted Farrelly years later. “It came from nowhere almost.”

Immediately following the success at Manly, the momentum continued to build. The very next year Felipe Pomar put Peru and Club Waikiki on the map with his win at the second World Surfing Championship at Punta Rocas, Peru.

In 1966, Australian wunderkind Nat Young came to San Diego for the third World Surfing Championship armed with “Magic Sam,” a thin-railed 9’4” board that utilized a George Greenough-designed fin to great effect. His performance would usher in a new, radicalized era in surfing as surfers witnessed the benefits of progressive equipment in action. With over 80,000 fans packing Ocean Beach, surfing’s popularity was reaching a crescendo.

“I think Nat’s performance at San Diego in ’66 was a benchmark in the world of surfing,” noted Hawaiian Jeff Hakman, one of the sport’s top stars in the ’70s. “It was the last of the longboard contests, and seeing what Nat could do on a board that was basically a log, made us all realize what was possible if we had better equipment.”

Meanwhile, the organization’s structure continued to evolve. At a meeting in Hawaii in November 1976, the members of the ISF changed its name to officially become the ISA. The world’s greatest surfers, who had joined together that year to the launch the IPS, the first professional surfing world tour, gave full written support to the organization. From 1978 until 2002, the ISA ran the ISA World Championship every other year. In 1980 the ISA would add a junior division to its program, and again, history would be made.

Winning the first-ever ISA World Junior Surfing Champion title in Biarritz, France, a young Tom Curren would go one better two years later, winning the ISA World Men’s Champion title. It was the beginning of one of the most extraordinary careers the sport as ever known.

With the continuing growth of surfing worldwide, as well as in junior surfing performances and participation, in 2002 the ISA wisely decided to hold the Junior division of what was then called the ISA World Surfing Games as its very own annual event. The former Junior division of the World Surfing Games, along with what used to be the annual Quiksilver ISA World Grommet titles, was consolidated into a new event, the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, which was first hosted in 2003 in South Africa and held yearly since. It has become the most coveted title in junior surfing in the world for boys and girls.

In 2007, the ISA created the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, to provide a path for competitive surfers over 35 years of age. The event has been held every year since, except in 2009.

In response to the growing popularity of StandUp Paddle (surfing and racing) and prone Paddleboard, the ISA held the inaugural ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship in 2012 and, again, in 2013 in Peru. Most of the ISA’s 79 Member Nations have developed SUP programs and National Championships, as the sport can be held on any body of water – lake, river, dam, stream, sea and ocean. SUP has opened up surfing and the surfing lifestyle to hundreds of millions of landlocked enthusiasts around the globe.

The ISA World Bodyboard Championship was launched in 2011 in the Canary Islands, Spain, as a spin-off of the World Surfing Games. It has been held every year since.

To expand the sport into the world’s most populous country, the ISA launched the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival in 2012 with a historic partnership with Womei Media, one of China’s largest media conglomerates. The Festival included two events, the ISA China Cup, a National Teams event, and the Hainan Classic, a 4-Star Men’s ASP event on the pro-tour. This was the first event collaboration between the ISA and the Association of Surfing Professionals, ASP. The ISA-owned event will be held every year.

The ISA World Longboard Championship, since 1988 held as a division within the ISA World Surfing Games, was held for the first time in 2013 in the legendary point break in Huanchaco, Peru. The Peruvian town is home to the Caballito de Totora, the famous reed boats built more than 3,000 years ago by local fisherman to be used in their daily work, and which were designed to ride the surf to shore while standing on the vessel, often with a paddle to help the fisherman propel himself through the ocean.

Of significant importance, and since 1996, the Sands of the World Ceremony has been held during the Opening Ceremony of all ISA World Championships plus the Surfing Festival in China, to symbolize the true fraternal spirit and world peace through surfing, that bonds together all members of the global surfing tribe. An original idea of the ISA, created in 1996, by a recently elected president, Fernando Aguerre, symbolizes the union of the countries of the world through the mixing of the sands from the shores of all participating delegations, showcasing the ISA’s work and hopes for a better and more peaceful world.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre worked on developing surfing in his native hometown of Mar del Plata, Argentina, where he led the successful struggle to legalize surfing, after being banned by the 1970s military dictatorship. After representing his country as the longboarder of the Argentinean National Surfing Team in the 1992 ISA World Surfing Championship, he decided it was time to put his heart and skills to work on a global effort. Aguerre ran for and was elected as the ISA President in 1994 and has been reelected 7 times since, and continues to serve as ISA President today.

During his tenure, Aguerre has unfurled a dramatic expansion of the World Championships, set a path to achieve Duke Kahanamoku’s dream of Olympic Surfing, expanded the delivery of educational courses globally, developed the ISA Scholarship Program in 2007 and continues his volunteer work with the ISA for a better surfing future. In 2013, he was awarded the SIMA Waterman of the Year Award, for his continued efforts to promote surfing around the world, an award given to the most influential surfers in history, including Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton and legends Greg Noll and Gerry Lopez.

Under Aguerre’s vision and leadership, in 2007, the ISA Scholarship Program was created. It has awarded 192 scholarships to under-18 male and female surfers, many who would have otherwise not been able to complete school or compete in surfing without financial assistance. Some of these surfers have gone on to become National and World Champion athletes.

To this day, the ISA continues its activities as the World’s Governing Authority for Surfing, as officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1995 for all waveriding sports, including Surfing, StandUp Paddle, Paddleboard, Longboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard, Tandem Surfing, Skimboard, Wakesurfing and Bodysurfing. The ISA governs these sports and works for their development through its 86 Member Nations and the establishment of the sport of surfing in new countries.

The ISA promotes its World Championships as the true “Olympics” of surfing. By awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper medals to National Team and individual champions, the athletes compete for the honor to represent their countries and national colors, in the true nature of surfing’s aloha spirit and fair play. [4]

Recognition as governing body of surfing

In 1982 the SportAccord, formerly known as General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), recognized the ISA as the world’s governing body of surfing. in 1995 the International Olympic Committee granted the ISA provisional recognition. ISA was admitted into the Olympic movement at 1997 when the recognition was confirmed by the IOC.[1][5]

International Surfing Association (ISA) is a Member of:

  • Association of Recognised IOC International Sports Federations (ARISF)[6]
  • SportAccord formerly known as General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) [7]
  • International World Games Association (IWGA) [8]
  • World Anti-Doping Agency [9]

Olympic Bid

The organizing committee for the 2020 Games in Tokyo announced on 22 June 2015 that surfing was among the sports shortlisted for inclusion at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The event would likely require a purpose-built wave pool in a stadium. The surfing community as a whole is not supportive of the concept, but ISA President Fernando Aguerre is a strong advocate for surfing as an olympic sport. [10]

ISA Membership

The ISA only accepts membership from national governing bodies.[11] There are 86 current members and ISA’s global expansion, with a goal of reaching 100 Members during 2015, is part of an overall strategy to demonstrate the sport’s universality and appeal with the ultimate objective of inclusion in the Olympic Program.

Members

The following table contains the ISA members:[12]

Country Member Name
 Afghanistan Wave Riders Association of Afghanistan
 Algeria Djazair Surf Club (CSG Surf Section)
 Argentina Asociación de Surf Argentina (ASA)
 Aruba Aruba Surf Association (ARUSURF)
 Australia Surfing Australia
 Austria Austrian Surfing - Österreichischer Wellenreitverband
 Bahamas Bahamas Surfing Association (BASA)
 Barbados Barbados Surfing Association
 Belgium Belgian Surfing Federation
 Brazil Confederação Brasileira de Surf, CBSurf
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Extreme Water Sports Association
 Canada Canadian Surfing Association
 Cape Verde Skibo Surf Club
 Chile Asociacion Chilena de Surf
 China Chinese Extreme Sports Association
 Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei Surfing Association
 Colombia Asociacion Colombiana de Surf (ACS)
 Costa Rica Federación de Surf de Costa Rica
 Czech Republic Ceska Federace Stand Up Paddle (CFSUP)
 Denmark North Atlantic Surfing Association (NASA)
 Dominican Republic Federacion Dominicana de Surf (FEDOSURF)Dubai Surfing Association
 Ecuador Federación Ecuatoriana de Surf
 El Salvador Federación Salvadorena de Surf
 Fiji Fiji Surfing Association
 France Fédération Française de Surf
 Gambia Gambia Swimming and Water Sports Association
 Germany Deutscher Wellenreit Verband (DWV)
 Ghana Ghana Surfing Association
 United Kingdom Surfing Great Britain
 Greece Greek Surfing Association
 Guam Guahan Napu Inc. (Guam Surf & Bodyboard Association)
 Guatemala Guatemala Surfing Association (ASOSURF)
 Hawaii Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association (HASA)
 Netherlands Holland Surfing Association
 Hong Kong Hong Kong Stand Up Paddle Board Association (HKSUPBA)
 Hungary Hungarian Surf Association
 India Surfing Federation of India
 Indonesia Indonesian Surfing Association
 Ireland Irish Surfing Association
 Israel Israel Surfing Association
 Italy Federazione Italiana Surfing (FISURF)
 Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire Surfing Association
 Jamaica Jamaica Surfing Association
 Japan Nippon Surfing Association
 Kiribati Kiribati Surfing Association
 South Korea Korea Surfing Association
 Latvia Latvian Stand Up Paddle Association
 Lebanon Lebanon Surf & Sport
 Liberia Liberian Surfing Federation
 Madagascar Madagascar Yachting, Rowing, Canoeing, and Surfing Squadron Federation
 Malaysia Malaysia Surfing Association
 Maldives Maldives Surfing Association
 Mexico Federación Mexicana de Surfing, A.C.
 Morocco Federation Royale Marocaine de Surf et Bodyboard (FRMSB)
 Namibia Namibia Surfing Association
 New Zealand Surfing New Zealand Inc.
 Nicaragua Nicaragua Surfing Association
 Nigeria Nigeria Surfing Federation
 Panama Asociación Panameña de Surf
 Papua New Guinea Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea
 Peru Federación Peruana de Tabla
 Philippines Republic of the Philippines Surfing Association
 Poland Polskie Stowarzyszenie Surfingu
 Portugal Federação Portuguesa de Surf
 Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Surfing Federation
 Russia Russian Surfing Federation
 São Tomé and Príncipe Canoeing and Surfing Federation of São Tomé
 Senegal Federation Senegalaise de Surf
 Singapore Surfing Association of Singapore
 Slovakia Slovak Surfing Association
 Slovenia Surf Zveza Slovenije
 Somalia Somali Surfing Association
 South Africa Surfing South Africa
 Spain Federeración Española de Surf
 Sweden Swedish Surfing Association
  Switzerland Swiss Surfing Association
 Tahiti Federation Tahitienne de Surf
 Thailand Surfing Thailand
 Trinidad and Tobago Surfing Association of Trinidad & Tobago
 Turkey Turkish American Sports Club
 United Arab Emirates Dubai Surfing Association
 United States Surfing America
 Uruguay Union de Surf del Uruguay (USU)
 Vanuatu Vanuatu Surfing Association
 Venezuela Federación Venezolana de Surfing
 Wales Welsh Surfing Federation

ISA Recognized International Surfing Organizations[13]

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS[13]

Awards & Honor

Somewhat in line with the tradition of the Olympic Games a gold, silver, bronze and copper medals are awarded to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed athletes who compete for the honor to represent their country and national colors, in the true nature of surfing's aloha spirit and fair play.[4]

2014 World Champions

Peru Crowned 2014 World Team Champion, Argentina’s Leandro Usuna Wins The Gold Medal In Men’s, Peru’s Anali Gomez Wins the Gold Medal In Women’s and Peru Wins The ISA Aloha Cup With Incredible Waves At Punta Rocas, Peru [14][15][16][17]

ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games

Overall Team Results

  1.  Peru 11,402 points, (Champion Gold Medal)
  2.  Australia - 11,340 points, (Silver Medal)
  3.  Argentina - 10,922 points, (Bronze Medal)
  4.  Costa Rica - 9,508 points, (Copper Medal)
  5.  Ecuador - 8,330 points
  6.  South Africa - 8,268 points
  7.  Chile - 7,830 points
  8.  Puerto Rico - 6,720 points
  9.  Japan - 6,540 points
  10.  Panama - 6,400 points
  11.  New Zealand - 6,352 points
  12.  Mexico - 6,340 points
  13.  Uruguay - 5,760 points
  14.  Colombia - 5,540 points
  15.   Switzerland - 4,560 points
  16.  Scotland - 3,952 points
  17.  Tahiti - 3,756 points
  18.  Russia - 3,456 points
  19.  Venezuela - 2,520 points
  20.  Israel - 2,280 points
  21.  Turkey - 1,152 points
  22.  Dubai - 720 points

Open Men

  1. . Leandro Usuna (ARG), Gold Medal
  2. . Anthony Fillingim (CRI), Silver Medal
  3. . Shane Holmes (AUS), Bronze Medal
  4. . Nicholas Squires (AUS), Copper Medal

Open Women

  1. . Anali Gomez (PER), Gold Medal
  2. . Dominic Barona (ECU), Silver Medal
  3. . Philippa Anderson (AUS), Bronze Medal
  4. . Jessica Grimwood (AUS), Copper Medal

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.olympic.org/content/the-ioc/recognised-sport-federations/federation8/
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ http://www.arisf.org/members#Surfing
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Andrew Lewis, Surfing Deserves a Chance in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Here’s Why., Outside Magazine, 14 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ http://isawsg.com/historic-day-of-surfing-at-the-claro-isa-50th-anniversary-world-surfing-games-in-peru/
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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