International Surfing Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Surfing Association

Sport	Surfing
Jurisdiction	International
Abbreviation	ISA
Founded	18 May 1964; 61 years ago (1964-05-18)
Headquarters	San Diego, California, U.S.
President	Fernando Aguerre (ARG)
Official website

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the main organization for surfing around the world. It is in charge of surfing, SUP racing, SUP surfing, para surfing, bodyboarding, and other wave riding sports. The ISA is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

After the events of 2022, the ISA stopped athletes and officials from Russia from joining ISA events. They also decided not to hold any events in Russia.

History of Surfing's Main Group

The ISA started on May 18, 1964. It was first called the International Surfing Federation (ISF) until 1973. The ISA has held World Championships for different age groups and types of surfing for many years.

How ISA Became the Top Surfing Body

In 1982, a group called SportAccord (which used to be GAISF) recognized the ISA. This meant the ISA was seen as the world's main group for surfing. In 1995, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also recognized the ISA. This recognition was made official in 1997.

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is part of these important sports groups:

• Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)
• SportAccord
• International World Games Association (IWGA)
• World Anti-Doping Agency

ISA's Goals and What They Do

The ISA wants to make the world better through surfing. They do this by holding World Championships and training surf and SUP instructors. They also have members all over the world and help grow surfing from the ground up. Each year, they give scholarships to surfers who need help.

Members of the ISA

The ISA works with many surfing groups around the world. Some of these include:

• Asian Surfing Federation
• European Surfing Federation

Surfing in the Olympics

Surfing's Olympic Journey

On June 22, 2015, the people organizing the 2020 Games in Tokyo said that surfing was one of the sports they were thinking about adding. On August 3, 2016, the IOC voted to add five new sports, including surfing, to the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Surfing was part of the Tokyo 2020 Games as a special addition. The ISA is now working hard to make sure surfing stays in future Olympics, like Paris 2024 and LA 2028.

How Surfers Qualify for the Olympics

On March 16, 2018, the ISA shared the rules for surfers to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These rules made sure that the best professional surfers could compete. They also made it possible for surfers from all over the world to have a chance.

Here are the main parts of how surfers qualified:

• 20 men and 20 women competed.
• Each country could send a maximum of 2 men and 2 women.
• Surfers earned their spots individually.
• The qualification events had a specific order of importance. If two surfers from a country qualified early, that country could not qualify more surfers from later events.
• All surfers chosen by their country had to take part in the 2019 and 2021 ISA World Surfing Games to be able to qualify for the Olympics.

The order of how surfers qualified was:

1. 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour: The top 10 eligible men and top 8 eligible women.
2. 2021 ISA World Surfing Games: The top 4 eligible men and top 6 eligible women.
3. 2019 ISA World Surfing Games: 4 men and 4 women chosen based on their continent. This included the top eligible surfer of each gender from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
4. 2019 Pan American Games: The top eligible man and top eligible woman from the surfing events.
5. Host nation spot: Japan, as the host country, was guaranteed one man and one woman spot. If Japanese athletes qualified through other ways, their spots went to the next highest-ranked surfers from the 2021 World Surfing Games.

You can find the full details of the qualification process for Surfing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics here.

ISA World Events

The ISA organizes world events for all kinds of surfing. Some of these events are:

• ISA World Surfing Games
• ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
• ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship
• ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship
• ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship
• ISA World Bodyboard Championship
• ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
• ISA World Kneeboard Championship

ISA World Surfing Games

The ISA World Surfing Games is a team competition, like the Olympics. Teams from different countries compete. Each team can have up to three men and three women. Surfers win individual medals and a special team trophy. This trophy is named after the ISA President, Fernando Aguerre.

The first event was held in 1964 in Manly, Australia. It was called the 'ISA World Surfing Championships' back then.

Because surfing became an Olympic sport, more countries started joining the World Surfing Games. In 2017, a record 47 countries competed in Biarritz, France. This was much more than the old record of 36 nations in 1996. Many countries, like Afghanistan, China, and South Korea, joined for the first time in 2017.

ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The ISA held its first World Junior Surfing Championship in 1980 in France. A famous surfer named Tom Curren became the first champion there. This event helped start his successful career. Until 2003, it was part of the ISA World Surfing Games. Then, it became its own event.

This championship often shows who will be the future stars of surfing. Many past champions became very famous. These include Gabriel Medina (2010), Tatiana Weston-Webb (2014, 2013), Filipe Toledo (2011), and Stephanie Gilmore (2005, 2004).

ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship

The ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship was created for surfers with physical challenges. It gives them a chance to compete and show their skills. This event is like the Paralympics for surfing.

The event has grown a lot since it started in 2015. It has helped the sport grow around the world. Countries like France, Australia, and the USA now hold their own championships. They use these to pick their teams for the world event.

In 2017, a record 109 athletes from 26 countries took part. This was more than a 50% increase from the first event in 2015.

ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship

The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship is a team competition, like the Olympics. It includes SUP Surfing, SUP Racing, and Paddleboard Racing. Athletes compete for individual gold medals. They also compete for the Club Waikiki-Peru ISA World Team Champion Trophy.

In 2017, this event was the first to have equal numbers of men and women in all parts. This shows how much women's SUP racing and surfing has grown.

ISA's Role in StandUp Paddle (SUP)

The ISA has been organizing the only World Championship for SUP and Paddleboard since 2012. This event has been held in different places like Peru, Nicaragua, Mexico, Fiji, and Denmark.

With ISA's help, SUP has grown very fast. They have development programs and scholarships for young SUP athletes. They also promote championships at the country level. The number of people joining the World Championship has almost quadrupled since it started.

The ISA suggested that both Surfing and SUP be included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo 2020 only chose Surfing. However, SUP has been included in other big events. These include the 2019 Pan American Games and the 2017 Central American Games. This helps the ISA push for SUP to be in the 2024 Olympics.

ISA Leadership Team

The ISA Executive Committee leads the organization. It includes the ISA President, Executive Director, and four Vice Presidents. Their job is to plan what the ISA will do to make "A Better Surfing Future." This team works with the ISA staff all year to make plans.

As of April 2018, the Executive Committee members were:

• President - Fernando Aguerre (ARG)
• Executive Director - Robert Fasulo (USA)
• Vice President - Karin Sierralta (PER)
• Vice President - Kirsty Coventry (ZIM)
• Vice President - Casper Steinfath (DEN)
• Vice President - Barbara Kendall (NZL)

ISA Athletes' Voice

On April 24, 2018, the ISA announced a new Athletes’ Commission. This group makes sure that athletes' ideas are heard at the highest levels of surfing and SUP.

Justine Dupont from France leads this commission. She has won medals in three ISA sports: Shortboard, Longboard, and SUP. She won a Team Gold at the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games. She also won an individual Silver in SUP Surfing in 2017.

Barbara Kendall (NZL), an ISA Vice President, also helps the commission. She is the Chair of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Athletes’ Commission. She has competed in five Olympic Games.

The full ISA Athletes’ Commission includes these members: Chair: Justine Dupont (FRA) Ex Officio: Barbara Kendall (NZL) Members:

• Dylan Lightfoot (RSA)
• Alana Nichols (USA)
• Masatoshi Ohno (JPN)
• Casper Steinfath (DEN)
• Miguel Tudela (PER)
• Ella Williams (NZL)

ISA Member Countries

The ISA has 103 member nations around the world.

List of ISA Members

The table below shows the countries that are members of the ISA:

Country	Member association
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)
Bangladesh	Surfing Bangladesh
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
Cayman Islands	Cayman Islands Surfing Association
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 Salvadoreña de Surf
England	Surfing England
Fiji	Fiji Surfing Association
Finland	Finnish SUP and Surf Federation
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)
Haiti	Surf Haiti
Hawaii	Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association (HASA)
Hong Kong	Hong Kong Stand Up Paddle Board Association (HKSUPBA)
Hungary	Hungarian Surf Association
India	Surfing Federation of India
Indonesia	Indonesian Surfing Association
Iran	I.R. Iran Surfing Association
Ireland	Irish Surfing Association
Israel	Israel Surfing Association
Italy	Federazione Italiana Surfing (FISURF)
Côte d'Ivoire	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
Lithuania	Lithuanian Surfing Association
Madagascar	Fédération Malagasy de Surf
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
Nauru	Nauru Surf Club
Nepal	Nepal National Surfing Association
Netherlands	Holland Surfing Association
New Zealand	Surfing New Zealand Inc.
Nicaragua	Nicaragua Surfing Association
Nigeria	Nigeria Surfing Federation
Norway	Norwegian Surfing Club
Panama	Asociación Panameña de Surf
Papua New Guinea	Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea
Peru	Federación Peruana de Tabla
Philippines	United Philippine 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
Scotland	Scottish Surfing Federation
Senegal	Federation Senegalaise de Surf
Sierra Leone	Sierra Leone Surfing Association
Singapore	Surfing Association Singapore
Slovakia	Slovak Surfing Association
Slovenia	Surf Zveza Slovenije
Somalia	Somali Surfing Association
South Africa	Surfing South Africa
Spain	Federeración Española de Surf
Sri Lanka	Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka
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	USA Surfing
United States Virgin Islands	United States Virgin Islands Surfing Association
Uruguay	Unión de Surf del Uruguay (USU)
Vanuatu	Vanuatu Surfing Association
Venezuela	Federación Venezolana de Surfing
Wales	Welsh Surfing Federation

Other Surfing Groups ISA Works With

The ISA also works with other international surfing groups. These include:

• World Surf League (WSL)
• Christian Surfers International (CSI)
• ALAS LATIN TOUR
• European Surfing Federation
• Pan-American Surf Association (PASA)
• Asian Surfing Federation
• Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association

Special Honorary Members

Some people are given special "honorary life member" status for their big contributions to surfing. These include:

• Alan Atkins, Australia
• Eduardo Arena, Peru
• Jacques Hele, France
• Reginald Prytherch, United Kingdom
• Rod Brooks, Australia
• Tim Millward, South Africa

Awards and Medals

Just like in the Olympic Games, surfers at ISA events can win medals. Gold, silver, bronze, and copper medals are given to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th placed athletes. They compete to represent their country and show good sportsmanship.

ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games

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's Results

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's Results

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

See also

In Spanish: Asociación Internacional de Surf para niños