International Surfing Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Surfing Association

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

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the main group that looks after surfing and other wave sports around the world. This includes surfing, SUP racing, SUP surfing, para surfing, and bodyboarding. The ISA is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which is a very important step for any sport.

After a big event in 2022, the ISA decided that athletes and officials from Russia could not take part in ISA events. They also said that no ISA events would be held in Russia.

The History of Surfing's Main Group

The ISA started way back in 1964. It was first called the International Surfing Federation (ISF) until 1973. Since then, they have held many exciting world championships:

• The Open Division World Championships have happened every two years since 1964.
• Junior World Championships for younger surfers began in 1980.
• Masters World Championships for older surfers started in 2007.
• A Stand Up Paddle World Championship has been held since 2011.

How Surfing Became an Official Sport

In 1982, a big sports group called SportAccord (then known as GAISF) officially said the ISA was the world's main surfing organization. This was a huge step! Then, in 1995, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave the ISA temporary recognition. This recognition became permanent in 1997, meaning surfing was now part of the Olympic family.

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

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

ISA's Mission: Making the World Better Through Surfing

The ISA's main goal is to make the world a better place using surfing. They do this in many ways:

• They crown World Champions in different surfing events.
• They offer special training and certificates for surf and SUP instructors.
• They have members all over the world, helping surfing grow everywhere.
• They support new surfers and help the sport grow from the ground up.
• They give out scholarships every year to surfers who need help.

Surfing at the Olympics

Surfing's Olympic Dream Comes True

On June 22, 2015, the people organizing the 2020 Games in Tokyo announced that surfing was one of the sports they were thinking of adding. This was exciting news for surfers! Then, on August 3, 2016, during a big meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the IOC officially voted to add five new sports to the 2020 Summer Olympics, and surfing was one of them!

Surfing was first included in the Tokyo 2020 Games as a special addition. Now, the ISA is 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 official rules for how surfers could qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These rules were made to ensure the best professional surfers could compete, while also giving surfers from all over the world a chance.

Here are the main points of how surfers qualified:

• There were 20 spots for men and 20 spots for women.
• Each country could send a maximum of two men and two women.
• Surfers earned their spots individually.
• To be eligible, all surfers chosen by their country had to compete in the 2019 and 2021 ISA World Surfing Games.

The qualification spots were given out in a specific order:

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 (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania).
4. 2019 Pan American Games: The top eligible man and woman from the surfing events.
5. Host Nation Spot: Japan, as the host country, was guaranteed one spot for a man and one for a woman, unless they already qualified through the other ways.

Exciting ISA World Events

The ISA organizes many world-class events for all kinds of surfing. Some of these big events include:

• ISA World Surfing Games
• ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
• ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship
• ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship (for surfers with physical challenges)
• 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, much like the Olympics. Teams from different countries come together to compete. Each team can have up to three men and three women. Surfers compete for individual medals and a special team trophy called the Fernando Aguerre World Team Trophy. This trophy is named after the ISA President who donated it.

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

Because surfing became an Olympic sport, the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games had a record number of countries participating. In 1996, 36 nations competed, but in 2017, 47 countries came to Biarritz, France, which was a new record! Many countries, like Afghanistan, China, Greece, and South Korea, sent teams for the first time in 2017.

ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The ISA held its first World Junior Surfing Championship in 1980 in Biarritz, France. A famous surfer named Tom Curren became the first ISA World Junior Champion there. This event helped start his amazing career. Until 2003, this junior competition was part of the ISA World Surfing Games. But in 2003, it became its own big event in Durban, South Africa.

The ISA World Junior Surfing Championship often shows us who the future stars of surfing will be. Many famous surfers today were once ISA World Junior Champions. These include Gabriel Medina (2010), Tatiana Weston-Webb (2013, 2014), Filipe Toledo (2011), Tyler Wright (2009, 2010), and Stephanie Gilmore (2004, 2005).

ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship

The ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship was created to give surfers with physical challenges a chance to compete. It's a Paralympic-style event where they can show off their amazing skills.

This event has grown a lot since it first started in 2015. It has helped the sport grow all over the world. Countries like France, Australia, and the USA now hold their own national championships. These events help them pick their national teams for the World Championship in California.

In 2017, the event broke records with 109 athletes from 26 countries. 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 another Olympic-style team competition. It includes SUP Surfing, SUP Racing, and Paddleboard Racing. Athletes compete for individual gold medals and the Club Waikiki-Peru ISA World Team Champion Trophy.

In 2017, this event was the first to have equal divisions for men and women. This shows how much women's SUP racing and surfing has grown!

How ISA Helps StandUp Paddle (SUP) Grow

The ISA has been organizing the only World Championship for SUP and Paddleboard since 2012. These events have been held in different countries like Peru (2012, 2013), Nicaragua (2014), Mexico (2015), Fiji (2016), and Denmark (2017).

Thanks to ISA's programs, scholarships for young SUP athletes, and support for national championships, SUP has grown incredibly fast. The number of people taking part in the World Championship has almost quadrupled since it began!

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 like the 2019 Pan American Games. This gives the ISA hope for SUP's inclusion in the 2024 Olympics.

ISA's Leaders: The Executive Committee

The ISA Executive Committee is a small group of leaders. It includes the ISA President, the Executive Director, and four Vice Presidents. Their job is to plan how the ISA will make "a better surfing future." They work with the ISA staff all year to create future 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' Commission

On April 24, 2018, the ISA announced a new group called the Athletes’ Commission. This group makes sure that athletes' ideas and opinions are heard by the top leaders in surfing, StandUp Paddle (SUP), and all related sports.

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

Barbara Kendall (NZL), who is an ISA Vice President and a five-time Olympian, also helps lead the commission.

The full ISA Athletes’ Commission includes: 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 Nations

The ISA has 103 member nations from all over the world. These are the countries and their surfing associations that are part of the ISA family.

Members

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	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
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 Organizations Recognized by ISA

The ISA also works with other important surfing groups:

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

Awards and Honors in Surfing

Just like in the Olympic Games, surfers who place well in ISA events receive medals. A gold medal goes to 1st place, silver to 2nd, bronze to 3rd, and a copper medal to 4th place. These medals are given to athletes who proudly represent their country. It's all about the true spirit of surfing, which includes friendship and fair play.

ISA's 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games

This special event celebrated 50 years of the ISA. Here are the top team and individual results from that competition:

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'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