Nicaragua to host 2012 ISA World Masters Champs...

Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship

International Surfing Association
Somewhere, Nicaragua
14 to 22 July 2012

Nicaragua to Host 2012 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship | espanol 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 April, 2012 : - - After months of searching and considering bids, the ISA has announced that the fifth edition of the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship will take place in the land of constant offshore winds: Nicaragua. The event will run from July 14-22, which is during the country's Veranillo, or "little summer," a time known for favorable winds and great waves.

"We're very excited to be bringing an ISA event to Nicaragua for the first time," said Fernando Aguerre, the President of the ISA. "The country has many quality waves that have been attracting surfers for years, but in small amounts. Hopefully this event will help spread the word to surfers around the world, so that they can learn and come to appreciate the nice waves, the nice weather and the warmth of the Nicaraguan people."

The event is supported at the highest level of government in Nicaragua. Negotiations were held with the Minister of Tourism, Mario Salinas, who has confirmed the full support of the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega.

"We, the people of Nicaragua, are very excited and proud to have won the bid to host the 2012 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. Such a prestigious event is a wonderful opportunity for our country, where tourism has become one of the most viable economic sectors with great potential for investment and employment," Minister Salinas said. "It gives us the chance to show not only our beautiful natural landscapes, beaches and waves, but also our culture and warm hospitality. This event will be a historical landmark in Nicaraguan beach culture. This event will also contribute to the growth of Nicaragua and to its positioning in the world of surfing and tourism."

Though the host country and the dates are selected, the site venue is still being finalized. Three waves on the Pacific Ocean side of the country are being considered, all of which are exposed to the Lago de Nicaragua effect. Due to the lake's large expanse of water, winds blow offshore on the Pacific side of the country more than 300 days out of the year.

The Masters event brings together the top over-35 surfers in the world. Many of the competitors are former professional surfers and some are even former world champions - and those particular surfers are continuing to prove themselves of championship caliber. Past Masters division champions include three-time ASP World Champion Tom Curren (USA) and seven-time women's ASP World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS).

Other Masters standout competitors include four-time ISA Gold Medalist Juan Ashton (PUR), two-time Gold Medalist Heather Clark (RSA), and two-time Gold Medalist Chris Knutsen (RSA), along with former ASP World Tour standouts Ross Williams (HAW), Rob Page (AUS) and Fabio Gouveia (BRA).

Be sure to check in to www.isasurf.org for further updates about the event as they are released.

www.isasurf.org

About the International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running Open Division World Championships since 1964, Junior World Championships since 1980, and Masters World Championships since 2007. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the Tandem Surfing World Title, and held the first stand-alone World Bodyboard Championship in 2011, and the first World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship in 2012.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 70 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA's three Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER) and Debbie Beacham (USA). More on www.isasurf.org.

Source: ISA

Author: Pablo Zanocchi

Tags: ISA World Masters. Nicaragua

Events: Surfersvillage