Government officials, ISA leadership, and top athletes gather at official press conference to discuss upcoming competition
Minister of Tourism Morena Valdez: “We are positioning El Salvador as the best place to surf, visit, explore, and invest”
President of INDES Yamil Bukele: “Our commitment is to develop the country and to help the athletes live by the sports that they like to practice”
161 athletes from 27 countries are set to represent their flags and compete in the 2019 Surf City El Salvador ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship.
2019 will mark the eighth edition of the competition, this year taking place on the picturesque coast of El Sunzal, El Salvador Nov 24 – Dec 1.
The festivities will begin on Sunday at El Sunzal, featuring the ISA’s Parade of Nations and unique Sands of the World Ceremony, where each country will pour sand from their local beaches into a container to symbolize the peaceful gathering of nations through surfing.
The competition will kick off on Sunday afternoon, crowning the first World Champions of the event in the SUP Sprint races.
On Friday morning government officials, ISA leadership, and top athletes united at the event’s official press conference at Club Salvadoreño, overlooking the waves of El Sunzal.
El Salvador’s Minister of Tourism Morena Valdez, President of INDES Yamil Bukele, ISA Executive Director Robert Fasulo, five-time SUP World Champion and ISA Vice President Casper Steinfath (DEN), and member of Team El Salvador Josselyn Alabi were present to discuss the buzz around the World Championship.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre was unable to attend due to suffering a broken leg, but he sent his warm regards via audio message to those present at the press conference.
“It’s going to be an amazing Word Championship,” said Aguerre. “We are working together to place El Salvador where it belongs as a mecca of surf tourism.
“At the same time, we are developing an activity that the El Salvadorians have fallen in love with – surf – especially with the youth, to get them off their electronic screens and away from violence.
“This is a first step in our paddle together, all working towards the future that President Nayib Bukele has envisioned.”
Morena Valdez, Minister of Tourism said:
“We are truly happy and have already exceeded the expectations that we had with the ISA.
“We are expecting this event to generate more than 8 million dollars in economic impact, earning back our investment, without even considering the international recognition that we are receiving as a tourism destination.
“We are positioning El Salvador as the best place to surf, visit, explore, and invest.”
President of INDES Yamil Bukele followed:
“We want to put the athletes in power. We cannot carry out a World Championship if we don’t support our athletes.
“Our commitment is to develop our country and to help the athletes live by the sports that they like to practice.”
Member of Team Denmark, Casper Steinfath, said:
“As an athlete it is a huge honor to be sitting here in a new country that I have never visited before. It’s very new for all athletes and we look forward to competing in what are exceptionally good waves. We’ve heard good stories and we look forward to exploring what El Salvador has to offer.
“As an athlete, I want to say good luck to the local athletes here in El Salvador. Having competed in my home country before in this World Championship, it means a lot. You might feel some pressure, but it’s a great recognition of surfing in El Salvador. I want to wish you all the best of luck riding this wave.”
Member of Team El Salvador, Josselyn Alabi, said:
“El Salvadorians are always known for giving it their all. This quality will be key in this event where we are going to do our best.
“We want to showcase El Salvador in the best way possible on a global stage. We are a proud country and our priority is to represent El Salvador as best we can.”
The 2019 Surf City El Salvador ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship can be viewed live on isasurf.org Nov 24 – Dec 1.
The schedule for the competition is as follows, subject to changes.
November 24
- Opening Ceremony
- SUP Sprint Races
November 25
- Long Distance Races
November 26
- Technical Race Preliminary Rounds
- Team Relay Preliminary Rounds
- Team Relay Final
November 27
- Technical Race Finals
November 28 – December 1
- SUP Surfing
December 1
- Closing Ceremony