ISA World Para Surfing Championship Returns to Pismo Beach in December 2022 | Sports Destination Management

ISA World Para Surfing Championship Returns to Pismo Beach in December 2022

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Nov 28, 2022

Following the hugely successful 2021 Pismo Beach ISA World Para Surfing Championship hosted by AmpSurf, the ISA is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with Pismo Beach and AmpSurf to host the 2022 edition of the event once again in Pismo Beach, California.

Set to take place on December 4-11, 2022, the Championship will feature the world’s best para surfers competing for their nations and the coveted ISA World Para Surfing Team Champion Trophy.

Through their partnership with the ISA, Pismo Beach and AmpSurf will not only be able to showcase their world-class destination for para surfing, but also help further the ISA’s mission to see para surfing included in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

As the governing body for the Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is currently evaluating sports for the LA28 Paralympic Program.  The ISA is recognized by the IPC as the International Federation for para surfing and as such will be submitting the sport for consideration to the IPC. The World Para Surfing Championship plays a key role in this Paralympic strategy as the global platform for universal access to the sport and the highest showcase for para surfing talent at an elite level.

Para surfing has experienced significant growth since the first ISA World Para Surfing Championship in 2015 (originally titled the World Adaptive Surfing Championship). During that period, the ISA has continued to refine the Para Surfing Classification system in line with IPC requirements and encouraged its network of 110 member nations to host national and regional competitions.

134 athletes from 24 countries participated in the 2021 edition of the event in Pismo, breaking records and further building on the amazing global growth of the sport.

Women’s involvement also saw greater numbers in 2021 than ever before. Gender equality is a pillar of the ISA’s mission, and the organization is invested in further promoting gender equity in each surfing discipline.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“The ISA is super committed to the long-term growth and promotion of para surfing world-wide.  We are grateful for partners like Pismo Beach and AmpSurf who share this commitment and embrace the ISA’s mission to create a better world through surfing.

The World Para Surfing Championship is a key element of that mission. The global community of para surfers know how powerful surfing can be in healing the mind, body and spirit.

Through continuing to elevate this event, our hope is to further spread the joy and love that para surfing brings to our community and the world.  That joy is visible on the face of every athlete that competes at our event. The success and growth of this World Championship is a great source of pride, especially for me personally.

Just as surfing has done for the Olympic Games, I have no doubt that para surfing can bring exciting added value, and have a major impact on the Paralympic Games. With the help of our surfers and global para surfing community, I can’t wait to make that case to the IPC and to see our para surfers with Paralympic gold around their necks.”

Mayor of Pismo Beach Ed Waage said:

 “The City of Pismo Beach is honored to be the host city again this year for the Para Surfing World Championships. We admire the enthusiasm, courage and dedication of the athletes and watch in awe of their surfing abilities. Most of all, we enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces and the joy in their hearts as they compete.”

President of AmpSurf, Dana Cummings said:” AmpSurf is excited to host the Para Surfing World Championships again this year. To have these athletes from around the world come here and enjoy our world class accommodations and facilities is a true honor. We look forward to helping highlight these athletes, the local community and our programs effort to Promote, Inspire, Educate and Rehabilitate (PIER) all people with disabilities through adaptive surf therapy.”

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