ASB MAGAZINE: The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to announce the opening of the 2018 ISA Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than USD $288,500 to over 300 under-18 surfers around the globe since 2007. The aim of the ISA Scholarship Program is to accelerate the development of surfers around the globe, offering financial aid for both education and surfing purposes. The scholarships, of which the winners will be announced in the fall of 2018, are awarded to surfers based on their financial need, dedication to Surfing, and academic excellence.

2017 ISA Scholarship winner Mamadou Samba from Senegal used his award to stay in school and pursue his academic goals as well as training to improve his surfing skills.

2017 ISA Scholarship winner Mamadou Samba from Senegal used his award to stay in school and pursue his academic goals as well as training to improve his surfing skills.

In 2017 the ISA awarded USD $20,000 to 37 surfers from 19 countries across the globe. Recipients from nations such as India, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Venezuela highlighted the ISA’s dedication to bolstering the global grassroots development of the sport in non-traditional Surfing nations.

The success of the ISA Scholarship Program was highlighted on a global stage at the 2017 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan, as 16 ISA Scholarship ambassadors from 14 National Surfing Teams represented their nations at the highest level of competition.

One notable recipient of the ISA Scholarship Program in 2017 was Tanvi Jagadish, the first woman StandUp Paddle racer in India and a member of the first Indian team to compete at an ISA World Championship, during the 2016 ISA SUP Worlds in Fiji. Jagadish has used her award to train for future editions of the ISA SUP Worlds and encourage other young women in India to get involved in Surfing and SUP.

Tanvi Jagadish used her 2017 scholarship award to train and travel to Denmark for the 2017 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed

Tanvi Jagadish used her 2017 scholarship award to train and travel to Denmark for the 2017 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said:

“The ISA Scholarship Program is a key initiative in the ISA’s commitment to broaden the reach of Surfing and promote Surfing’s development in all corners of the globe. For over a decade we have been impacting the lives of young surfers in need by enabling them to continue pursuing their passion for Surfing and education.

“The ISA’s efforts have proved successful, as many recipients have gone on to represent their nations at ISA World Championships. Top surfers such as Costa Rica’s Carlos Muñoz and Barbados’ Chelsea Tuach have launched successful careers after becoming ISA Scholarship ambassadors.

“I am looking forward to hearing the many inspiring stories of these young surfers around the world. In just a little more than two year’s time we could very well see an ISA Scholarship ambassador earn a spot on the greatest level of sport and compete in the Surfing competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”

To apply for the 2018 ISA Scholarship Program, click here.

To view all past ISA Scholarship ambassadors, click here.

About The International Surfing Association:
The International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. The ISA governs and defines Surfing as Shortboard, Longboard & Bodyboarding, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment. The ISA crowned its first Men’s and Women’s World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007; and World StandUp Paddle (SUP, both surfing and racing) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 103 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are Karín Sierralta (PER), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Casper Steinfath (DEN) and Barbara Kendall (NZL).

VIA PRESS RELEASE