ASB MAGAZINE: The International Surfing Association (ISA) has welcomed the support of the Association of PaddleBoard Professionals (APP) and the elite, professional athletes of Stand Up Paddle (SUP), after they jointly released a statement recognizing the ISA as the sole world governing body for the sport. The statement was published ahead of the first-ever APP London SUP Open this weekend (7-8 July) – marking the start of the 2018 APP World Tour, which is sanctioned exclusively by the ISA. The strong messages of support reaffirm the APP’s unique relationship with the ISA, and signals how elite SUP athletes are aligned with the spirit and values of Surfing and Surf sports.
The declaration once again emphasizes the ISA’s historic involvement and investment in Stand Up Paddle and further reinforces the International Federation as the rightful, and natural, global governing body for SUP.
The full APP and professional SUP athlete solidarity statement can be viewed here.
Responding to the APP and SUP athlete statements, ISA President Fernando Aguerre, said:
“We are proud that the world’s best SUP athletes continue to support us as the sole governing body of Stand Up Paddle, and we are excited to see the passion for the sport in London this weekend.
“Ultimately, it is the athletes who are the heart of the sport and we are delighted they continue to recognize the work we have done to develop SUP around the world. For more than a decade we have worked for their benefit, and I am proud of the great partnership we have with the APP to enable SUP to flourish for many more years.
“The APP World Tour has grown into a truly incredible event series and I am excited by what the future holds for it. By taking the sport of SUP to the likes of London and New York, we are showing that surf sports can take place anywhere in the world, and are continuing to engage new, inner city fans and open up new markets. This is an exciting time for Stand Up Paddle and the ISA is proud to have worked so hard, and for so long, to grow the sport to this point.”
The APP World Tour sees the top SUP athletes come together to compete on a global stage. In London this weekend, athletes will take part in a range of elite Pro races, including a sprint along the River Thames that concludes in front of the iconic Houses of Parliament.
Alongside the professional races, the APP is arranging a host of ocean responsibility, yoga, and surf sport activities, creating a weekend-long City Paddle Festival in the heart of the UK’s capital.
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 104 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).
For more information, please visit www.isasurf.org.
