Surfers arrive in Azores

The Barbados National Junior Surfing team has settled into their first day in Sao Miguel, Azores, practising and familiarising themselves as they prepare for the 2016 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, set to take place from September 17-25. 

 

The 2016 edition is poised to make history as it will be the first in the era of Olympic Surfing and could potentially break the record for the largest individual and country participation in the event’s 37-year history, gathering the most talented junior surfers from all around the globe. 

 

Team Barbados placed 13th overall at last years world championships and will be seeking a top ten finish at these Games. 

 

Here are the ten things you need to know about the upcoming contest:

1. The Olympics

With the International Olympic Committee’s 

recent vote at the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro to include Surfing in the Sports Programme of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the 2016 edition of the VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will be the first in the era of Olympic Surfing. The world will get a glimpse in the Azores of the sport’s current and future talents that will compete to 

represent their nations when Surfing makes its Olympic debut in 2020.

 

2. Record participation

After a record breaking year in 2015, where 

322 surfers from 36 

countries graced the shores of Oceanside, California, USA for an epic week of competition, this year’s event could set a new record for participation in the event’s 37-year 

history. Nearly 40 nations and more than 330 surfers have registered to compete and vie for the coveted Individual and Team Gold Medals.

 

3. Watch the event live online

The world championship will be streamed live on www.isaworlds.com from September 17-25. Visit the official event website for results, photos, videos and news pertaining to the competition.

This year’s competition marks the third consecutive year that VISSLA 

has supported the championship as the title 

sponsor, bringing their youthful, unique energy 

to the world’s largest 

junior surfing competition.

VISSLA is a clothing brand that represents 

creative freedom, a 

forward-thinking philosophy, and a generation of creators and innovators. VISSLA embraces the modern do-it-yourself 

attitude within surf 

culture, performance 

surfing, and craftsmanship. This is a surf-everything and ride-anything mentality.

Azores Tourism also has strongly contributed by opening the doors of their island of São Miguel 

to the ISA and competing National Surfing Delegations.

The Portuguese Surfing Federation, the National Governing Body recognised by the ISA in Portugal, has partnered with the ISA in the 

hosting this historic ISA World Championship.

 

5. The Champions

The Champions from the previous three editions of the ISA World Surfing Games are as follows:

Team Gold Medalists

2015 – USA

2014 – Hawaii

2013 – Australia

Boy’s U-18 Gold Medalists

2015 – Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)

2014 – Luan Wood (BRA)

2013 – Josh Moniz (HAW) 

Girl’s U-18 Gold Medalists

2015 – Tessa Thyssen (FRA)

2014 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)

2013 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)

Boys U-16 Gold Medalists

2015 – Stevie Pittman (USA)

2014 – Leo-Paul Etienne (FRA)

2013 – Jacob Wilcox (AUS)

Girls U-16 Gold Medalists

2015 – Summer Macedo (HAW)

2014 – Mahina Maeda (HAW)

2013 – Mahina Maeda (HAW)

 

6. The venue 

The event will take place between two podiums at Praia de Monte Verde, 

located on the north side of the São Miguel Island. Praia do Monte Verde is a powerful, sand bottom beach break that is well exposed to pick up swells originating from the North Atlantic.

 

7. The history

The ISA hosted its first World Junior Surfing Championship in 1980 in Biarritz, France, where legendary surfer Tom Curren became the 

first ISA World Junior Champion, helping to launch his successful 

career.

Past ISA World Junior Champions include the 2014 WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA, 2010); Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW, 2014, 2013); Filipe Toledo (BRA, 2011); Tyler Wright (AUS, 2010, 2009); Alejo Muniz (BRA, 2008); Laura Enever (AUS, 2008); Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS, 2007); Julian Wilson (AUS, 2006); Owen Wright (AUS, 2006); Stephanie Gilmore 

(AUS, 2005, 2004); Matt Wilkinson (AUS, 2004); and Jordy Smith (RSA, 2003).

 

8. Social media

The ISA will be posting live updates, photos and videos from the competition on social media. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat and don’t 

forget use the official 

hashtags #ISAworlds and #VISSLAISAworldjuniors.Facebook: International Surfing Association Instagram: @ISAsurfing Snapchat: @ISA_Surfing Twitter: @ISAsurfing Youtube: @ISAsurfing

 

9. The schedule

September 17: Opening Ceremony at 10:30 am local time (GMT –1 hr) 

featuring the Parade of Nations and Sands of 

the World Ceremony in Ribeira Grande, São Miguel 

 

September 18-25: 

Competition at Praia do Monte Verde, São Miguel

 

September 25: Final day of competition, Awards Presentation and Closing Ceremony

 

10. The mission

Recognised by the IOC as the world governing body for Surfing, the ISA’s mission is to create a better world through Surfing. This is accomplished through annual World Championships for surfers representing their countries, membership development, educational programmes, scholarship distribution and preparing Surfing’s participation in the Olympic Games.ꆱ