The beachbreak at Colorado beach at Hacienda Iguana offers barreling lefts and rights on low tide, and long rippable walls on high tide, which will allow the veteran surfers to put their all-around ability on display. Photo: Nicasurfing.com/ Dustin Franks
ISA World Masters Event Supported at the Highest Levels of Government in Nicaragua
Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
July 14 to 22, 2012
Colorado beach at Hacienda Iguana, Nicaragua
Surfing has the ability to transform. It transforms us as individuals, turning us into active participants in the ocean, and active defenders of its health and survival. Surfing also has the ability to transform a community, a region and even a country – even if it’s in a small way. The government of Nicaragua, and its Tourism Department, are bringing the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship to its shores in July, as part of their plan so that transformation will take place in their country.
The event, which begins on July 14, will bring the best over-35-year-old surfers in the world to compete in the waves at Colorado beach at Hacienda Iguana. Several former ISA and ASP World Champions and numerous over 35 top professional surfers will represent their respective country in hopes of achieving the glory of winning an individual medal and, more importantly, a team medal. In turn, the elite-level athletes will bring the spotlight of the national and international media.
“Nicaragua is among the ten top countries for the best waves and beaches for surfing, but this fact is not well known by the world and INTUR believes that by organizing ISA World Championship events that the world will know that this country is ready to receive surfers from around the globe,” said Mario Salinas, the Tourism Minister of Nicaragua. “The media exposure the country will gain from this World Championship is going to be very important for Nicaragua. After this event, the country is going to witness a quality change in the surfing segment for which we are getting prepared with infrastructure, lodging, surfing schools, etc. All these is going to have an important impact in the local economy of the area.”
Nicaragua is by no means new to surfing. Traveling surfers have been coming to the west coast of the country for years to ride the vast array of waves available, most of which are immaculately groomed by the “Lake Nicaragua Effect”, which causes the winds to blow off-shore almost year-round.
“As the ISA has said, and as many people around the world have recognized, surfing is about more than just riding waves – it can be a vehicle for change,” said Fernando Aguerre, the president of the ISA. “The Aloha spirit is contagious. It spreads good vibes, and it attracts world travelers, which brings tourism dollars into surfing destinations. Everybody wins.”
The ISA World Masters is supported at the highest level of government in Nicaragua. Negotiations were held with the Minister of Tourism, Mario Salinas, who has confirmed the full support of the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega.
A two-time Gold Medalist in ISA Masters competition, South Africa´s Heather Clark will be a force to be reckoned with in the high-performance conditions at Colorado beach at Hacienda Iguana. Photo: ISA/Demarsan
Due to the importance of the event, extensive work was put into selecting the proper venue. The wave at Colorado beach was selected because of its world-class caliber. It’s ideal in tides both high and low, and offers both lefts and rights, barrels and sections for big turns and aerials. It should suit the talents of five-time world champion Tom Curren (USA), four-time world champion Juan Ashton (PUR), and two-time world champion Heather Clark (RSA).
According to Lucy Valenti, the Executive President of Gray Line Nicaragua, which is helping to organize the event, the invested parties intend to document the positive impacts the ISA Masters World Championship have on the surfing culture in Nicaragua, and presenting them to Minister Salinas, so as to make sure that surfing will be developed in a sustainable manner to keep the proper balance between development of the communities, protecting the environment and conserving the local culture.
Be sure to check in to www.isasurf.org for further updates about the event as they are released.
The Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is made possible with the backing of the following sponsors: Nicaragua Tourism Institute, Gray Line, AmericanAirlines, Canal 13, Amnet, Hacienda Iguana, Taca, VOS TV, Municipalidad de Tola, Flor de Caña, INISER; the following cosponsors: Movistar, Dollar, Alamo, Comité Olimpico Nicaragüense, Hilton, Nuevo Diario, Guacalito, Condor, Servipro, Aqua Spa, CDNN canal 23, Nicasurfing; and the following supporters: Surfari Charters, Corona, Paso Pacifico, Renisa, Parmalat, Credomatic, Cruz Roja, Pantaleon, Canatur. The media partners are Pasión Xtrema, SurfersVillage and Surfos. The Official Forecaster for the event is Surfline.The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running the Open Division World Championship since 1964, the World Junior Surfing Championship since 1980, the World Masters Surfing Championship since 2007, the World Bodyboard Championship since 2011, and the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival in China and the World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship beginning in 2012. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the World Tandem Surfing Championship.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 71 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 and re-elected seven times since. The ISA´s four Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER), Debbie Beacham (USA) and Layne Beachley (AUS).
More on www.isasurf.org
About Gray Line Tours Nicaragua
Gray Line Tours is a leading tour operator in Nicaragua, and is affiliated with Gray Line Worldwide, which provides tourism services around the world. The company offers complete services in accommodation, transportation, tours, as well as the organization of congress and incentive travels (DMC). It offers quality and professional services, as well as personalized attention to its clients 24 hours a day.
Gray Line offers competitive rates and a wide range of products from nature and cultural packages to surfing and adventure programs. International surfing competitions in Nicaragua have been possible since 2010 thanks to Gray Line Nicaragua efforts.
