Nicaragua’s Tourism Minister Welcomes the Surfing World to the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship

Nearly 50 media representatives were on hand for the press conference for the Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, the first sports world championship event in the country in 18 years. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzalez

Country to Host Its First Sports World Championship in 18 Years

Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
Friday, July 13, 2012
Colorado Beach at Hacienda Iguana, Nicaragua

ATTENTION MEDIA:
Register online for event updates, along with access to video and photo footage free of rights for editorial purposes: www.isawmsc.com/media

For the first time since 1994, a world championship is set to commence in Nicaragua: the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. During the official press conference at the Hilton Princess in Managua on Friday morning – one day prior to the Opening Ceremony – Mario Salinas, the country’s Minister of Tourism, expressed his enthusiasm for what the event will mean to the country now and into the future.

“We have discovered the potential that this country holds for this sport and its tourism. We have studied and we know now that our waves are perfect, some of the best in the world, which means that we have an amazing future in surfing,” Salinas said. “Our growth in tourism has been really big in the last few years, and now with this event and with the sport’s tourism potential, we’re confident that we’re going to have significant growth in this area and that it will be really important [to our economic future]. Surfing is going to have an impact on the development of the coasts of our country as we never had before.”

The ISA World Masters in Nicaragua – which has received unequivocal support from the country’s president, Daniel Ortega – continues to fulfill the dream of the ISA’s president, Fernando Aguerre, to spread surfing and the spirit of Aloha to every coastline, river, lake and wave pool around the world.

“Today is a really special day for the ISA because we’re coming to this beautiful country of Nicaragua for the first time ever. Surfers are travelers; we are constantly looking for good waves and we are always looking for new places to expand our boundaries,” Aguerre said. “So, for me, it’s a pleasure; it’s a joyful reason to be here.”

Nearly 50 members of the local and international media, including live national television and radio coverage, were on hand for the press conference.

Rochelle Ballard and Juan Ashton (middle and right) liked what they heard as Maria Antonieta Ocon, the Vice President of the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee, offered the organization´s support of surfing in the Olympic Games. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzalez

Joining ISA President Aguerre and Minister Salinas on the panel were Maria Antonieta Ocon, the Vice President of the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee; event organizer Lucy Valenti of Gray Line Tours Nicaragua; Ivan Saballos, representing the Nicaraguan Surfing Federation; legendary women’s surfer Rochelle Ballard (HAW); and Juan Ashton (PUR), the most decorated ISA surfer.

The event begins tomorrow with the Parade of Nations, Sands of the World Ceremony and Opening Ceremony in Rivas.

The surfing action begins on Sunday at Colorado Beach at Hacienda Iguana, in the municipality of Tola. The world-class beachbreak is already proving itself as an ideal venue for the best over-35-year-old surfers in the world, with competitors raving about the quality of the wave, the constant offshore winds, warm water and the accommodations. Four-time ISA Gold Medalist Juan Ashton first came to Nicaragua nearly a decade ago “when there wasn’t a stick in the sand,” and he praised the amount of development. He was even more complimentary about how the area has managed to maintain its rural beauty and identity.

The last time she competed in an ISA event, Hawaii’s Rochelle Ballard was just a teenager. Since that time she’s finished runner-up on the Women’s ASP World Tour, been involved in a major motion picture (Blue Crush) and started her own yoga business, among many other achievements.

“It’s really a privilege and an honor to represent where you come from,” said Ballard, who won a Bronze Medal at the 1988 ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico. “To be traveling with Sunny [Garcia] and Kaipo Jaquias, two longtime friends, and to come to this beautiful country for my first ISA event since I was a teenager brings back a lot of great memories.”

When competition begins, there will be more than 140 athletes representing 26 nations, across five divisions. Surfers compete for individual medals and the perpetual Eduardo Arena Trophy, which will be awarded to the Gold Medal-winning team. Peruvian Eduardo Arena founded the ISA in 1964.

“We’re going to be here for 10 days enjoying the country, and I hope you enjoy the presence of the almost 200 foreigners (athletes and coaches) that came here to compete,” ISA President Aguerre said. “What’s important, most important, is that today we come as visitors, but tomorrow, we leave as ambassadors of the spirit of this country.”