The peaks along Playa Colorado at Hacienda Iguana offer left- and right-hand options, with barrels and sections for big turns or the occasional aerial. Photo: NicaSurfing.com/ Matt Belvins
The World-Class Beachbreak Offers Barrels and Long Lefts and Rights
Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
July 14 to 22, 2012
Colorado Beach at Hacienda Iguana, Nicaragua
After weeks of analyzing swell charts and considering weather patterns, the decision was made for the Nicaragua ISA World Masters Surfing Championship to be run in the world-class beachbreak waves at Colorado Beach at Hacienda Iguana.
“We had three fantastic venues to select from. After considering the time of year and all of the other variables that go into producing waves, Colorado proved the best venue for the top over-35 surfers in the world,” said Fernando Aguerre, the President of the ISA. “With former world champions and big-name pros expected to attend and compete on this world-class wave, we expect some of the highest levels of surfing this event has ever seen.”
Ideal in tides both high and low, and offering both lefts and rights, the break should allow plenty of opportunity for the likes of five-time world champion Tom Curren (USA), eight-time world champion Layne Beachley (AUS), four-time world champion Juan Ashton (PUR), two-time world champion Heather Clark (RSA), Ross Williams (HAW), and Fabio Gouveia (BRA) to put on display the level of surfing that has established them as some of the finest talents the sport has ever seen.
“The waves at Colorado are one of the most sought after by the international surfers because of its perfection, consistency and warm water,” said Lucy Valenti, the Executive President of Gray Line Nicaragua, which is helping to organize the event. “The setting at Hacienda Iguana is perfect, the beach is practically virgin, the tropical forest surrounding it makes it exotic, and the accommodation infrastructure is first class. The local people enjoy surfing and know how to take care of the visiting surfers. Playa Colorado at Hacienda Iguana is an ideal place to hold the ISA World Championship.”
Located on the south end of the country, the wave is groomed daily by the country’s non-stop offshore winds, which are caused by the Lago de Nicaragua effect. Due to the lake’s large expanse of water, winds blow offshore on the Pacific side of the country more than 300 days out of the year. The waters are warm and the outside air temperature is even warmer.
The event 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.
The Masters features the top over-35 surfers in the world. Last year’s event in El Salvador brought together over 120 competitors from 21 countries, many of whom were former professional surfers and world champions.
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.
