2014 ISA WORLD SUP AND PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS SATURDAY

Leer Noticia en Español

Nicaragua’s National Team Was Joined By The ISA President, Minister Of Tourism, Local Organizers, And The Country’s Main Media Outlets At The Official Press Conference

 

ISA President Fernando Aguerre (on screen) was joined by Nicaragua’s Minister of Tourism Mayra Salinas (fourth from right), Local Event Organizer Lucy Valenti (third from left), Nicaragua Team Manager Ronaldo Urroz (far right), Nicaragua Team Members Norwin Estrella and Ana Urroz (far left) and ISA Gold Medalist Casper Steinfath (second from right) at the official press conference. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
ISA President Fernando Aguerre (on screen) was joined by Nicaragua’s Minister of Tourism Mayra Salinas (fourth from right), Local Event Organizer Lucy Valenti (third from left), Mayor of Granada Julia Mena (fourth from left), Mayor of Diriamba (third from right), Nicaragua Team Manager Ronaldo Urroz (far right), Nicaragua Team Members Norwin Estrella and Ana Urroz (far left) and ISA Gold Medalist Casper Steinfath (second from right) at the official press conference. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

The 2014 ISA World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) begins Saturday with the Opening Ceremony featuring the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony. All 28 National Teams and over 250 Athletes and Team Officials will gather and parade down the streets of the historic, colonial city of Granada in front of thousands of local spectators.

During the Opening Ceremony, each participating nation comes to the stage waving their national flag while pouring sand from their local beach into a glass container symbolizing the peaceful gathering of nations through the love of surfing.

Friday, the official press conference of the ISA WSUPPC took place in the official host city, Granada, where over 50 representatives of Nicaragua’s leading TV and print media outlets were present. In attendance were ISA President Fernando Aguerre, Ministry of Tourism Mayra Salinas, Local Event Organizer Lucy Valenti, Mayor of Granada Julia Mena, Mayor of Diriamba Fernando Baltodano, Nicaragua Team Manager Ronaldo Urroz, Nicaragua National Team Members Norwin Estrella and Ana Urroz, and 2013 ISA WSUPPC Gold Medalist Casper Steinfath from Denmark.

The first ever Nicaraguan SUP and Paddleboard Team was present at the Official Press Conference of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
The first ever Nicaraguan SUP and Paddleboard Team was present at the Official Press Conference of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“It is with great happiness that I welcome the first Nicaraguan National Team in the history of the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship; it’s a real honor. I want all of the team members and coaches to realize that you are making sport history in Nicaragua,” noted ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “Nicaragua is a pioneer because it’s the first time that an ISA World Championship will be held at both the ocean and lake. I want to thank everyone for their support and wish the best of success to all of the athletes.”

“For Nicaragua, it brings great satisfaction, pride, and happiness to welcome more than 220 athletes from 28 countries,” remarked Executive President of INTUR (Ministry of Tourism) Mayra Salinas. “For us, it’s an extraordinary opportunity, not only for Tourism promotion of the country at an international level, but also to showcase the incredibly rich natural resources we have in all of our beaches.”

“I would like to invite the whole country of Nicaragua to enjoy a World Championship of amazing quality. Since we started hosting ISA World Championships three years ago, it has positioned Nicaragua as a world-wide leader in surf,” said Local Organizer Lucy Valenti.

The live webcast of the Parade of Nations and the Opening Ceremony will begin at 3:30pm, local time and can be viewed on http://isawsuppc.com/2014/live/.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, 3:30pm Granada, Nicaragua
Saturday, 2:30pm West Coast USA
Saturday, 11:30pm Western Europe
Sunday, 7:30am Sydney, Australia

About the International Surfing Association:
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, 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, and will launch the World Longboard Championship in 2013.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 84 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 Liv Nicaragua:
Liv Nicaragua is the commercial name of Tourism and Investments Corporation (TURIN S.A.) a company formed by professional experts in tourism and real estate of recognized prestige and experience in Nicaragua and Central America. It is dedicated to promoting Nicaragua as an attractive destination for investment, tourism, world class sports events and as one of the most competitive destinations for those looking to retire or have a second home. It specializes in advicing responsibly and professionally those interested in investing or retiring in Nicaragua, providing them with an attractive portfolio of high quality projects.

The Executive President of TURIN S.A is Lucy Valenti, who has had a renowned career and leadership in the Tourism industry of Nicaragua and Central America. She has held the Presidency of the National Chamber of Tourism of Nicaragua (2006-2011), the Vice Chair of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise of Nicaragua (COSEP 2006-2011), the deanship of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management of the American University (UAM) of Nicaragua and the position of Secretary General of the Central American Tourism Integration system (SITCA) among other responsibilities. Also, organizer of the Latinamerican Surfing Circuits (ALAS) for the past four years, the 2012 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, and the 2013 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in the country. Currently she is President of Nicaragua’s Business Women Network (REN), Secretary of the Board of Directors of COSEP and Vice President of the Nicaraguan Association of Investors and Developers (ANID) .

For more information please contact us at [email protected]

About INTUR:
The Nicaraguan Tourism Institute is the Government institution in charge of developing tourism in the country and promoting Nicaragua as a new and emerging tourism destination. For more information:
www.visitnicaragua.us or www.intur.gob.ni