ALL TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2014 ISA WORLD STANDUP PADDLE AND PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

Leer Noticia en Español

28 National Teams And Nearly 220 Competitors Will Gather In La Boquita And Granada, Nicaragua To Compete For Gold

The historical, colonial city of Granada, founded in 1524, located on the north-west shore of Lake Nicaragua, is the official host city of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
The historical, colonial city of Granada, founded in 1524, located on the north-west shore of Lake Nicaragua, is the official host city of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

Granada, Nicaragua, May 1, 2014- The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to announce all the teams and athletes, who will be competing in Granada and La Boquita, Nicaragua for the 2014 ISA World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC).

The Official Poster of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. The dotted line represents the 20km Long Distance Course through the “Isletas de Granada,” a chain of 365 islands on Lake Nicaragua.
The Official Poster of the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship. The dotted line represents the 20km Long Distance Course through the “Isletas de Granada,” a chain of 365 islands on Lake Nicaragua.

The 28 National Teams that have confirmed their participation include, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Tahiti, USA, Venezuela, and Wales.

In the largest ISA WSUPPC ever, nearly 220 athletes will fill the slots competing in the disciplines of SUP Surfing, SUP Racing, and prone Paddleboard in both Women’s and Men’s divisions.

One of the 365 “Isletas de Granda.” Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
One of the 365 “Isletas de Granada.” Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“With the Opening Ceremony on Saturday and the start of competition on Sunday, the world’s best SUP Racers, SUP Surfers, and Paddleboarders have arrived in the beautiful country of Nicaragua,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “The teams will be enjoying training sessions at Lake Nicaragua for Racing and at La Boquita for SUP Surfing in preparation for the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship.

The growth of this sport continues to amaze me! In just three years, the World Championship has expanded from 17 to 28 countries and more than doubled in the number of competitors. I’m expecting an incredible level of competition and I wish all the athletes the very best in the competition.”

Concepcion Volcano on Ometepe Island, which is inside Lake Nicaragua. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
Concepcion Volcano on Ometepe Island, which is inside Lake Nicaragua. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

The Championship will feature the world’s best SUP Racers and Surfers, and Paddleboarders including the defending Team Champion, Australia.  Also, returning to defend his Gold Medal in the SUP Technical Race will be Denmark’s Casper Steinfath, plus 2013 Gold Medalist in the Paddleboard Long Distance and Technical Races, Australia’s Jordan Mercer. USA’s Sean Poynter and Brazil’s Nicole Pacelli will return to defend their Gold Medal in SUP Surfing. There will also be eight countries participating in the World Championship for the first time looking to cause major upsets including Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Italy, Latvia, Nicaragua, and Wales.

It is not uncommon to see monkeys throughout the islands. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales
It is not uncommon to see monkeys throughout the islands. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

The 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will officially begin on Saturday, May 3rd with the Opening Ceremony, Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony that will be held in the historic, colonial, City of Granada. Founded in 1524, Granada is one of the oldest mainland cities in the Americas founded by the Spanish colonialists that remain in its original location.

On Sunday, the first day of competition will kick-off at 8am local time at La Boquita, on the Pacific Coast, with the Men’s and Women’s SUP Surfing.

The event will be webcast live on www.isawsuppc.com

Click here to see full list of registered National Teams and participating athletes- http://isawsuppc.com/2014/teams/

Please note that registration closes Friday at 3:00pm and team lists are subject to change.

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