10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ISA WORLD STANDUP PADDLE AND PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

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The Third Annual ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will take place May 3 to May 11, 2014 on Lake Nicaragua in Granada for the SUP and Paddleboard Racing, and on the waves of La Boquita for SUP Surfing.

In this third edition of the ISA World Championship, the best men and women from around the world will gather in Nicaragua to determine the individual Gold Medalists in SUP Racing, Paddleboarding, SUP Surfing, and the coveted Club Waikiki-Peru World Team Champion Trophy.

Denmark’s Casper Steinfath, 2013 SUP Technical Race Gold Medalist, will compete in Nicaragua to defend his title. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
Denmark’s Casper Steinfath, 2013 SUP Technical Race Gold Medalist, will compete in Nicaragua to defend his title. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

The 10 things you need to know about the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship are:

1. The Event
The ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) will gather the world’s best SUP Racers, SUP Surfers, and Paddleboarders to compete in a National Teams competition.

It is an “Olympic Style” event – teams compete for medals and the honor of representing their countries. The excellence of competition reaches its highest level as each participant defends his or her flag.

2. The Venue
For the first time in an ISA WSUPPC event, the competition is taking place in two different locations. SUP Surfing will take place in the ocean at La Boquita on the Pacific coast of Central Nicaragua, while the SUP and Paddleboard flatwater Racing portion will be held on the northwest area of Lake Nicaragua in Granada, which is the oldest colonial city of the country.

Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and the 19th largest in the world.

SUP Surfing Women’s Gold Medalist, Nicole Pacelli from Brazil, will return once again to the competition to defend her World Champion title. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle.
SUP Surfing Women’s Gold Medalist, Nicole Pacelli from Brazil, will return once again to the competition to defend her World Champion title. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle.

3. The Competition
The ISA WSUPPC is an annual competition that will visits Nicaragua for the first time, and will feature defending Gold Medalists and up-and-coming athletes from around the world.

4. The History
The ISA is Surfing’s World Governing Authority as recognized by the International Olympic Committee since 1995. The ISA first held the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in January 2012 idue to the increasing popularity and growing talent level participating in these disciplines on a global level.

During last year’s ISA WSUPPC that took place in Lima, Peru, the Australian National SUP and Paddlebord Team earned 9 out of the 12 possible Gold Medals, awarding them the overall World Team Championship and the Club Waikiki-Peru Team Trophy for the second consecutive year.

5. The Mission
With the goal of developing all wave riding sports around the world, the ISA has returned to Nicaragua for the third year in a row for the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship, produced by Liv Nicaragua.

This country hosted the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in 2012 at Playa Colorado and the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in 2013, which took place at Playa Jiquiliste.

6. The Numbers
Over 200 SUPers and Paddleboarders from 30 countries will compete in the event. It will feature the following divisions with the maximum number of competitors per country in parenthesis:

SUP Surfing: Men (2), and Woman (1)

SUP Racing Technical: Men (2), and Woman (1)

SUP Racing Distance: Men (2), and Woman (1)

Paddleboard Racing Technical and Distance: Men (2), and Woman (1)

Paddle Team Relay (4 athletes per team)
SUP Racing Man (1) and Woman (1)
Paddleboard Man (1) and Woman (1)

7. The Schedule
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship Opening Ceremony will officially take place on May 3rd, 2014 at Granada, Nicaragua, with the Parade of the Nations and the Sands of the World Ceremony.

During the Sands of the World Ceremony, the participating countries will carry sand from their local beach and pour it into a glass container on stage symbolizing the peaceful gathering of nations through the love of surfing.

Full Schedule Below:

Day Location Schedule
Wednesday, April 30th Granada 9:00am – 5:00pm On-Site Check-In
Thursday, May 1st Granada 9:00am – 5:00pm On-Site Check-In
Friday, May 2nd Granada 9:00am – 3:00pm On-Site Check-In

10:00am Official Press Conference

7:00pm Managers Meeting
Saturday, May 3rd Granada Opening Ceremony
Sunday, May 4th La Boquita 8:00am to 5:20pm SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women
Monday, May 5th La Boquita 8:00am to 4:10pm SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women
Tuesday, May 6th La Boquita 8:00am to 4:00pm: SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women
Wednesday, May 7th Granada Travel from La Boquita to Granada

7:00pm-Managers Meeting (Racing) in Granada
Thursday, May 8th Granada Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Women

Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Men

Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Women

Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Men

Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Women

Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Men

Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Women

Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Men

Heat 1 Round 1 Relay

Heat 2 Round 1 Relay

Heat 3 Round 1 Relay
Friday, May 9th Granada Lay Day

5:00pm- Managers Meeting (Racing) in Granada
Saturday, May 10th Granada Distance Race- SUP and Prone Paddleboard, Men and Women
Sunday, May 11th Granada Final Paddleboard Technical Race Women

Final Paddleboard Technical Race Men

Final SUP Technical Race Women

Final SUP Technical Race Men

Final Relay

Closing Ceremony
Please note: the schedule below is subject to change at the ISA’s discretion depending on the conditions

at the event site.

Please note: the schedule below is subject to change at the ISA’s discretion depending on the conditions at the event site.

8. The Expectation
Traditional SUP and Paddleboarding powerhouses like Australia, France, and Brazil have confirmed their participation in the event.

In addition, new countries will have a presence in the Championship including Latvia.

9. The Support
This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of the President’s Office, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute (INTUR), the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee, the Mayor of Granada, and the Mayor of Diriamba. The hosts have been working very hard in preparing a warm welcome for all the delegations to the beautiful and culturally rich region of Granada and La Boquita, Nicaragua.

10. Past Champions

2013 ISA WSUPPC Gold Medalists:

Overall Team Champion – Australia

Men’s SUP Surfing – Sean Poynter (USA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Men’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy

Women’s SUP Surfing – Nicole Pacelli (BRA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Women’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy

Men’s SUP Technical Race – Casper Steinfath (DEN), Gold Medal

Women’s SUP Technical Race – Angela Jackson (AUS), Gold Medal

Team Relay – Australia

Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Lincoln Dews (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Jordan Mercer (AUS), Gold Medal

Men’s SUP Long Distance Race – Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s SUP Long Distance Race – Angela Jackson (AUS), Gold Medal

Men’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Jordan Merce (AUS), Gold Medal

2012 ISA WSUPPC Gold Medalists:

Overall Team Champion – Australia

Men’s SUP Surfing – Antoine Delpero (FRA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Men’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy

Women’s SUP Surfing – Emmy Merrill (USA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Women’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy

Men’s SUP Technical Race – Travis Grant (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s SUP Technical Race – Brandi Baksic (USA), Gold Medal

Team Relay – Australia

Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Jordan Mercer (AUS), Gold Medal

Men’s SUP Long Distance Race – Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s SUP Long Distance Race – Brandi Baksic (AUS), Gold Medal

Men’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal

Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Jordan Merce (AUS), Gold Medal

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