Photo: ISA // Sean Evans
The International Surfing Association (ISA) has renewed their commitment to El Salvador. As announced in a recent press release, the organization penned a deal with with Surf City El Salvador, guaranteeing six major events there in the next three years.
The agreement takes effect in 2025, during which the first two events will take place: the World Longboard Surfing Championship (WLSC) in April, and the World Surfing Games (WSG) in September. From there, the WLSC will return the following two years, while the WSG will be swapped for the World Junior Surfing Championship in 2026. El Salvador also has the option to run the World Masters Surfing Championship during the partnership.
The move is the latest in a series of efforts on the part of the Central American nation to leverage surfing in order to generate tourism and rehabilitate an image tarnished by decades of gang violence. Spearheaded by Salvadorean president and self-described “world’s coolest dictator” Nayib Bukele, the “Surf City” campaign has led to the country hosting several ISA events, including the 2021 Olympic qualifiers, and eventually securing a stop on the WSL Championship Tour.
“Surf City El Salvador continues to grow internationally with long-term alliances with key world surfing organizations such as the ISA,” said El Salvador Tourism Minister Morena Valdez. “We have built a strong working relationship and friendship with the ISA over the years, and this has helped position our world-class waves and expand the quality of our tourism services for surfing and for other national destinations. Our partnership with the ISA reflects the constant and sustainable transformation of El Salvador.”
“We have worked very closely with President Bukele, Minister Valdez and the rest of the Salvadoran government, as well as with the incredible people of El Salvador, for many years already,” added ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “I am so happy that our relationship will continue for many years to come.”
