Panama rides world surfing popularity wave
On a weekend when Panamanians are being warned to stay clear of the Pacific coast waters because of high waves, young athletes from around the world are preparing to further Panama’s fame as a surfing destination.
The staging of the ISA (International Surfing Association) tenth edition of the DaKine ISA World Junior Championship at La Playa Veneao April 14-22, completes a trio of recent world events, drawing the attention of an ever increasing army of surfers to the challenges of Panama’s waves.
In 2010 the World Masters championships were held in Playa Santa Catalina, Veraguas. They were followed last year by the World Surfing Games in Playa Veneao and this year the Sub-18 events has drawn over 500 competitors and supporters from 30 countries.
“Panama won the hosting bid over other candidate nations because of its continued commitment to a better surfing future, its ideal high-performance wave conditions for the explosive lineup of surfers scheduled to compete in the event, the dedication of its Tourism and Sports Department and also as a means to help develop surfing in the region” says the ISA.
The positive message, traveling around the world continues: “The venue for the event is a tropical setting with air and water temperatures on par with summer in Hawaii, and located on the Pacific Ocean side of the country. The waves at Playa Venao, depending on the tide, can be hollow beachbreak barrels or perfect, rippable left- and right-handers. The wind conditions this time of year are also ideal, blowing offshore most days.”
The event will feature many of the top under-18 athletes from outposts around the world looking to establish themselves as the next big thing in surfing.
“What’s yet to be determined is which athletes will assume those roles.” Says the ISA website. “For every highly rated junior, like Dylan Lightfoot (South Africa) or Creed McTaggart (Australia), there’s the possibility that some lesser-known Tahitian or Venezuelan boy or girl could also step up and shock the world. Surprises come with the territory.”
The surprises could even come from Panama which has 15 competitors in the three World events, Sub-18 Boys, Sub-18 Girls, and Sub 16 Boys.
The DaKine ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Presented by Billabong is the biggest surfing event in the world for under-18 surfers, “ It is the pinnacle of the career of every junior surfer around the world” says the ISA/
The event gathers the best junior surfers from every continent to compete for their National Teams in an “Olympic-style” event. The surfers compete for medals and the honor of representing their respective countries. There is no cash prize awarded.
The ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is in its tenth year as a stand-alone event.
Powerhouse teams including Australia, USA, Hawaii, Brazil, France, South Africa and Peru (the defending team champions) and the host, Panama, will be seeking a place on the podium in the three individual divisions and, most importantly, in the overall team standings.
In the history of the event, 1,964 athletes have competed. The first junior championship had 128 surfers in contention, while the 2012 event is expected to have 288 surfers, with 96 in each of the three divisions.
The championship will officially open on April 14 in Pedas íwith an Opening Ceremony, including the Parade of the Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony.
The participating countries will pour sand from their favorite beaches into the same container, representing the peaceful union of the nations through the love of the sport of surfing.
Past individual and team champions of the ISA Junior Surfing Championship since it became a stand alone event are:
Under 18 Boys
2003 – Durban, South Africa: Ben Dunn (AUS)
2004 – Papenoo, Tahiti: James Wood (AUS)
2005 – Huntington Beach, USA: Jefferson Silva (BRA)
2006 – Maresias, Brazil: Julian Wilson (AUS)
2007 – Costa de Caparica, Portugal: Jadson André (BRA)
2008 – Seignosse, France: Alejo Muniz (BRA)
2009 – Salinas, Ecuador: Dean Bowen (AUS)
2010 – Piha Beach, New Zealand: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2011 – Punta Hermosa, Peru: Cristobal De Col (PER)
2012 – Playa Venao, Panama: ?
Under 18 Girls
2003 – Durban, South Africa: Jesse Miley Dyer (AUS)
2004 – Papenoo, Tahiti: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2005 – Huntington Beach, USA: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2006 – Maresias, Brazil: Pauline Ado (FRA)
2007 – Costa de Caparica, Portugal: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2008 – Seignosse, France: Laura Enever (AUS)
2009 – Salinas, Ecuador: Tyler Wright (AUS)
2010 – Piha Beach, New Zealand: Tyler Wright (AUS)
2011 – Punta Hermosa, Peru: Canelle Bulard (FRA)
2012 – Playa Venao, Panama: ?
Team Title
2003 – Durban, South Africa: Team Brazil
2004 – Papenoo, Tahiti: Team Australia
2005 – Huntington Beach, USA: Team Hawaii
2006 – Maresias, Brazil: Team Australia
2007 – Costa de Caparica, Portugal: Team Australia
2008 – Seignosse, France: Team Australia
2009 – Salinas, Ecuador: Team Australia
2010 – Piha Beach, New Zealand: Team Australia
2011 – Punta Hermosa, Peru: Team Peru
2012 – Playa Venao, Panama: ?
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 70 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times.
