International Surfing Association (ISA)

ISA Statement on IOC Decision Not to Include Longboard in Olympic Program

The ISA remains fully committed to Longboard’s inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games

The International Surfing Association (ISA) acknowledges with disappointment the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to include Longboard Surfing in the LA28 Olympic Games.

The ISA appreciated the opportunity to present Longboard’s value for Olympic inclusion and are grateful for its consideration in the LA28 program. While our request for additional athletes for Shortboard Surfing was also declined, we will continue our push for greater participation at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

At the same time, the ISA understands and applauds the IOC’s continued push for gender equality as one of the key criteria behind its decisions today on the events and quotas for LA28.

The ISA firmly believes in the value of Longboard Surfing and the expanding global reach of our sport across its many events and disciplines. The proven success of Longboard at past Pan American Games is a testimony to its value, and we remain fully committed to the sport’s continued growth and development through our multiple World Championships.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“Obviously, we are disappointed to receive the news that Longboard Surfing will not feature at LA28 and that we will not receive more slots for our athletes, but I believe we are still only in the early stages of our long Olympic journey.

“We are proud of Surfing’s contribution to the success of the Olympic Games, and will continue to push forward in our efforts to campaign for Longboard inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and beyond. We look forward to working closely with the IOC and the Brisbane Organizing Committee to highlight our sport’s value on the Olympic stage.

“As surfers, we know that finding the perfect wave takes time. In our sport, we learn patience, passion and persistence. Those are traits that the ISA has always demonstrated across our nearly 30-year journey to see Shortboard Surfing’s debut in Tokyo. We will continue to put that same energy into our Olympic ambitions for the future.”

ISA Surf Coaching Level 1 Course Started Today in Cherating, Malaysia

The ISA Surf Coaching Level 1 course has started today in the beautiful beachside town of Cherating, which is located in the Pahang province on the east coast of Malaysia, a 3-4 hour drive from the city of Kuala Lumpur.

This ISA surf instructor program is taking place over a 5 day period, from 13-17 November, and is a mix of classroom and beach/water activity from 7-8 hours per day. The participants will receive both theory and practical training each day, and at the end of the program after all the requirements are met, they will receive their certification from the International Surfing Association, recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing.

Cherating has long been the hub of surfing for Malaysians, making it a perfect spot to bring together a group of 9 surf instructors from Terengganu, Kedah (Langkawi), Cherating, Sabah, and Singapore seeking to increase their knowledge and further their careers in surfing.

This ISA Surf Coaching Level 1 program was initiated by Persatuan Luncur Ombak Malaysia (PLOM), the national surfing organization, as part of their renewed efforts to expand surfing develop in Malaysia. Further plans include organizing ISA Judging certification programs and competition surfing events around the country to provide a pathway to develop surfing talents towards the ultimate goal of getting a Malaysian surfer into the Olympics.

Jonni Morrison-Deaker, the owner of the Rip Curl School of Surf in Bali, Indonesia, is the ISA Presenter for this course. Morrison-Deaker has been teaching surfing in Bali and around the Asian Region for more than 25 years, and has already this year presented ISA surf coaching courses in Desaru (Malaysia), Myanmar, Lombok, and Bali prior to coming here to Cherating, with one more course planned for December in West Sumbawa to complete 2024.

Consistent with the ASC’s mission to develop and grow the sport of surfing in the Asian Region, the ASC is delighted with the opportunity to work with PLOM and the ISA to provide the resources and help organize this program, and is committed to providing further assistance to help support and encourage the growth of surfing in Malaysia in 2025.

Source & Image Credit: Asian Surf Co / Tim Hain