With the recent announcement that surfing will be included in the 2020 Olympic Games, it’s worth turning our attention to the event that has long featured the most diverse and inclusive field of surfing representatives from around the world—the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games.
Established in 1964 (on the day the late and legendary Midget Farrelly won the World Championship at Manly), the ISA has been putting on World Championships almost every year since, and right now the 2016 event is taking place on the shores of Playa Jaco in Costa Rica.
Featuring 142 athletes from 26 countries, the World Surfing Games is perhaps the best indication of what competition will look like when surfing makes its Olympic debut, as it showcases not only surfers from established surfing nations such as Australia, the USA and South Africa, but also those from lesser known surfing locales like Russia, Switzerland and Denmark. And watching the highlights videos that’ve come out of the first three days of competition, some of the talent emerging from non-traditional surfing destinations is pretty impressive.
‘There’s a few countries that have guys I haven’t heard of that are putting on some really eye-opening performances,’ says Dale Lovelock, who’s at the Games representing the Australian team. ‘It’s great to see such a high level of surfing.’
Unlike events on the WQS or WCT, surfers at the ISA Games not only compete for individual glory and the chance of winning a gold, silver or bronze medal, but also for their countries, and it’s this aspect that Dale says really sets the event apart.
‘The vibe between countries is as good as it gets, you can’t compare it to any other contest. Each country supports their own surfers in every single heat, the whole team gets down on the sand waving their country’s flag in the blistering heat. When you pass another country’s team member it’s all smiles and high fives. At the end of the day we’re all here to take the win but everyone gives each other the respect they deserve for being here to represent their home country.’
And how’s Australia faring? Well, after four days of competition five teams are currently tied at the top of the leader board, with Australia sharing the space with familiar rivals like the USA and Japan, and despite some early stumbles, Dale maintains we’re in with a good chance.
‘So far the Aussie team has had mixed results, with a few of us ending up in the repechage rounds. But everyone is surfing good considering how tricky the waves are and I reckon we have a great shot at a podium finish when the week wraps up on Sunday.’
