ISA World Para Surfing Championship to return to California in 2022

The World Para Surfing Championship will return to Pismo Beach, California in 2022 with the International Surfing Association (ISA) to host the competition from 4-11 December. 

The event follows on the successful 2021 Pismo Beach ISA World Para Surfing Championship hosted by AmpSurf, which was also held in Pismo Beach. 

Renewing its partnership with Pismo Beach and AmpSurf, ISA will host the championship featuring the world’s best Para surfers competing for their nations and the coveted ISA World Para Surfing Team Champion Trophy.

“The ISA is super committed to the long-term growth and promotion of Para surfing worldwide,” said Fernando Aguerre, ISA president. “The World Para Surfing Championship is a key element of that mission. The global community of Para surfers know how powerful surfing can be in healing the mind, body and spirit.

“Through continuing to elevate this event, our hope is to further spread the joy and love that Para surfing brings to our community and the world. That joy is visible on the face of every athlete that competes at our event.”

The event is also set to help further the ISA’s mission to see Para surfing included in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

As the governing body for the Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is currently evaluating sports for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic programme. The ISA is recognised by the IPC as the international federation for Para surfing and will be submitting the sport for consideration to the IPC. The World Para Surfing Championship plays a key role in this Paralympic strategy as the highest showcase for Para surfing talent at an elite level.

Para surfing has experienced significant growth since the first ISA World Para Surfing Championship in 2015 (originally titled the World Adaptive Surfing Championship). During that period, the ISA has continued to refine the Para surfing classification system in line with IPC requirements and encouraged its network of 110 member nations to host national and regional competitions.

The 2021 championship featured 134 athletes from 24 countries, setting a record for participation.

Women’s involvement also saw greater numbers in 2021 than ever before. ISA names gender equality as one of the pillars of its mission and is invested in further promoting gender equity in each surfing discipline.