ISA Celebrates Success of Surfing and SUP's Inaugural Inclusion in 2019 Pan American Games

LA JOLLA, California - The International Surfing Association (ISA) today celebrates the great success of Surfing and StandUp Paddle's (SUP) debut appearance in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 82 athletes representing 16 countries put on historic performances across the disciplines of Shortboard, Longboard, SUP Racing and SUP Surfing. The waves were constantly overhead every day of the competition, producing great performances.

The 24 available medals were earned by athletes from ten nations. Peru led the ranking with seven medals, three of which were Gold.

"Surfing and SUP showed the world that they can not only integrate seamlessly into a large-scale Olympic Movement multi-sport event, but they can bring great value, excitement and youthful interest," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. He continued, "The SUP racing competition was the highest to date in an Olympic Movement competition. Providing ample evidence of how SUP has been thriving in the ten years under ISA governance. As Gold Medalist Conner Baxter told the media upon finishing: "Surfing is where our SUP culture belongs. This is where our people are. This is Surfing. We were catching waves. It might be a 14-foot longboard, but we are still surfing.""

Connor Baxter after realizing he'd won the Gold medal. | Photo: Latinwave

"Surfing proved to be hugely popular in Lima, evidenced by the vibrant capacity crowds day in and out, as well as the presence of Peru's President Martin Vizcarra to witness Peru earn three historic Gold Medals - more than the host nation earned in any other sport. The energy among the fans and surfers was as high as we've ever seen for a surfing competition. The qualification slots at Tokyo 2020 inspired impressive levels of passion, competition, and camaraderie. With less than a year to go until Olympic Surfing's debut at Tokyo 2020, the success of Lima 2019 was a small preview of the environment and value that we can expect Surfing to bring to Tokyo next year."

The Lima 2019 Pan Am Games award qualification slots to the top eligible man and woman for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Peru's teammates Lucca Mesinas and Daniella Rosas took the respective Gold Medals in Men's and Women's Shortboard, making them the overwhelming favorites to take the qualification spots that will be confirmed following the 2020 ISA World Surfing Games. Mesinas called the feat the "best day of his life," while Rosas expressed she "has been dreaming of competing in Tokyo 2020."

Izzi Gomez, women's SUP surfing Gold medalist. | Photo: ISA / Pablo Jimenez

The SUP Races awarded the first medals of the event, with USA's Connor Baxter earning Men's Gold and Brazil's Lena Ribeiro taking the Women's. "What an opportunity that the ISA has provided us SUP racers," said Baxter. "To be a part of an event of this size with thousands of athletes from all over the Americas and win the Gold has changed my life forever."

Brazil's Chloe Calmon and Peru's Benoit Clemente respectively earned the Women's and Men's Longboard Gold Medals, while the Colombian siblings of Izzi and Giorgio Gomez earned the SUP Surfing Gold Medals.

The Surfing competition at the Pan Ams took place from July 29 - August 4 at Punta Rocas, just south of Lima. To see more news from the Pan Am Games, click HERE.