SUP Surfing Makes Debut at 2019 Pan American Games

LIMA, Peru - A fresh swell graced the shore of Punta Rocas, Peru for the second day of surfing competition at the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games, producing large, powerful waves for the best athletes of the Americas to exhibit their talent. After shortboard and longboard debuted in the Pan Am Games on Monday, the best SUP surfers of the Americas got their chance to take center stage with their first heats.

Colombia's Giorgio Gomez, who is slated to compete in both the SUP surfing and racing disciplines, earned the highest heat total of the division with 11.67 points. Vania Torres continued the strong showing of the Peruvian contingent in the event and earned the highest women's SUP Surfing heat total with 11.33 points. USA's Candice Appleby, a multi-discipline SUP racer and surfer, advanced through the first round of Women's SUP Surfing and spoke about her experience at the Games.

Clockwise: Daniel Hughes (USA), Dave de Armas (PUR), Izzi Gomez (COL), Finn Spencer (CAN). | Photos: Latinwave

"The conditions are challenging, but the waves are great with plenty of opportunity out there," said Appleby. "It is an honor to compete in the Pan American Games and represent my country. To compete in racing and surfing is super exciting. I've been paddling for a long time, so to still be in the sport during its Pan Am inclusion is great."

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

"We couldn't ask for any more than what we got today from Punta Rocas. This is a world-renowned wave and it's providing the world-class conditions that we expected. The best surfers of the Americas are making the most of this excellent opportunity and showing us amazing, powerful surfing.

"For a few of our competitors today, their Olympic dreams have been put on hold. However, their journey here at the Pan Ams is not done, for they have made history as participants in Surfing's debut in the Games and now will remain by their teammates' sides to help support them through this event."

Clockwise: Luiz Diniz (BRA), Mariano de Cabo (ARG), Vania Torres (PER), Nicole Pacelli (BRA). | Photos: Latinwave

The Lima 2019 Pan Am Games will be broadcast live July 30 - August 4. To find out where and when you can watch, check the listing with the respective Lima 2019 broadcast rightsholder in your country.

Live scoring and results will be available on the homepage of www.isasurf.org as well as on the Lima 2019 surfing web page.

Competition continues Wednesday with Shortboard, Longboard, and SUP Surfing.

About The International Surfing Association:

The International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. The ISA governs and defines Surfing as Shortboard, Longboard & Bodyboarding, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment. The ISA crowned its first Men's and Women's World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007; and World StandUp Paddle (SUP, both surfing and racing) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.