The International Surfing Association (ISA) is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the United States of America.  The ISA is the International Federation for the sport of surfing. It governs  all wave riding activities, including Bodyboard, Bodysurf, Jet Surf, Kitesurf (in waves and freestyle), Kneeboard, Longboard, Paddle Surfing (Prone, paddling with hands), Short Board, Skimboard, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), Surf Kayak and Tandem.  The ISA is dedicated to the development of these sports worldwide. The ISA provides guidance and advice to its members around the world on matters such as competition, judging, surf education, adapted surfing, anti doping and other areas of development of the sport. 

The ISA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing.   The ISA is a member of Sportaccord, the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International World Games Association (IWGA).

It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, and headquartered in La Jolla, California.

.

Definitions

Surfing is defined as follows:

• Any sport in which the primary force that moves the participant’s surfing equipment, is a wave either of natural or artificial source.
• An activity on the waves on any type of equipment used for surfing.
• An activity in calm waters on any type of equipment used for surfing.

Members are defined as the National Governing Bodies, hereinafter called NGB, for surfing and bodyboarding, representing a country, nation or territory, as recognized by the ISA. A country, nation or territory can only be represented by one NGB. In addition, members are also any international surfing or wave riding organization, as recognized by the ISA.

Objectives

The objectives of the Association shall be:

(a) To establish and maintain an international association to promote the interests of surfing in all its forms throughout all countries of the world, to which all recognized National Governing bodies, concerned with the sport of surf riding, surfing or its related activities may gain affiliation;

(b) To encourage the formation of NGB’s in individual countries, nations or territories not yet members of ISA, thus increasing membership worldwide;

(c) To promote and co-ordinate the activities of NGB’s within their own jurisdiction;

(d) To establish laws, rules, criteria and standards for judging at, and for conducting international surfing contests. These measures shall inter-alia apply to the sport, to those participating in it, and to the dimensions, design, size and type of surfboard or equipment when used in international competition;

(e) To promote uniformity of laws for the control and regulation of surfing and surf riding throughout the world, by encouraging NGB’s to adopt the ISA's established laws, rules and standards;

(f) To co-ordinate the international activities of NGB’s by providing a forum for arranging international contests;

(g) To organize and/or authorize a member and/or a third party to host the World Surfing Championships, World Surfing Games and any other international events as decided by the ISA;

(h) To work for the conservation and improvement of coastal environments and the protecting of surfing resources worldwide;

(i) To promote the values of good sportsmanship, particularly amongst the younger generation of surfers and Bodyboarders of the world;

(j) To promote the educational, scientific, literary and charitable aspects of the sport, improving cultural and sporting contacts between the surfing nations of the world;

(k) To work towards the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic Games and other Continental and regional multi-sports events;

(l) To purchase, acquire, sell, deal in, build, construct or reconstruct, take on lease or in exchange or otherwise acquire or dispose of any movable, immovable, corporeal or incorporeal property anywhere in the world;

(m) To enter into any contract, association or negotiation for the purpose of giving effect to any of the aforementioned objects.

Disciplines Recognized by the ISA

Surfboard:
Stand up surfboard riding
Divisions: Open, Junior and Women

Longboard:
Traditional Longer surfboard
Divisions: Open division only

Bodyboard:
Lying in various positions on a soft board. Rider
might use swim fins.
Divisions: Open and Women

Kneeboard:
Kneeling surfboard riding. Rider might use
swim fins.
Division: Open division only

Skimboard:
Throwing the board from the beach into the incoming wave, jumping on the board, and surfing said wave. No paddling is involved. Recognized by the ISA but not included in the ISA World Surfing Games.

Bodysurf:
Surfing the wave by only using your body. Rider might use swim fins. Recognized by the ISA but not part of the ISA World Surfing Games.

Tandem:
Two people (a man and a woman) compete together on a single board.  Riders must demonstrate a series of technical lifts.