ISA Delivers Athlete Training Camp in Preparation for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

First-of-its-kind program with Olympic Solidarity’s support in Teahupo’o, Tahiti

Teahupo’o, Tahiti – July 28, 2023

For the very first time, the ISA hosted an Athlete Training Camp (ATC) ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, held at the Olympic Venue for Surfing for Paris 2024, Teahupo’o, Tahiti.

Due to the unparalleled nature of the waves in Teahupo’o, the program was created for the benefit of athletes who have little to no experience in the powerful reef break, but who have qualified or likely to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The ISA partnered with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Program to run the program.

The selected surfers spent a week under the coaching of Tahitian surfing legend Tereva David. The ATC featured targeted training on line up/reef awareness, tactical skill development, water safety, jet ski rescue, video analysis and more.

The surfers in attendance included those who already qualified for Paris 2024 through the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games as well as those with a good chance of qualifying through the upcoming Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and/or 2024 ISA World Surfing Games.

The ATC was comprised of Paris 2024 qualified surfers, Billy Stairmand (NZL), Saffi Vette (NZL) and Shino Matsuda (JPN), as well as two surfers who have a strong possibility of receiving the Universality slots for Paris 2024, Bryan Perez (ESA) and Candelaria Resano (NCA). Also in attendance were five Santiago 2023 qualified athletes including 2023 ISA WSG Gold Medalist Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX) , Cody Young (CAN), Sol Aguirre (PER), Tokyo 2020 Olympians Lucca Mesinas (PER) and Leilani McGonagle (CRC) as well as 2023 ISA WSG standout Tiara van der Huls (NED).

In agreement with Olympic Solidarity, the ISA emphasized legacy and knowledge transfer so that the global surfing audience has the opportunity to gain key learnings from the ATC even if not physically present. The ISA plans on sharing informational videos in the coming weeks.

With the ongoing support of Olympic Solidarity, the ISA hopes to run a second similar camp after the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico.

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said

“What an awesome moment we will have next year to see the world’s best surfers in the amazing waves of Teahupo’o, on the biggest sporting stage in the world, the Olympic Games.

“While some of the surfers who have or will qualify already have years of experience in this heavy wave, we are aware that many do not.

“We are incredibly proud to have been able to offer these athletes a wonderful opportunity to grow their skills, learn from local experts and be prepared to compete for the gold medals in Paris 2024.”