ISA Opens Annual Scholarship Program to Support Global Youth

Click here to learn more and apply

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to announce the opening of the application period for its annual scholarship program. USD $20,000 is set to be awarded to 18 and under surfers in need who show dedication to their education and surfing.

The program opens today, August 18, and will close on September 30. The 2021 ISA scholarship ambassadors will be announced in late 2021.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Since 2007, the program has awarded nearly USD $350,000 to more than 350 youth on all five continents of the globe. Funds are utilized for purposes such as education costs, surfing equipment, and competition training and travel.

Many ISA Scholarship winners have used their funds to succeed in surfing. Peru’s Daniella Rosas, a 2016 scholarship ambassador, recently represented her nation at the debut of Surfing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

At the last edition of the VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in 2019, 12 scholarship ambassadors reached the apex of junior surfing in their nations and were selected to compete on their national junior surfing teams.

Meet the past ISA Scholarship ambassadors here.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“I am so happy that we are able to continue the legacy and tradition of this incredible program. This program is dear to my heart, and it is touching and inspiring to see all the young people around the world who are dedicating their lives to their schooling and surfing, doing their part to be role models within their communities.

“We want to see a healthy future for our sport and increase access across all continents. That’s why we seek out these young surfers, many from countries that are not traditional surfing nations, and we give them a hand to make sure they have the necessary tools to succeed not only in surfing, but in life. Many young kids who would have never been able to own a surfboard, or have a chance to compete, finally get that opportunity with their scholarship awards.

“The success and priority of this program is more important than ever following Surfing’s amazing Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020. Millions of dreams have now been planted in aspiring young minds around the world. Now they know that it’s possible to arrive at the greatest stage in sport, as a surfer. We look forward to helping foment the dreams of those children into the future and usher in the future generation of the sport.”