ISA President Fernando Aguerre Joins Surfing Legends in The Surfers’ Hall of Fame

First Olympic Surfing Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira and respected journalist Laylan Connelly join Aguerre in recognition among the greats

Huntington Beach, California – August 5, 2023

ISA President Fernando Aguerre was inducted into The Surfers’ Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, California today, alongside inaugural Men’s Olympic Surfing Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira and journalist Laylan Connelly.

This prestigious recognition highlights Aguerre’s significant contributions to surfing and his relentless efforts in promoting and advancing the sport globally.

Aguerre developed a deep passion for surfing at an early age in his home country of Argentina. That love of the sport drove him to found both the Argentinian Surfing Association and the Pan American Surfing Association and co-found Reef. It is also what has motivated him across nearly three decades as President of the ISA, where he has been the driving force behind surfing’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.

The Surfers’ Hall of Fame, hosted by Huntington Surf & Sport, is the USA’s original imprint collection of surfing greats. It sits directly across the road from the famed Huntington Beach Pier and features a stunning bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing and original inspiration for surfing in the Olympic Games.

Aguerre’s imprint joined those of legendary surfers including inaugural Women’s Olympic Surfing Gold Medalist Carissa Moore, Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Andy Irons, Joyce Hoffman, Tom Curren, and Sofia Mulanovich, along with surf industry icons such as Quiksilver co-founder Bob McKnight, Surfline founder Sean Collins and Endless Summer filmmaker Bruce Brown.

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said

t’s quite amazing, that the city that first welcome me as a surfing tourist when I was 22, it’s the city where my name will now be next to my highest surfing idol, our founding father Duke Kahanamoku… a beautiful and deeply humbling experience…“

“I am so happy and grateful to be honored alongside such amazing people. Italo and Laylan are both incredible humans who have greatly impacted the surfing world. What a privilege to join them and the many who have come before us with our permanent imprint on the streets of Surf City, Huntington Beach.

“A huge thanks to Huntington Surf & Sport and the Pai family for their support across so many years and for their curation and care for the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.”