Opening Ceremony, SUP Surfing to Kick off 2018 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship

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The 2018 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) is set to get underway on November 23 with the Opening Ceremony and SUP Surfing in highly anticipated swell in Wanning, China.

The defending ISA SUP Surfing World Champion, Luiz Diniz (BRA), will look to get his 2018 campaign off to a strong start on November 23. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed
The defending ISA SUP Surfing World Champion, Luiz Diniz (BRA), will look to get his 2018 campaign off to a strong start on November 23. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed

Waves in the head-high to overhead range are expected to greet the world’s best SUP surfers at China’s renowned left-hand point break, Riyue Bay, creating an excellent platform for the athletes to put their talents on display.

The festive Opening Ceremony will inaugurate the competition, as nearly 200 athletes from 26 countries will participate in the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony.

The 2017 ISA SUP Surfing Gold Medalists, Shakira Westdorp (AUS) and Luiz Diniz (BRA), will take to the water to defend their Titles when the SUP Surfing gets underway.

The SUP and Paddleboard Technical Races will follow later in the week, November 27 and 28, also at Riyue Bay.

The event will then continue to a grand finish at Shenzhou Peninsula November 30 – December 2 with SUP Sprints, Distances Races, and the Team Relay Race to decide the Team World Champion.

Riyue Bay, set to kick off the 2018 WSUPPC on November 23. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans
Riyue Bay, set to kick off the 2018 WSUPPC on November 23. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans

“Expanding SUP into new countries and regions of the world is a key priority for the ISA,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “This was one of the primary factors for coming to China and Wanning, a well-known surf spot and partner of the ISA. This is the fourth continent that the event has been held on in seven years, which is representative of the global appeal and inclusive nature of the sport under the ISA’s leadership.

“The ISA is proud to gather the world’s best SUP and Paddleboard athletes here in Wanning, setting the stage for an epic week of country pride, competition, camaraderie and glory.

“We are also excited to lead the path for gender equality in the sport, offering a gender equal competition format for the second year in a row.

“I wish the best of luck to the international competitors as we commence this historic week of competition.”

The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will be streamed live on www.isasurf.org Nov 23 – Dec 2.

Riyue Bay

  • November 23 – Opening Ceremony and SUP Surfing
  • November 24 – SUP Surfing
  • November 25 – SUP Surfing
  • November 26 – SUP Surfing
  • November 27 – Technical Races
  • November 28 – Technical Races
  • November 29 – Lay day

Shenzhou Peninsula

  • November 30 – Sprint Races
  • December 1 – Distance Races
  • December 2 – Relay Races, Closing Ceremony

*All times in local time (GMT +8). Schedule subject to change.

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.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Federations of 104 countries on five continents. The ISA is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (ARG). The Executive Committee includes four Vice-Presidents Karín Sierralta (PER), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Casper Steinfath (DEN) and Barbara Kendall (NZL), Athletes' Commission Chair Justine Dupont (FRA), Regular Members Atsushi Sakai (JPN) and Jean Luc Arassus (FRA) and ISA Executive Director Robert Fasulo as Ex-officio Member.

Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California (USA).

For more information, please visit www.isasurf.org