SUP Surfing Takes to El Sunzal, Men’s and Women’s Medals Hold Key to Team World Title

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Team France, Spain, and USA vying for overall Gold Medal with three days of SUP Surfing remaining at 2019 Surf City El Salvador ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship 

France’s Benoit Carpentier and Australia’s Shakira Westdorp put on top performances

Salvadorian SUP surfer Alex Novoa: “After being in war for so many years, it’s amazing to see the country’s image shift towards surfing”

The SUP surfers got their chance to take to the water on the fifth day of competition at the 2019 Surf City El Salvador ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship at El Sunzal.

With thirteen of fifteen Gold Medals awarded through the various SUP and Paddleboard racing divisions during the first four days of the event, the Men’s and Women’s SUP Surfing will determine who will be crowned the Team World Champion.

Currently France, Spain, and USA remain in contention, with France currently in the lead, able to control their own destiny with strong podium performances in SUP Surfing.

France’s Benoit Carpentier was the top performer of the day with the highest wave score (8) and heat total of 15.90. Carpentier will be looking for his first Gold in the event, having earned the Bronze Medal in 2017.

France’s Benoit Carpentier on his way to earning the top heat score of the day among the Men’s and Women’s Division. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans
France’s Benoit Carpentier on his way to earning the top heat score of the day among the Men’s and Women’s Division. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans

The three-time defending Women’s SUP Surfing World Champion, Australia’s Shakira Westdorp, earned the highest women’s heat total (13.66) for the day.

Westdorp will have a tough path to retain her Title, as strong SUP surfers such as Peru’s Brissa Malaga and Vania Torres, USA’s Candice Appleby, and France’s Justine Dupont all showed impressive surfing on Thursday.

Peru's Vania Torres placed on the podium at the Pan Am Games with SUP Surfing Silver Medal and will look for another medal here in El Salvador. Photo: ISA / Been Reed
Peru’s Vania Torres placed on the podium at the Pan Am Games with SUP Surfing Silver Medal and will look for another medal here in El Salvador. Photo: ISA / Been Reed

Australia’s Wesley Fry and Japan’s Riki Horikoshi also put on top performances in Men’s Round 1 with high heat totals.

USA’s Zane Schweitzer, who along with Westdorp is a former Gold Medalist participating in the event, got off to strong start in the competition moving through the Main Event.

El Salvador’s Alex Novoa did not advance through his Round 1 heat, but due to the double elimination Repechage format, he will get another chance to advance in the competition.

Novoa, smiling ear to ear despite not passing through his heat, spoke about how surfing is playing a key role in shaping the global image of his country.

“As an athlete it’s a dream to be here,” said Novoa. “Being part of the national team is a big deal.

“This is the first time that the government has put so much energy and focus on surfing. This is what the country needs.

“As Salvadorians, being in war for so many years, with constant violence and delinquency, to see [President Bukele] change the country into a place to practice youthful activities such as skateboarding, surfing, breakdance and hip hop is amazing.”

El Salvador’s Alex Novoa is proud to represent his nation on the global stage. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed
El Salvador’s Alex Novoa is proud to represent his nation on the global stage. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed

Mexico’s Alejandra Brito also didn’t advance through her round 1 heat, but she expressed her pride in representing female surfing in her nation.

“The fact that I get to carry my flag this year is a total honor,” said Brito. “Mexican women surfing is growing right now and the stoke is so high.

“El Salvador is paradise. The people here are so friendly and welcoming. I had no idea that the country was like this. It’s definitely a hidden gem.”

The official Surfline forecast is calling for a new south swell to build on Friday, top out on Saturday, and hold strong for Finals day on Sunday.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“Today we got to enjoy another discipline of StandUp Paddle, SUP Surfing, and the world’s best men and women put their talent on display in the clean, long waves of El Sunzal.

“With a new swell timing perfectly for the end of the window, we are in store for quite a show from the top athletes in the world.”

The 2019 Surf City El Salvador ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship can be viewed live on isasurf.org Nov 24 – Dec 1.

The remaining schedule for the competition is as follows, subject to changes.

November 29 – December 1

  • SUP Surfing

December 1

  • Closing Ceremony
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, Para-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; World StandUp Paddle (SUP, both surfing and racing) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012; and World Adaptive Surfing Champions in 2015.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Federations of 108 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

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