The IOC executive board voted unanimously to support the proposal to include surfing in the 2020 Olympics. If approved at the Rio Games surfing will be an Olympic sport.
The International Surfing Association (ISA)’ expressed its delight’ at the decision ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said:
“This is a wonderful moment for our sport and for the global Surfing family. Inclusion in the Olympic Games has been a strategic priority for the ISA for many years and we are thrilled that we are now one step closer to realizing our Olympic dream.
“We are immensely proud of our achievements and the core values that our sport represents. Surfing has incredible youth appeal and a unique culture that would offer huge value to the Olympic Movement. Today’s news gives us renewed energy and determination and we look forward to working with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 as we continue on the road to the IOC Session in Rio.”
Surfing was one of five sports including skateboarding, sports climbing, karate and baseball/softball suggested of inclusion to ‘offer a key focus on youth, which is at the heart of the Games vision for Tokyo 2020. They represent a combination of well-established and emerging sports with significant popularity in Japan and beyond. They include team sports and individual sports; indoor sports and outdoor sports; and ‘urban’ sports with a strong appeal to youth.’
‘The package of five sports will now be submitted to the IOC Session. These sports are considered on top of the athlete and event quota recommendations for Olympic sports outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020, and will not take places away from athletes in existing Olympic sports. Discussions on the event programme in the existing 28 Olympic sports for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are ongoing, and will be finalised by the IOC Executive Board in mid-2017.’
Shane Dorian has faced some of the most dangerous waves in the world, is an avid hunter, and considers himself most in his element when outdoors. And for his son, Jackson, Dorian is passing on the same appreciation for the wild that comes with an endless spirit of outdoor exploration.
After a memorable jaunt last year to the Far-East and the South China Sea, the Nixon Surf Challenge – in association with Monster Energy, Reef, Jam and Lomography – returns this year from May 30 – June 5 with the altogether less tropical but equally mythical coastline of Ireland in its sights.
Over the course of the last couple of decades, Ireland has quietly yet self-assuredly become one of the world’s premiere surf destinations, attracting swell seekers from all four corners of the world looking to go toe-to-toe with waves up and down the Emerald Isle’s famed west coast. Legendary spots like the Cliffs of Moher, overlooking the fearsome Aileen’s, and Mullaghmore in County Sligo, have done nothing but propel Ireland to the top of the tow-in surfing hit list.
In many ways, the varied backdrop of Ireland lends itself perfectly to the mobile nature of the Nixon Surf Challenge, and the invited surfers will take advantage by exploring the country’s remarkable coastline by boat and road. And not surprisingly, several familiar faces have jumped at the opportunity to delve deep into Ireland’s surf and culture, including long-time Nixon team surfers Benjamin Sanchis (FRA), Eric Rebiere (FRA), and reigning champ Jonathan Gonzales (CNY).
One surfer feeling particularly at home this time round will be fellow teammate Fergal Smith, widely known as one of Ireland’s best-known surfing exports. Few people are as well connected to the land as this pro surfer who also happens to run a community farm when he’s not too busy campaigning for the environmental Green Party.
While long-haul visitors Charly Martin (GLP) and Chippa Wilson (AUS) may take a while longer to adjust to the frigid Atlantic temperatures, they’re well versed enough to know the only thing to expect with the Nixon Surf Challenge is the unexpected.
“I can’t wait to discover what Ireland has to offer. All I know is we’ve got the best part of a week to chase swell up and down the country, and I’m sure we’ll score some incredible surf with the most mind-blowing backdrops to boot – that combo is what makes Ireland famous,” said Chippa.
“We raised a few eyebrows last year when we decided on Hainan Island – we like to keep things fresh. And surfing doesn’t come much fresher that Ireland, which got the resounding thumbs up from all the guys when we were discussing which part of the world we could hit up this time round,” said Frank Corbery, Marketing Director at Nixon Europe. “A wild coastline, epic waves, and people and culture that have the power to win pretty much anyone over – who could say no?”
CONFIRMED SURFERS FOR NIXON SURF CHALLENGE 2016:
Chippa WILSON (AUS) – Benjamin SANCHIS (FRA) – Eric REBIERE (CNY) – Marlon LIPKE (POR/GER) – Marc LACOMARE (FRA) – Jonathan GONZALEZ (CNY) – Gony ZUBIZARRETA (SPA) – Fergal SMITH (IRE) – Roberto D’AMICO (ITA) – Charly MARTIN (GLP) – Kepa ACERO (SPA) – William ALIOTTI (FRA)
File this in the ‘what the actual hell just happened file?!’ but it’s legit from the WSL themselves…
-This partnership and technology will allow for advancements in athlete training, access to surfing for people of all levels and increased fan engagement globally
May 24, 2016, Santa Monica, CA — WSL Holdings, the parent company of the World Surf League (WSL), today announced an agreement in principle to acquire a majority stake in the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC). The partnership between the WSL and KSWC will be dedicated to promoting the growth of high-performance surfing around the world. KSWC’s revolutionary technology creates a number of possibilities for the future of the sport. The WSL and the KSWC envision the build-out of a global network of WSL-branded high-performance training centers utilizing this wave technology.
For Kelly Slater, the 11-time world champion, the creation of this wave technology is the realization of a lifelong dream and a 10-year project, and today’s announcement brings his two worlds together. “While surfing for me will always be about adventure, travel and the ocean, this wave brings a new opportunity to the sport without taking away the soulfulness that attracted many of us to surfing in first place,” said Slater. “Surfing great waves in a controlled environment adds a new dimension, as there is no hassling for waves, no stress over who got the best wave – they are all good. Everyone can relax, have fun and focus on improving their surfing.”
“It’s beyond my dreams that this wave will be a canvas for the global advancement of this great sport in partnership with the WSL,” he added. “It will democratize surfing and provide incredible training opportunities for athletes as well as aspirational surfers in areas with no ocean waves.”
The WSL sanctions and organizes the highest-level professional surfing competitions for men, women, big wave, longboarders and juniors.
“The WSL proudly represents the best in men’s and women’s competitive surfing globally, and the amazing man-made wave technology developed by Kelly Slater and his team is a revolutionary innovation that has the power to dramatically enhance every aspect of our sport,” said Paul Speaker, CEO of the WSL. “We share the same vision and passion for growing high-performance surfing, and are beyond excited to work together under one roof to bring the sport to levels and places never before possible.”
KSWC technology creates an opportunity for surfers to practice and develop ever-higher levels of performance in a repeating environment, with unprecedented opportunities for surrounding camera and sensor arrays providing immediate and perfectly accurate feedback on their progress. This is the first repeatable man-made wave that convincingly delivers the power and shape of ocean waves most sought after by accomplished surfers, including a hollow barrel allowing for long tube rides. While high-performance surfing is the core mission of both the WSL and the KSWC, the wave technology is flexible and can also create variable waves for beginner and intermediate surfers.
WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow recently visited the first KSWC site, and said the wave surpassed his expectations. “Up until a few weeks ago, I had never ridden Kelly’s Wave, and when I did, I was blown away by the experience,” Perrow said. “It is incredible to see this wave in action – it has more energy and power than I expected and this technology holds a lot of potential for the future development of surfers just starting out and those already competing on our Championship Tour.”
While competition in a man-made environment will offer previously impossible opportunities such as the creation of surrounding spectator environments, as well as certainty of scheduling, WSL CEO Speaker emphasized that nothing could ever replace the magic and mystery of world-class competition in the ocean. “We do believe that all stakeholders – athletes, fans, broadcast and corporate partners – will be super energized by the advent of Championship Tour-level competition with man-made waves,” he said, “but the ocean will always be our home, and the great waves on our tour will always remain the backbone of our competitive schedule.”
Speaker added: “No firm plans have been made for the inclusion of a man-made wave-based competition. We will be evaluating all the possibilities in the coming months with the Commissioners’ Office and the WSL athletes.”
WSL Holdings is the parent company of the World Surf League (WSL). The transaction is subject to the negotiation of mutually agreeable definitive documentation, among other customary conditions. Both WSL and KSWC will continue to operate independently as separate entities following the closing of a transaction. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com and KSWaveCo.com
