Sunzal is already experiencing the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship party – – 2024-05-06 09:11:02

The Ministry of Tourism and the International Surfing Association (ISA) inaugurated the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship 2024, a competition that will have a record participation with 54 countries and will take place on the La Bocana and El Sunzal beaches until May 12.

The Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, and the president of the International Surfing Association (ISA), Fernando Aguerre, presided over the inauguration ceremony that began with the notes of the national anthem and the staging of the “Torito pinto” dance. .

“Thank you very much President Nayib Bukele for believing in surfing. El Salvador is the first country in history that has designated surfing as a tool for growth and to create a better country,” highlighted Fernando Aguerre.

The organizers reported that the competitions will begin this Saturday at 7:00 in the morning.

The Junior World Cup will have the participation of more than 447 athletes in the sub-16 and sub-18 categories, both female and male.

“It is a pride for me and for the entire cabinet of President Nayib Bukele to receive these generations of professional surfers,” said Morena Valdez.

It was an emotional inauguration that had as one of its main points the traditional “Ceremony of the sands of the world”, a ritual that symbolizes the union of nations through surfing.

For El Salvador, the honor of depositing the sand in the glass box went to Julissa Moody and Melvin Ayala, who received a standing ovation for being part of the host delegation. Equally effusive was the applause and shouts when representatives of the 54 countries gathered on stage to joyfully wave their flag.

The national delegation will be made up of 10 athletes: Sophia Ramos, Fabiola Salmerón, Julissa Moody, athletes from our Effort and Glory Program; Dorothy Moody, Miguel Navarro, Julio García, Héctor Flores, Deyfri Méndez, Melvin Ayala and Jason Steven Molina.

The ISA World Junior Surfing Championships will be the 16th event hosted by the country and becomes a new opportunity to show the world the beauty and tourism potential of El Salvador, which will receive more than 660 visitors including athletes, delegates and family members.

It will also be the second tournament of the 2024 season after the ISA World Longboard Championship which was held from April 19 to 25.

A record 194 girls (43% of competitors) will represent their nations at the WJSC 2024. Since 2017, the ISA has offered equal competition slots for men and women across its World Championship Series.

Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, the United States, Portugal, Peru and Puerto Rico are some of the participating countries.