There are many events in the international calendar for surfing, organised by two separate organizations, the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the World Surf League (WSL).
The International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, 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) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.
The World Surf League (WSL), formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) has its headquarters in Santa Monica. The WSL has been promoting the sport and the world's best surfers since 1976, with events including the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards.
About Major Surfing Events
- Surfing at the Olympics Games — added to the Olympics for 2020.
- World Surfing Championships — an annual national teams event.
Related Pages
- More about the sport of surfing
- A brief summary of surfing