The last edition of the World Bodyboard Championship run by the International Surfing Association was held in Chile in 2015. ISA was founded in 1964 and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing (including Bodyboarding amongst other sports).
The event featured 33 men and 9 women in the open divisions from 14 countries and 4 continents. France’s Anne Cécile Lacoste and Brazil’s Eder Luciano were the open champions. Team Brazil was the overall winner. [click HERE to read]
Since then the initiative vanished, we guess may be due to lack of financial support or lack of interest from the different surfing federations that make up the ISA corp.
Anyway, yesterday, March 18th, almost a decade after, the ISA issued a letter to all of their members where we are left with the idea that these events may return, but for that to happen it is necessary that “all ISA Member Federations to help us in finding strong and capable hosts for the World Bodyboard Championship.”
On the letter, the ISA even encourages the members to contact and explore interest in national and regional tourism authorities, sports entities, private promoters or national organizations.
For the ISA is important to find local hosts that are willing and committed to organizing these events, accordingly to ISA standards. “Despite good efforts on our part, this has not been the case in recent years for bodyboarding”, we may read.
One of the most importants facts for surfing Olympic success and recognization was the global growth and universality of surfing worldwide and across both genders. Can we say the same about bodyboarding?, we ask.
The letter is signed by Fernando Aguerre and Robert Fasulo, ISA President and ISA Executive Director, respectively, with the following message: “in order for us to devote time, energy and resources to this discipline, it is very important that we have strong interest and participation from our member federations.”
