Press release:
La Jolla, California, October 9, 2013 – The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to welcome Belgium as its 77th member of the ISA. Belgium joins the ISA as its 77th and newest Member Nation.
Located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, Belgium has over 60km (37 miles) of straight coastline.
While the country might be more known for its breweries than its waves, there are a variety of large sandy beaches and a few protected jetties favoring north groundswells and south-west windswells that provide fun waves for the Belgian community of surfers in the country. There are also a variety of great places for standup paddling with many recreational events in the long distance, sprint and wave riding disciplines growing exponentially by the year.
“Belgium is a wonderful addition to the ISA,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “Not only does the country have a great growing SUP and surfing community, but it is also the final European country on the Atlantic to join the ISA, which is getting even closer to the 100-member mark.”
“Becoming part of the ISA surfing family is a very important step in the professionalization of the surfing and SUP disciplines in Belgium,” said the president of VYF-BSF Surfing, Lauwerier Albert. “As the surfing and SUP federation of the country, we deeply believe that providing opportunities to the youth by developing instruction and training programs can only be done successfully by international collaboration. Now as a member of the ISA, we can fully reach our potential.”
The Belgian Surfing Federation (BSF) was founded in 2007 as a branch of the Flemish Yachting Federation (VYF), and has been a participating member of the European Surfing Federation ever since. There are 15 beach clubs that are connected with the BSF, which provides a solid base by organizing surfing events, lessons and training. Every year, the BSF holds an annual National Surfing Championship Event as well as a Junior Championship and a Longboard Championship. See more at: www.surfingbelgium.be
About the International Surfing Association:
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running the Open Division World Championship since 1964, the World Junior Surfing Championship since 1980, the World Masters Surfing Championship since 2007, the World Bodyboard Championship since 2011, the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival in China, and the World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship beginning in 2012. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the World Tandem Surfing Championship, and will launch the World Longboard Championship in 2013.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 77 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER), Debbie Beacham (USA) and Layne Beachley (AUS)
