(ATR) Surfing Association leaders believe a new partnership with the Association of Paddlesurf Professionals will propel them forward as the sole world governing body for the popular Stand-Up Paddle discipline.
"Our new partnership with the APP World Tour is a milestone moment for the global development of Stand-Up Paddle under the governance of the ISA," ISA president Fernando Aguerre tells Around the Rings.
Surfing will make its historic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Aguerre is hopeful that the Stand-Up Paddling discipline, which was rejected by the IOC for 2020, could join the more traditional lifestyle sport on the 2024 Games program.
The official ISA sanctioning and minority ownership of the APP World Tour, formerly known as the Stand Up World Tour & Series, begins with a SUP World Cup event in Germany on June 30.
The ISA and International Canoe Federation (ICF) are locked in a dispute regarding the governance of SUP – the world’s fastest growing water sport.
Partnering with the APP seems to be an aggressive and logical move by the ISA, one that could leave the ICF up the creek without a paddle.
"For us, there has never been any question about our leadership and governance of SUP, but such an agreement would never have been possible if [it] weren’t for the fact that SUP is a part of surfing and the ISA is naturally aligned with the professional league," Aguerre said.
The ISA has held world championships in SUP since 2012 and the new agreement with the APP could help lead to the inclusion of the discipline in future multi-sport events in the Olympic Movement. SUP shortboard surfing and racing will be on the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games program.
"No other International Federation has been as committed to the sport like we have," Aguerre said. "We do these things because it’s what we’ve always done, not because of some latent need to prove our authority. Hopefully, reasonable people will see this for what it is and allow us to get on with governing the sport."
However, leaders of the ICF remain at odds with the ISA over ownership of the SUP discipline.
"There is no exclusive group of athletes in SUP and no monopoly therefore the ICF is within its rights to organize and sanction SUP competitions as per our rules," said ICF secretary general Simon Toulson. "We don’t accept ISA is the sole governing body for SUP."
The IOC has advised the two federations to find a resolution. Mediation at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appears to be a possibility.
"We would argue that our structure with thousands of clubs and 165 National Federations is much more robust for SUP activities which have been going on quietly for several years now," Toulson said. "Again, we don’t agree that ISA is the sole governing body for SUP."
Aguerre says that there are numerous and varied supporters that concur that SUP belongs under the ISA umbrella.
"Most of the sporting world, including all the top SUP racers, the SUP pro league and even a very large number of IOC members and NOC leaders have expressed support for the ISA’s governance of SUP," Aguerre said.
"In the best interests of the athletes and the sport, including both SUP surfing and racing disciplines, we hope this matter is drawn to a close."
The ISA is optimistic, with the cooperation of the APP World Tour, that the global growth, development and sustainability of SUP could lead to the growing sport being included in future editions of the Olympic Games.
"We believe that SUP is ready to be an excellent addition as an Olympic event," the surfing boss says.
"With this new partnership between the ISA and the APP World Tour, we can deliver to the IOC and the Olympic Movement a sport that will feature all the top professional athletes and bring a greater global youth audience to the Games."
World Surfing Games in Biarritz
Surfing’s world championship hits the waves of the southwestern French seaside resort of Biarritz on May 20.
Aguerre says everything is ready to go as the French prepare to welcome the global surfing community, hosting the flagship event for the first time since 1980.
"There is a lot of excitement in France and around the world for this event," Aguerre said. "Several Olympic leaders have confirmed their attendance."
Biarritz is widely considered the epicenter of surfing in Europe and is a likely venue should Paris win the 2024 Summer Games.
"We are anticipating a record number of teams in the competition, making this the largest World Surfing Games ever and evidence of the ISA’s successful growth and development programs," said the surfing chief.
"Surfing’s new Olympic status is certainly increasing interest in the sport and now many new nations in different parts of the world, such as China and South Korea, are participating in our competition."
Written by Brian Pinelli
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