*Schedule is subject to change.  Contact the ISA to schedule your registration appointment.

Team confirmation, payment, seeded competitor lists and all documentation must be finalized with the ISA by close of registration on 05 April, 2013 at 3:00pm to participate in the 2013 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship.

This event has a LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES PERMITTED, so the ISA urges teams to finalize the complete team registration and payment as soon as possible (see “Registration Requirements” below).  Competitors will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.  Register today to confirm your registration.

AN ATHLETE IS NOT GUARANTEED A SPACE IN THE EVENT WITHOUT REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT.

TEAM SIZE AND AGE DIVISIONS:

·         2 Masters (over 35)
·         2 Grand Masters (over 40)
·         2 Kahunas (over 45)
·         1 Grand Kahuna (over 50)
·         1 Women’s Master (over 35)
·         Alternates, Team Officials and Team Supporters

*Ages are taken from January 1, 2013. A Master surfer must be 35 years or older on January 1, 2013 to compete in this year’s event.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, the ISA has implemented a registration schedule to allow FULL teams to confirm participation on a first come, first serve basis.  Full team registration will open (1) week prior to registration for both PARTIAL and FULL teams.

• REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FULL TEAMS ONLY, 07 – 13 Jan, 2013
  • Full Teams include (8) athletes and at least (1) Team Official
  • Full Team registration is on a first come, first serve basis

• Registration for PARTIAL and FULL Teams, begins 14 Jan 2013
  • Remaining registrations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis

The current rate for registration is USD$175 per registrant.  This rate is only available for all registration payments and documents received by the ISA prior to the close of registration.  See the complete Registration Fee schedule below.

The benefits of registration include:

1. Access to Official ISA Pre and Post Event Communications
2. Invitations to Official Event Functions
3. Official transportation as described below
   • Lodging to/from Official Events and Meetings
   • Lodging to/from Contest Venue

4. Participation in the Parade of Nations and Official Opening Ceremony
5. Access to Team discounted rates for lodging, and food and airfare, if negotiated by the host organizer
6. Official Event T-Shirt
7. Official gift bag with Rulebook, Event Program, Sticker, Poster, etc.
8. Access to Team Tents at Contest Venue
9. Water at Contest Venue

The ISA’s policy is to collect registration fees for all those officially associated with each team, as well as those who desire to obtain any of the registration benefits. This includes all coaches, medical staff, translators, media, family members and friends who want VIP credentials.

REGISTRATION FEES

REGISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE

• Teams will pay USD$175 per registrant if fees are received by end of day on 26 March 2013.
• Teams will pay USD$200 per registrant if fees are received between 27 March – 4 April 2013.
• Teams will pay USD$225 per registrant if fees are received onsite at event on 5 April 2013. (US$ and credit cards only; no checks)

The ISA will only accept USD$, or online payments through the ISA Store with credit card, during Team Registration and throughout the duration of the contest.  Please bring the correct amount.

Items to note:

• Registration fees will be charged to each team member, managers, coaches, translators, medical staff, media, supporters and additional parties.
• All registrants must sign an Indemnity Form and Code of Conduct provided by the ISA.
• A surfer competing in more than one division is required to pay a Registration Fee for each division entered.
• Alternates must be identified and paid for prior to close of registration to be eligible for participation in the contest.
• Teams must register as a team, and have all the registration requirements collected and ready to hand over before their registration can begin.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

• A nation will not be allowed to compete if it has any outstanding dues payable to the ISA. Contact ISA Operations Coordinator, Anne Tuite at annetuite@isasurf.org to verify outstanding account balances.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Registration will take place during the day on April 4-5, 2013. Please review the ISA’s registration requirements.

Submit to ISA at least 30 days prior to the event:

1. Complete list of names of all participants.  ISA has requested this information no later than 6 March 2013.
2. Requested Event Registration Appointment date and time.
3. Travel & Accommodation Information.
4. Athletes Bios to be used for media purposes.
5. Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) forms.  These forms may be submitted via email or fax to the ISA HQ and are requested at least 30 days in advance of the contest.
6. ISA Indemnity Form for each registered team member AND ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
7. Code of Conduct forms must be completed and signed.
8. List of team email addresses

Submit to ISA during on-site Registration, (4 and 5 April):

1. Passports - All athletes’ nationality and ages must be confirmed. Actual passport and clear copies of passports must be provided at time of registration.
2. Sand – 2.5 liters of dry sand from the beaches of your country for the Sands of the World Ceremony.  Label the sand container with country and beach name.
3. National Flag
4. ISA Competitor Stickers and National Flag Stickers – The ISA requires all athletes to place the mandatory ISA Competitor and National Flag stickers on the top 1/3 of their board (front and back) prior to entering the water for their heats.  ISA Competitor stickers will be distributed by the Beach Marshalls, and athletes are required to bring their own National Flag stickers to the event.
5. Photos of each athlete –To be taken during Registration and used for online media purposes

Athlete Attendance at Registration

All team athletes must be present at time of registration for personal verification of their identity by ISA officials.  It is the Team Manager’s responsibility to ensure athletes are present during registration.  Please arrange accordingly, since athletes not present will not be registered and will not be allowed participation in the competition.  There shall be no exception to this requirement of physical attendance of competitors during registration of the team.

Representation
The ISA will ONLY accept a valid passport from the country the athlete is representing as proof of nationality for participation in World Championship events. The only exception is for National Identification cards issued by the National Government of the team country that clearly shows “Nationality or Citizenship.” Note: Such a card showing place of birth but not Nationality or Citizenship of the athlete will not be accepted, as place of birth does not provide automatic citizenship in many countries.

The ISA will not accept any other form of government documentation supporting a passport or eligibility of passport to verify nationality. This policy has been updated in the ISA rulebook.

Once a competitor has surfed for a country in any ISA event, he/she generally may not surf for another country at future ISA sanctioned International Events. If an athlete is allowed to represent a second nation based on the conditions set forth in Paragraph b of By-Laws to rule outlined below, he/she may not change back to representing his/her original country.  Special exemptions may be considered, however, after presentation to the Executive Committee at least three (3) months prior to the start of any ISA sanctioned event. Requests for exemption will only be considered if received in writing through the affiliated NGB to the Executive Committee via the ISA office, with certified copies of all relevant documentation (passport, letters from/to National Sports Organizations or Home Affairs Offices, etc) accompanying the representation.  *Please see the ISA rulebook for By-Laws.

Drug Testing
Drug Testing will follow the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines and will be conducted on or around the final day of competition.  All finalists plus three (3) random tests will be conducted. To check on the updated list of banned substances, go to the WADA website www.wada-ama.org.

If an athlete is required to take medication to treat an illness or condition which happens to fall under the Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) may give that athlete the authorization to take the needed medicine. Please contact the ISA to submit all TUEs at least 30 days prior to the start of the competition.

Passports & Visas
Please check with your travel agent or your Foreign Affairs Department for requirements.

Travel Vaccines
Please contact your Foreign affairs department for further information.

Travel Insurance
The ISA strongly recommends that each team procures travel insurance (including, but not limited to accident, liability and medical) for all of their participants.

 Lodging

Montañita provides various accommodation options for teams.

Contact:

La Barranca                                                 https://www.facebook.com/labarrancamontanita

Baja Montañita                                           http://www.bajamontanita.ec/

Rosa Mística                                                http://www.hostalrosamistica.net/

Hanga Roa                                                    http://www.hangaroamontanita.com/

Casa Del Sol                                                  http://www.casadelsolsurfcamp.com/

Balsa Surf                                                      http://www.balsasurfcamp.com/accueil/index.html

Ground Transportation

Information coming soon.

Getting to Guayaquil, Ecuador

By Air

The new José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE), elected as best South American Airport, is located near the new business district center and is next to the International bus station. In this airport, you can find daily flights to New York, Miami, Houston, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Madrid, Amsterdam, Lima, Bogotá, Panama City, San José, San Salvador, etc; and a new 4 times a week to Cali and twice a week to Medellín Colombia.

International departure airport tax is approximately $29.75.

WELCOME TO MONTAÑITA 2013!

Ecuador has been honored again by being selected as host of the ISA WORLD MASTERS SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP, ECUADOR 2013, to take place at Montañita April 6-14^, 2013.

Photo: Fernando Mata

Montañita is the surf capital of Ecuador. It is located at 195 kilometers WNW from the big city of Guayaquil, or two and a half hours drive on an excellent freeway, on the North side of the provence of Santa Elena. Facing straight West on the South American coast of the Pacific ocean, it is located just a little bit south of the Equatorial line (or latitude zero) that divides the two hemispheres of our planet. The place can be divided in three areas:

MONTAÑITA TOWN

Photo: Manino Andant

Or “El Pueblo”, in Spanish. It was originally a typical farming/fishing town from the South American Pacific coastline. In the last 20 years there has been a huge tourism explosion because of its privileged surf and an esoteric “nice vibe” that everyone experiences but very few can describe. These days, the Town is approximately 10 blocks long along the coast (North to South) and 4 blocks wide (East to West) from the ocean to the highway. When you walk in town, you can see thousands of young, alternative tourists from all over the world mixing with the surfers, as they hang around dozens of little rustic bars, discotheques, restaurants, tattoo shops and tourism operators. With the presence of many street artists and artisans, the ambiance is very happy, musical, relaxed but busy, very unique and colorful.

MONTAÑITA BEACHBREAKS

Photo: Manino Andant

Located between “El Pueblo” and the point (or “La Punta”, in Spanish) it is a coast line of approximately 0.75 kilometers, full of uncrowded beachbreak surf, beach houses and relaxed beach goers.

THE POINT or “LA PUNTA”

Photo: Mackina Estudio Creativo

This is where the Montañita legend started with a bunch of pioneer hippy surfers in the early ‘70s. With a super relaxed country vibe, a world-class right hand point break and a dozen or so rustic hotels at just a few steps from the surf break, it also has the very popular, natural, vertical formation on top of the hill, that gives the name to the place (“Montañita” meaning little mountain). Some eccentric and very creative people have referred to this formation as “a natural antenna that receives cool energy from the cosmos”.

THE SURF

Photo: Radical Magazine

Facing straight West, Montañita is a rocky bottom right-hand point break that gets any Pacific ocean swell from North to South (extreme Norths or Souths are not best, though). The surfable waves can vary from 2 to 12 feet high, but a normal swell is in between 6 to 8 feet high and as long as 100 yards of clean, perfect surf. During April, the swells are beginning to change from north to strong southwest swells with perfect, glassy conditions remaining. Water temperature at this time of the year is around 28? C. or 82? F. so no need for any kinds of wetsuits, however rash guards / lycras for sun protection are highly recommended. If you plan to visit the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, a Spring Suit or a 3-2mm fullsuit might be recommended. Montañita has several very good surf shops to get all surf accessories you might need, as well as very good shapers and ding repair shops.

Photo: Balsa House

You will also have the chance to see/rent/buy some beautiful and unique Ecuadorian balsa wood boards in all shapes and sizes.

Photo: Balsa House

CLIMATE

Hot with very strong sun in the day and very nice weather at night with some intermittent rains are the most common conditions at this time of the year. Normally, April is the end of the rainy season, when you will find a very green Montañita, with lots of insects and birds. This  season can also provide some of the most stunning sunsets of the year, making Montañita a true paradise.

WHAT TO BRING TO MONTAÑITA

• Super light clothing
• Tons of all kinds of sun protection (sunscreen, hats, UV rash guards, surf hats, etc).
• International surf etiquette
• Photo/Video gear.
•  Good disposition for a time to remember for all of your life!

The media exposure this contest can provide you, your NGB and your athletes is absolutely priceless.   Please submit a list of key media contacts in your region to the ISA so that they may receive ISA press releases. We also ask that you forward local media coverage before and after the event to the ISA so we may use it to promote surfing worldwide.  Please contact Carlos Escaba at carlosescaba@isasurf.org.

IMPORTANT – A nation will not be allowed to compete if it has any outstanding dues payable to the ISA.
For Credit Card payments, pay through the ISA Store on the ISA website, www.isasurf.org – “ISA Event Registration Fee”.
For Onsite payment, the ISA will only accept US Dollars.
For Wire transfers, please contact the ISA for details.