Overall Gratification for the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship

A real surfing celebration took place from March 30 thru April 6, in the classic waves of Punta Rocas, where the second edition of the annual ISA World Masters Surfing Championship took place. This is the only world tournament for surfers older than 35 years old.

More than 100 of the best veteran surfers from 18 different nations came to live and enjoy the six days of surfing action with waves that were never smaller than 6-feet tall.

South Africa crowned itself again with the world team Gold Medal, having obtained victories in the following divisions: Ladies Master with Heather Clark, Grand Kahunas, with an excellent victory by Chris Knutsen, and Marc Wright prevailing over his fellow countryman Nick Pike in the final thrust.

On the other hand, Juan Ashton of Puerto Rico obtained his second consecutive victory in the Masters division, with Ricardo Toledo of Brazil coming in second, Rob Page of Australia in third place, and Jay Sharpe also from Australia in fourth position.

The championship’s grand finale was performed by the Grandmasters. An interesting exchange of good waves deployed by the 1988 Pipe Master, Robbie Page, and the defending champion Magoo de la Rosa who was playing the local card, was breathtaking to all spectators. Seconds before the bugle blew, de la Rosa dropped a set wave, but it closed out and that was the end. Robbie Page was watching from the sand and emotion made him shed tears. His Peruvian friend congratulated him. And later they celebrated, joined by Jojó de Olivença from Brazil and South Africa’s Andre Malherbe, placed in third and fourth places respectively.

Apart from the competition itself, it is important to mention the great comradeship that reigned among all surfers during the entire event. All participants returned home as winners. What could be better to a surfer than having ten days of perfect waves breaking endlessly and shared with friends from all over the world?

Besides, it became clear how far in life a human being can keep up an excellent surfing level. It was really impressive to watch people older than 50 surfing like teenagers. What ISA President Fernando Aguerre expressed in his opening and closing statements was fully confirmed: “One doesn’t stop surfing because of getting old, but one gets old because he stops surfing”.

The best older-than-35 surfers will come together again next year. The location has not been yet established, but it became known that it will probably be in South Africa or Brazil. Until then, as happens with wine, the competitors’ surfing will get better as time goes by.

Results
Final Team Classification:
1º South Africa
2º Australia
3º Brazil
4º Peru

Medalists
Masters
Gold: Juan Ashton (PRC)
Silver: Ricardo Toledo (BRA)
Bronze: Rob Page (AUS)
Copper: Jay Sharpe (AUS)

Grandmasters
Gold: Rob Page (AUS)
Silver: Magoo de la Rosa (PER)
Bronze: Jojó de Olivença (BRA)
Copper: Andre Malherbe (ZAF)

Kahunas
Gold: Marc Wright (ZAF)
Silver: Nick Pike (ZAF)
Bronze: Jorge Posso (PER)
Copper: Rod Baldwin (AUS)

Grand Kahunas
Gold: Chris Knutsen (ZAF)
Silver: Paco del Castillo (PER)
Bronze: Frank Hayter (AUS)
Copper: René González (PRC)

Ladies Masters
Gold: Heather Clark (ZAF)
Silver: Rocío Larrañaga (PER)
Bronze: Sandra English (AUS)
Copper: Briggite Mayer (BRA)

About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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