By: Federico Ayciriet – Argentinean Surf Federation – www.asasurf.org.ar

Argentinean Surf Schools Given Professional Status

The Argentinean Surf Association (ASA) began the process of granting professional status to the country’s Surfing Schools. For the first time in its history, Argentinean surfing will receive a coaching course that can be attended by all Atlantic coast schools.

With the support of the International Surfing Association and driven by the conviction that the growth of this sport lies in the quality of teaching skills, ASA has prepared the first training course for Surfing schools.

The course will take place at the Sheraton Mar del Plata Hotel on September 27-28 and will be administered by Marcos Conde. Conde is a Brazilian instructor considered one of the most influential leaders in the recent explosion of surfing talent from countries such as Costa Rica and Ecuador.

The course will train instructors in theoretical and practical matters that will improve their coaching quality and will also gain a membership status granted by ISA.


National Team Prepares for the South American Beach Games

After the good performance from the Argentinean team at the BILLABONG ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES, the ASA began a training and preparation period for those athletes that will compose the National Delegation that will represent the country in the first edition of the South American Beach Games that will take place in Uruguay from December 3 to 13.

The Top 6 and Top 3 of the Open and Women’s Ranking 08/09 are training under the leadership of Coach Manuel Santamaria and Physical Coach Silvio Pedro.

The Argentinean team hopes to repeat their successful formula and stand on the podium of this Olympic-style event.

OPEN MEN
Marcelo Rodriguez
Leandro Usuna
Martín Passeri
Maxi Siri
Lucas Santamaría
Agustín Bollini

OPEN WOMEN
María Teresa Gil
Maia Cherr
María Paz Usuna

Usuna places seventh in Puerto Escondido

With an outstanding performance by Leandro “Lele” Usuna, who placed 7th, five Argentineans participated in a new event on the WQS, a three-star contest held in Puerto Escondido, México.

In the second division of the ASP World Tour, the national athletes competed against the best surfers from around the globe and performed exceptionally well.

The best performance by Argentina’s athletes came from Leandro Usuna, who obtained a 7th place after securing a spot in the semifinals. There, the Mar del Plata surfer had to confront Clay Marzo (HAW) (who eventually won the competition), Ángelo Lozano (MEX) and Blake Howard (US). When the heat ended “Lele” was positioned in fourth place (a general score of 11.5, only 1.6 points away from making it to the final). This guaranteed a $1,000 prize and 536 points for the ranking.

Other Argentineans who competed with Leandro were Lucas Santamaría, Martín Passeri, Juanchi Arca and Andrés Di Marco. With their diverse performances, these athletes placed Argentina in 5th according to the amount of representatives in the competition, surpassed only by Hawaii, Mexico, USA and Brazil.

The Argentinean Surf Association congratulates and thanks these athletes for heightening our national flag in an international event at this level.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. 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 La Jolla, 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), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karín Sierralta (Peru).

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