It was first-ever victory for Team USA in its first-ever ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. Photo: ISA/Watts
Gold medals for individual athletes go to Master Mark Richardson (AUS), Grand Master Juan Ashton (PUR), Kahuna Tom Curren (USA), Grand Kahuna Craig Schieber (CRI) and Women Master Layne Beachley (AUS)
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El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
October 23, 2011
La Libertad, El Salvador
The USA won the Eduardo Arena ISA World Team Trophy. The final day had contestable 3-to-4 feet waves under amazingly clear skies at a beach packed with local and international fans.
Team USA’s debut in the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship proved to be more than successful. They are taking home the Team Trophy, the Kahunas Gold and Silver Medals won by Tom Curren and Jim Hogan. Also Grand Kahunas and Women Masters Copper Medals were won by Allen Sarlo and Alissa Cairns respectively.
The team also had Masters Sean Mattison and Jason Senn, and Grand Masters Dean Randazzo and David Giddings placing in top 16 positions.
“Of course, the great performances in the Kahunas with Tom Curren and Jimmy Hogan were key,” said Team USA Head Coach, Ian Cairns. “But it was also a good, consistent performance by the whole team, as most of our guys made the finals. In this event you have to make the finals; you must have all of your team do well. We had a great time in El Salvador and to come out as champions, it’s just really amazing for us.”
Final Results – Team Medalists
Gold: USA
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: South Africa
Copper: Puerto Rico
"I have eight world titles now!” said seven-time ASP World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS) after winning her first-ever ISA Gold Medal.
Beachley Wins Her Eighth World Title
Seven-Time ASP World Champion, Layne Beachley, added an eighth World Title to her trophy cabinet. An ISA Masters World Title that came three years after she retired from professional surfing shows that her surfing skills remain intact.
In the final, Beachley was solid, posting 13.10 (6.50+6.60) to beat Heather Clark (RSA, second), Andrea Lopes (BRA, third) and Alissa Cairns (USA, fourth).
“It feels really satisfying to come home with the Gold. I have eight world titles now!” said Beachley. “To have the whole team at the rocks supporting me was a really great experience. We are doing the country proud and I was really honored to surf for Australia. This was a wonderful experience and I hope to come back next year.”
Final results – Women Masters
Gold: Layne Beachley (AUS)
Silver: Heather Clark (RSA)
Bronze: Andrea Lopes (BRA)
Copper: Alissa Cairns (USA)
Schieber Gives Costa Rica its First-Ever ISA Gold Medal
Stylish Craig “Tequila” Schieber was the surprise of the day, winning the first ISA Gold in the history of Costa Rican surfing. Coming from the Repechage rounds, Schieber was quick and effective in the 25-minute final match-up. A combined total of 9.86 (6.33+3.53) was enough to win the World Title.
“I have no words to describe how this feels. I’m so happy! Thank you to the ISA for making this event. I still can’t believe it. I guess now I’m Tequila Gold,” laughed Schieber. “I hope this becomes an inspiration for all the young great surfers we have in Costa Rica. I would like to see them winning gold medals and maybe even some day a team gold medal.”
Final results – Grand Kahunas
Gold: Craig Schieber (CRI)
Silver: Chris Knutsen (RSA)
Bronze: Nick Pearson (AUS)
Copper: Allen Sarlo (USA)
Tom Curren (USA) wrote another chapter in the Surfing History Book today by becoming the first surfer ever to have won the ISA World Championship in the Junior, Open and Masters divisions. Photo: ISA/Watts
Curren Writes Another Entry into the History Book of Surfing
The three-time ASP World Champion, 1980 ISA Junior Gold Medalist and 1982 ISA Open Gold Medalist entered into surfing’s history books once again by becoming the first surfer ever to have won the Gold in the main three ISA signature events (Juniors, Open and Masters).
After a slow start, Curren found a nice right that that he ripped with strong and stylish turns, earning him an 8.17. He backed that up with a 4.60 that was worthy of a Gold Medal.
“This is a great feeling and I’m really stoked about the team we have,” said Curren after the final. “It’s really fun to be part of the team, and having Ian as a coach has been great this week. Being a World Champion in three ISA divisions is a great addition to my resume.”
Final Results – Kahunas
Gold: Tom Curren (USA)
Silver: Jim Hogan (USA)
Bronze: David Malherbe (RSA)
Copper: David Husadel (BRA)
Ashton Wins His Fourth Gold
Today, Puerto Rican Juan Ashton became the “poster boy” for the ISA World Masters Surfing Championships. His victory in the Grand Masters division gave him four gold medals in the four ISA Masters events held in the last 5 years.
With seven minutes remaining until the end of the final, Ashton was third and needed a 7-point ride. A set wave came on his final wave and after combining six solid turns, he received a 7.77 from the judges, jumping straight to the first place and to the top of the podium.
An overjoyed and pumped up Ashton screamed the number “four,” while smiling and hugging his peers all the way from the point at Punta Roca to the podium. He said afterwards, “I can’t put this into words. I guess I just didn’t give up, and I was like, ‘I can do it; I just need one more wave.’” With seven minutes left, I got that wave and I surfed it almost with my eyes closed; I was so pumped to make it all the way trough. I’m just super happy.”
Final results – Grand Masters
Gold: Juan Ahston (PUR)
Silver: Jojo de Olivença (BRA)
Bronze: Fabio Gouveia (BRA)
Copper: Andre Malherbe (RSA)
Mark Richardson Wins the Masters Division
Australian Mark Richardson came all the way from the first round of the Repechage, surfing in seven heats before making it to the final and ending up being crowned the ISA Masters World Champion.
A former ISA Medalist and Australian Professional Champion, Richardson knew how to take advantage of his amazing backhand approach. He started strong by posting an 8.17 and ended the same way with a 7.17, making a total of 15.34, the highest combined score of the day.
Afterwards, an emotional Richardson, hugging his young son, said, “I’m just so stoked, I came third in the World Surfing Games in 2004, when I was winning and with one minute to go, a wave was taken away from me and I was left in third. So this is the one that I really wanted to win. I’m so happy it happened!”
Final Results – Masters
Gold: Mark Richardson (AUS)
Silver: Carlos Cabrero (PUR)
Bronze: Gary Van Wieringen (RSA)
Copper: Ross Williams (HAW)
Closing Ceremony
A colorful Closing Ceremony took place at the podium stage immediately after the last final ended. The dignitaries present were El Salvador Minister of Tourism, Jose Napoleón Duarte; La Libertad Mayor, Carlos Molina; El Salvador Surfing Association President, Saburo Okuzawa; ISA Contest Director Marcos Bukao, and ISA Director General Bob Mignogna.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre did not attend, as he’s in California recovering from a surfing injury. From home in a recorded message, he stated, “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to all the organizers, to the people and government of El Salvador and certainly to all the delegations and the athletes for this incredible competition. Some of you are going home with medals, but all of you are champions. Thank you for making it to El Salvador and I hope to see you next year at the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship.”
Tourism Minister, José Napoleón Duarte, gave thanks to the ISA and all the delegations for coming to his country. He also commented, “This event shows that this is the right moment for developing the sport and therefore tourism in El Salvador.”
After all the winning medals were awarded, ISA Director General Bob Mignogna, in the name of ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, declared officially closed the El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship.
With another edition of the annual ISA World Masters Surfing Championship successfully complete, the ISA looks forward to announcing the location of the premiere world team masters surfing event for 2012.
Country Final Standings
1 United States 9396
2 Brazil 9086
3 South Africa 8886
4 Puerto Rico 8618
5 Australia 8480
6 Hawaii 7664
7 Costa Rica 6090
8 Argentina 6016
9 France 5821
10 Peru 5548
11 Venezuela 5363
12 Trinidad & Tobago 5335
13 El Salvador 5230
14 Ecuador 5030
15 Uruguay 3640
16 Mexico 2240
17 Sweden 1905
18 Germany 1680
19 Switzerland 680
20 Panama 500
21 New Zealand 450
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is sponsored by El Salvador Impresionante, Alcaldía del Puerto de La Libertad, Surfos, Alcatel, TACA), El Gráfico, Olas Permanentes Magazine, TIGO, Decameron, Cushe, Maya Realty, Yamaha, Alamo, La Femenina, CONJUVE, Amate Travel, Línea Ejecutiva, Surfline, Hospital de la Mujer, Arreconsa, Torogoz, Pepsi, Adrenaline, Gray Line El Salvador, CASATUR and POLITUR
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 Open Division World Championships since 1964, Junior World Championships since 1980, and Masters World Championships since 2007. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the Tandem Surfing World Title, and will hold the first World Bodyboard Championship in 2011, and the first World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship in 2012.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 69 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, 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 three Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER) and Debbie Beacham (USA).
