Surfing Boss Optimistic for Tokyo 2020

(ATR) Talking with International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre, it doesn’t take long to realize he is a "glass half-full" kind of guy.

"I get to surf every day for two hours so that’s my way of starting the day. Today was 8am to 10am. I surf and then throw me everything, I don’t care," Aguerre tells Around the Rings.

He has plenty of reason to be happy this week, following the IOC announcement on Monday that surfing, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing were officially in the sport program for Paris 2024.

"So this is really good, very exciting, and we’re all ready to take surfing to Tahiti," he says.

The world-renowned reef break Teahupo’o is the venue for surfing in 2024. In addition to the sport’s best athletes, the competition will pay homage to the culture and heritage of the sport.

Aguerre says that in surfing, unlike many sports, the competition is only a part of the overall experience of the event.

"That’s what got me on surfing… not just the act of riding waves… that’s the cherry on the cake but the cake is wonderful," he tells ATR, adding that the surfing lifestyle is very appealing and makes everybody want to surf.

Aguerre’s optimistic nature extends to the upcoming Tokyo Games. His advice is to "be happy with what we have with the cards we were dealt and then enjoy the Games" no matter what happens.

Surfing is held outdoors on the beach with constant coastal breezes that will help alleviate some of the high-risk factors for catching Covid-19. Aguerre believes it offers a good alternative for those worried about attending the Games during the pandemic.

"I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. When you think about it, if you’re afraid to see the best athletes in the world, I think then that you ought to be on the beach… everybody on the beach with bathing suits and T-shirts so I think it’s going to be very appealing, very exciting."

The one disappointment from Monday’s slew of announcements by the IOC was that stand-up paddle (SUP) did not make the cut for Paris 2024.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport awarded the ISA governance of stand-up paddle at the Olympic level in August after a years-long battle over the discipline with the International Canoe Federation.

That left little time to organize a push to get SUP into the Paris Games.

"It was too short of a time for us to work toward that and especially with the amount of cuts in athletes numbers, athletes participation and all that," Aguerre says, adding "I understand it is not an easy time to bring changes… so we’re happy and we hope by 2028 in LA standup paddle will be included in the program."

Written and reported by Gerard Farek

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