The ISA President announced that Puerto Rico will be the location of the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games (WSG), the all-important final stage of qualification for surfing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Margara reefbreak - Puerto Rico. Photo: Jorge Rivera
The competition is set to take place in the municipality of Arecibo on the world-reknowned reefbreaks of Margara, a heavy water wave, and the twin breaks of El Pico and Rastrial, both offering solid waves mainly favoring lefts. The competition window is provisionally scheduled from February 22nd to March 2nd, 2024.
The 2024 WSG will see the culmination of two years of Olympic qualification, with a total of fourteen (14) Olympic slots up for grabs. Puerto Rico will see surfing history made as the top five (5) ranking eligible men and top seven (7) ranking eligible women claim their slots.
National team dynamics will be in full effect for the 2024 WSG, as the top-ranked Men’s and Women’s national teams will each earn an additional slot for their nation. The 2022 WSG in Huntington Beach saw intense action as the Japanese Men’s team and USA Women’s team earned additional slots for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, so be held in Tahiti’s famous Teahupoo.
Puerto Rico’s iconic coastline is filled with consistent world class waves that have played host to many incredible moments in surfing history, from the 1968 and 1988 ISA World Surfing Championships through to the 2022 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC).
The size and power of Puerto Rico’s waves are an ideal proving ground for the final phase of the Olympic qualification.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“We are very excited about returning to Puerto Rico, following their historic hosting of the World Championships back in 1968 and 1988. The 2024 ISA World Surfing Games will be a thrilling and dramatic conclusion to the qualification process, for what will no doubt be an incredible and spectacular Olympic Games in Tahiti. I can think of no better way to wrap up the Olympic qualifications than in the amazing waves of Puerto Rico.
“Our friends and partners from Puerto Rico, led by Richard Carrion, have shown they are a community and a destination worthy of surfing’s greatest events. I have no doubt this will be a World Surfing Games for ages. I cannot wait to return to this beautiful island in 2024 to celebrate this epic moment in Olympic surfing history.”
LOC Chairman, Richard Carrion said:
Puerto Rico is recognized as a world class surfing destination and, over the years, has hosted numerous important international surfing competitions. We are honored to once again partner with the International Surfing Association (ISA) to support the Olympic qualification system and in the process, showcase the lesser-known breaks around the town of Arecibo on the island’s north coast. We look forward to hosting the Olympic surfing community and will ensure a memorable experience is had by all. I hope that others will join us and be inspired by the vision and commitment of all involved in this important event.”
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