2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

Ecuador may seem to fall off the map when it comes to choosing a destination to host global events, but not this time – Ecuador has been chosen to host the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships! Fans of the sport will no doubt be looking forward to the event with much anticipation.

Every year the International Surfing Association (ISA) seems to go out of its way to source out new and exciting destinations to host its annual surfing events. This year was no different and it seems that the coastal city of Salinas in Ecuador will be hosting the event. Salinas is situated in the province of Santa Elena and is Ecuador’s westernmost city. It has long served as an important center of tourism and as a result, much of the local economy is centered on this aspect of commerce. This means that the city is already perfectly established to host an event such as the 2009 Quicksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, since it has all the hotels, restaurants, cafés and amenities it could possibly need. However, it is also perfect for the event for another reason – perfect waters and perfect weather. Salinas in Ecuador has an average year round temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and its shores are lapped by the water’s of the Pacific Ocean. This striking setting will provide the perfect background for the World Junior Surfing Championships.

Salinas is located just 2 hours away from Guayaquil. The competition will be hosted in ‘La FAE’ which is just ten minutes from Salinas and which is actually a military air force base which has agreed to open its doors to surfers for the event. Temperatures during the competition, which will take place in March, are expected to soar to as high as 35 degrees Celsius, so sun protection will be vital and the ocean will provide plenty of much-needed relief. La FAE has a reputation for being one of the most consistent surf spots in the country and may have swells from two to eight feet in height at any given time. Though it is a little rocky, it is generally considered to be quite safe for surfing. The only real rock to watch out for is ‘El Camello’ which is home to a large population of sea lions!

The ISA will be headquartered at Hotel Barcelo Miramar, which is where judging seminars, meetings and registrations will take place. Surfers and observers can book in at the same hotel or choose from one of the many other hotels available in the area. The 2009 Quicksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships will no doubt be exciting and fun-filled. Make sure you don’t miss out on this great event!