Montañita Hosts World Masters Surfing Championship

The picturesque town of Montañita has been chosen as the venue for the 2013 World Masters Surfing Championship from April 6 through to April 14. Promoted as an Olympic-style event, the championship is organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and has competitions in five disciplines – Men’s Masters (35 and over); Men’s Grand Masters (40 and over); Men’s Kahunas (45 and over); Men’s Grand Masters (50 and over); and Women’s Masters (35 and over). Points will be tallied from results in all the disciplines with the Eduardo Arena Team Trophy going to the team with the highest score. The trophy is named in honor of the founder of the ISA, Eduardo Arena, who started the association in 1964.

This is not the first time Ecuador has hosted a major ISA event, as the country played host to the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in 2009 and the ISA World Surfing Games in 2005. ISA President Fernando Aguerre expressed his pleasure at the opportunity of returning to Ecuador, thanking the President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Tourism and the Ecuador Surfing Federation (FES) for hosting the event.

Among the participants for the 2013 event is 1999 ASP World Tour Champion and 2012 ISA Grand Masters Gold Medalist, Sunny Garcia, as well as 2012 ISA Women’s Masters Gold Medalist, Rochelle Ballard of Hawaii. Other past champions competing in the event include seven-time winner of the women’s ASP World Championship, Layne Beachley of Australia, and three-time ASP World Champion Tom Curren of the United States.

Montañita is situated in the province of Santa Elena, 180km northwest of Guayaquil. The main attraction of this charming seaside town is its superb surfing conditions. With a consistent tropical climate, sandy white beaches, warm water and right-hand point-break waves, Montañita continues to attract surfing enthusiasts from far and wide. There are a number of accommodation options to suit most budgets and the various restaurants and cafés serve the best of Ecuadorian cuisine, while the nightlife is vibrant – making it the perfect destination for both surfers and spectators.