SIMA IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE ISA’S INCLUSION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) has committed to supporting the International Surfing Association (ISA) in its long-term campaign for the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics.

At a recent SIMA board meeting, the unanimous decision was made to financially support the ISA in its fundraising program, “Friends of Olympic Surfing”, in the amount of $25,000 per year for the next three years.

Meanwhile, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said, “We are very honored by the generous support of SIMA. Its leaders and its members not only recognize the extraordinary value that surfing could bring the Olympic movement, but also the unique global platform for growth and development that the Olympics could provide for our sport. We’ve made great progress in the last five years with this mission, but we still have a lot of work to do. I’m convinced that, with the fundamental support of SIMA today, we’ve found a much better chance for our cause.”

What has been a crazy mission for some has now moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

SIMA has invited ISA President Aguerre to speak at the “Surf Summit”, an annual leadership conference for the surfing industry. It’s set to be held in May of 2014 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Aguerre, who was the keynote speaker at the 2002 conference, will provide a detailed update of industry leaders in the developmental efforts of ISA Olympic surfing.

The delegation includes:

ALEJANDRA QUEVEDO  (Women’s Bodyboard)
DAFHNE ABARCA  (Women’s Shortboard)
JOSE MANUEL “YUCO” TRUJILLO  (Shortboard Open)
ALDAHIR CRUZ  (Shortboard Open)
VICENTE VEGA (Shortboard Open)
ARTURO AYALA (Bodyboard Open)
ULISES RODRIGUEZ  (Bodyboard Open)
BORIS DUEÑAS  (Bodyboard Open)
JORGE DIAZ  (Bodyboard Open)
ANGEL ROMAN (Masters’ Bodyboard)
FERNANDO GARCIA  (Longboard)
MANUEL RIOS  (Masters)
RAUL SANCHEZ  (Grand Masters)
JUAN BRAVO   (Grand Kahuna)
JAVIER HERNANDEZ  (Grand Kahuna)
FILIBERTO ALEMAN  (Judge)
Delegate Javier Hernández (President of the Guerrero State Surfing Association (ASEG for its initials in Spanish))

The delegation will travel early this week by air and had just been awaiting support from Napoleon Astudillo.