Pismo Beach Returns as ISA World Para Surfing Championships Host for 2022

The International Surfing Association has announced the World Para Surfing Championships will be returning to Pismo Beach, California, again in 2022.

Tthe ISA’s flagship Para surfing competition will return from December 4–11, 2022, to the Central Coast, which hosted in 2021. AmpSurf, a non-profit with the stated aim of promoting, inspiring, educating and rehabilitating people with impairments through surf therapy, will again work with Pismo Beach and the ISA to put on the event.

“The ISA is super committed to the long-term growth and promotion of Para surfing worldwide,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “We are grateful for partners like Pismo Beach and AmpSurf who share this commitment and embrace the ISA’s mission to create a better world through surfing.”

This will be the third year California has hosted the event; La Jolla was the venue in 2020. This run of World Championships in California comes as the ISA seeks to have surfing adding to the program for the 2028 Paralympic Summer Games. Surfing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and remains on the Olympic programs for Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.

“The World Para Surfing Championship is a key element of that mission,” Aguerre said. “The global community of Para surfers know how powerful surfing can be in healing the mind, body and spirit.”

The 2021 event saw a record-breaking 134 athletes from 24 countries participating, with the ISA keen to highlight increased participation among women.