(From left) Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association, was honored with the Silver Surfer at the 10th annual Gala Fundraiser at the California Surf Museum.
LA JOLLA–The president of the International Surfing Association, Fernando Aguerre, was honored and awarded the Silver Surfer at the 10th annual Gala Fundraiser of the California Surf Museum for his leading role in bringing Surfing to the Olympic Programme for Tokyo 2020.
The event, held at the oceanfront Cape Rey Resort in Carlsbad, saw multiple generations of legends and prominent industry leaders from the surfing world come together to celebrate the sport’s rich cultural heritage to raise money for charity.
Aguerre was honored for his contribution to the sport of surfing after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted at last year’s 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro to add surfing to the program for the Tokyo 2020 games.
Following the IOC approval of Olympic Surfing, the sport has enjoyed unprecedented growth, recently staging its most successful ISA World Surfing Games to date. About 245 athletes from a record-breaking 47 nations took part in eight days of elite competition in Biarritz, France.
Alongside Aguerre, legendary Pipeline Master winner Gerry Lopez was honored for his career achievements, while Jericho Poppler was also awarded for her commitment to the development of women’s Surfing around the world. Both are also recipients of the Silver Surfer trophy.
“What an honor it is for me to be here today, representing all surfers of the world, and among such esteemed friends. We’ve come a long way since the ISA was founded in 1964, during the inaugural World Surfing Championship in Australia, and now Duke Kahanamoku’s dream has been realized,” Aguerre.
“The Surf and Beach Festival to be held at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, will allow the ISA to share our values, lifestyle and culture with billions around the world. What a great way to spread surfing’s Aloha in an unprecedented way,” said Jim Kempton, president of the California Surf Museum.
The International Surfing Association, founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing authority for surfing. Membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 103 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla.
