Sonesta Jaco Resort Sponsors 2009 ISA World Surfing Games

Jaco Beach, Costa Rica – 8/14/08 – The Sonesta Jaco Resort announced today that they will be sponsoring the 2009 ISA World Games in Jaco Beach. The World Games are the most prestigious surfing competition to be held in Jaco thusfar, and are considered to be the ‘Olympic Games’ of surfing. The Games will be held from July 31st through August 8th of 2009.

This major surfing event will draw participants and spectators from the 49 member nations of the ISA, bringing increased interest in Jaco to the international community through extensive television, internet, and print coverage of the Games. In addition, hotel occupancy rates before, during, and after the event are expected to reach a new peak.

Billabong USA will also be sponsoring the event for the first time, bringing further exposure to Jaco through their marketing campaign. Through Billabong’s support and sponsorship, the Games will now be held annually instead of semi-annually. Jaco is proud to have the honor of being the first host city for the now annual ISA World Games. That Jaco Beach was chosen to host this historic event is evidence of it’s rising popularity as a surf and vacation destination.

The ISA is the IOC recognized World governing body for surfing and all wave riding disciplines including bodyboard, kneeboard, shortboard, longboard, skimboard, tandem, stand-up paddle and tow-in surfing.

The ISA works for surfing’s development in member nations, and the establishment of the sport in new regions around the world.

“We are proud to be involved with the ISA and to help support the development of surfing both in Jaco, and Costa Rica in general,” says Joshua ten Brink, General Manager of Riverside Developers, “As sponsors of the event, the Sonesta Jaco Resort will receive broad recognition from surfing enthusiasts world-wide.”

It was in 1964, during the first World Championships near Sydney Australia, that the International Surfing Federation was formed. This association brought all of the surfing nations together under one governing body, and began organizing World Championships every other year. The ISF became the ISA in 1976 during the competitions in Hawaii. By 1997, the International Olympic Committee had granted the ISA complete recognition as the worldwide authority for surfing, welcoming the sport to the Olympic movement.