<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><div><em>World’s Premier Junior Surfing Competition to be held May 27th - June 5th</em></div><div><em>El Salvador emerging as well-established destination for elite surfing</em></div></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The 18th edition of the event is set feature the best up-and-coming surfing talent, reaffirming the premier stature of the event as a leading pathway to world class and Olympic surfing. This was reaffirmed by the fact that, out of the 40 surfers competing in surfing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, 33 have participated in past ISA World Junior Championships and 16 were ISA World Junior medalists. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The selection of El Salvador also highlights the nation’s growing significance as a world-class surf destination, and how the ISA’s development plans and hosting strategies help to establish new surfing markets. El Salvador successfully staged the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games, the final qualifier event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the country will now go on to host the ISA World Surfing Games in 2023. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The partnership between the ISA and El Salvador is reaping more benefits as the nation has now also secured a spot on the World Surf League Championship Tour for the first time ever in 2022. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the ISA World Surfing Games and additional surf events, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and Tourism Minister Morena Valdez have made the sport an integral part of the country’s national and international socio-economic development plans and destination marketing. The results of these efforts and commitment to surfing are already creating a positive local impact. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We are stoked that our junior surfers will experience first-hand the amazing waves and warm hospitality of Surf City El Salvador. Following our great experience there last year with the <a href="https://www.boardriding.com/events/isa-world-surfing-games-el-salvador-2021" target="_blank">World Surfing Games</a>, our partnership with El Salvador is strong and delivering dividends. Hosting the ISA World Juniors reflects their commitment to support surfing at all levels. In doing so, they are helping to nurture the sport’s competitive pipeline from the grassroots up to the Olympics and professional level".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We are happy to continue partnering with El Salvador to support President Bukele’s objective to build a new future for the country and to change people’s lives through surfing".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is also our global vision. We want to engage young people around the world through surfing – helping them enjoy sport, lead active, healthy lives and be connected to their natural environment. And together with our partners, we are working for Better World Through Surfing”.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span>Press Release Source: isasurf.org / International Surfing Association</span></div>