2023 ISA World Para Surfing Championship
November 5 -11, 2023
The 2023 ISA World Para Surfing Championship (WPSC) gathers the world's best Para Surfing athletes in Huntington Beach, California. A record 184 athletes will be representing 27 national teams, and they'll be gathering to compete for the coveted Team Gold medals in various assist and non-assist surf divisions. The current back-to-back Team World Champions, Team USA, will once again seek to defend their title on home ground.
Huntington Beach has played a historic role for the sport of surfing, having hosted many major surfing events. The 2023 ISA World Para Surfing Championship will be the eighth major ISA event held in Surf City USA® after the city hosted four editions of the ISA World Surfing Games in 1984, 1996, 2006, and 2022, as well as the ISA World Juniors in 2005, 2018, and 2019.
Location
Back to Top of ListThe event will take place from November 5-11, 2023 on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.
Schedule of Events
Back to Top of ListEvent schedule is tentative and subject to change at any time at the ISA's discretion. See the most up-to-date schedule HERE.
November 3:
8 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Classification
November 4:
8 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Classification
7 - 9 p.m.: Managers' Meeting
9 a.m.: Volunteer Training (Location: Huntington Beach, South Side)
November 5:
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Para Surfing Clinic hosted by AmpSurf
1:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremony/ Parade (Location: Pier Plaza, at the end of Main St)
November 6:
7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
November 7:
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
November 8:
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
5:30 p.m.: Para Surfing Forum @ Athlete Area
November 9:
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
November 10:
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
November 11:
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Final Competition at South side of Huntington Beach pier
Following the Finals (estimated to be around 3:30 or 4 p.m.): Closing Ceremony @ Pier Plaza
Para Surfing Classification
Back to Top of ListThe ISA has officially classified 302 para surfers, with over 60 more being classified at the 2022 World Para Surfing Championship.
The goal of classification in Para Surfing is to accurately allocate the athlete into their best surf class to ensure a high level of competition and a more leveled playing field, minimizing the impact of impairment on the sport performance.
Athletes are grouped into one of nine classifications depending on their particular physical conditions. Each classification will crown men's and women's World Champions.
- Stand 1
- Stand 2
- Stand 3
- Kneel
- Sit
- Prone 1
- Prone 2
- Vision Impairment 1
- Vision Impairment 2
Full details for each classification can be found HERE.
How to Watch
Back to Top of ListSee all the action live from the sands of Huntington City Beach or check it out online at ISASurf.org
Volunteer
Back to Top of ListIf you're interested in volunteering in the 2023 ISA World Para Surfing Championship, click here.
Where to Stay
Back to Top of ListThe Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel
- 21100 Pacific Coast Highway
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
- 21500 Pacific Coast Highway
Paséa Hotel & Spa
- 21080 Pacific Coast Highway
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
- 500 Pacific Coast Highway
About ISA
Back to Top of ListThe International Surfing Organization (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. The ISA governs and defines Surfing as Shortboard, Longboard & Bodyboarding, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Para-Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment. The ISA crowned its first Men’s and Women’s World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007; World StandUp Paddle (SUP, both surfing and racing) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012, and World Para Surfing Champions in 2015.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Federations of 109 countries on five continents. The ISA is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (ARG). The Executive Committee includes four Vice-Presidents Karín Sierralta (PER), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Casper Steinfath (DEN) and Barbara Kendall (NZL), Athletes’ Commission Chair Justine Dupont (FRA), Regular Members Atsushi Sakai (JPN) and Jean Luc Arassus (FRA) and ISA Executive Director Robert Fasulo as Ex-officio Member.
Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California (USA).