2023 is a historic year for Panamanian surfing

This one It’s 2023 the most competitive year in the history of Latin American surfing, in Panama begins with a series of commitments that will mark a turning point in this Olympic sport, such as National Surf Circuit (CNS), consists of three demanding valid clinics, three high-performance clinics for national pre-selection and several games Pan American Surfing in the national territory (Santa Catalina, Veraguas).

At the international level, four ISA World Championships (Open, Junior, Stand Up Paddleboarding), Central American and Caribbean Games (El Salvador), 2023 Beach Games (Bali, Indonesia), 2023 Pan American Games (Santiago, Chile) and of course the aspiration to be able to compete in Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Roger Castillero, president of the association Panama Surfing Association (APS), pointed out that this year’s work plan is designed so that selected Panamanians can represent the country in all these obligations and that Panama to be a key station on the international calendar this year 2023, influencing tourism and the economy in our country.

The first valid one National Surf Circuit was arranged for March 4 and 5 at Venao beach, followed by the first high performance clinic for athletes and to assess potential shortlists.

Then it moves to Santa Catalina on April 15 and 16, followed by the second training clinic and the 2023 Pan-American Surfing Clinic, the third valid yet to be defined whether it will be in the month of May or June and where it will be held..

Each training clinic lasts eight to ten days and is supervised by a technical team APSwhich consists of renowned Peruvian technicians Javier Swayne, head coach and Ricardo Kaufman; Technical Director, logistics is managed by Ilka Vargas, Team Manager of the national team. Agustín Cedeño will participate again as assistant coach of the junior team.

Castillero explained that in April, Panama will also become the headquarters XVI PASA Pan American Surfing Games, which will take place from Thursday 20 to Sunday 30 April 2023 in Santa Catalina, Veraguas, where you will compete in Shortboard, Longboard and Stand Up Paddle modes: Surfing and technical racing (6 kilometers), in the feminine and masculine gender.

The President of APS emphasized the importance of these Games, because they will turn around Panama into a continental showcase for tourism and affects the economy of this area, in addition to offering a classification of The Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador and the Pan American Sports Games Santiago de Chile 2023on the way to Olympic Games Paris 2024.

In parallel with these activities, the technical evaluation of the young athletes who will be selected to participate in the ISA World Junior Championship in 2023, the venue of which has yet to be defined, will be carried out.

Among the athletes to watch are those from Santa Catalina Oli Camarena, maximum national exponent and runner-up Pan American Surfing 2022, Isauro Elizondo, who next to Kai Gale Grand Junior Continental Champion They are training in Hawaii, as is Tao Rodríguez, four strong candidates who, due to their international results and strict training program, are aiming for the national team, Castillero assured. Samanta Alonso is training in Peru, and for Stand Up Paddle, Stevie Boden and Edonay Caballero are again strong candidates for the podium in Panama.

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