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The International Surfing Association has officially recognized the African Surfing Confederation (ASC)

as the Recognized Continental Association for Africa, a milestone for the development of the sport on the continent.

ISA African Youth Development Program in Senegal / Photo: ISA / Diego Weisz

The African Surfing Confederation is the final continental surfing association to gain official recognition from the ISA with the other continents already represented by the Pan America Surfing Association (Americas), European Surfing Federation (Europe), Asian Surfing Federation (Asia), and Oceania Surfing Federation (Oceania).

The ASC held their Annual General Meeting in April 2023 in conjunction with the ISA African Youth Development Program in Senegal. The youth development program consisted of interactive coaching and training exercises to develop the performance and character of the 20 young male and female athletes from 10 African countries. In 2026 Senegal will host the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event in Africa, with surfing included in the program for the first time.

During this meeting Oumar Seye, vice president of the Senegalese Surfing Federation, was elected president of ASC. The African Surfing Confederation also hosted their first African Surfing Championship in Morroco in March 2023 in partnership with the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Surf and will continue to push competitions and programs in the African continent.

The ISA is eager to collaborate with the ASC and the 19 recognized African National Federations to develop the sport in the region. Since 2018, the ISA has organized 10 development programs in 8 different African nations in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity Program and various organizations. These programs have laid the foundation for the development of the sport and contributing towards the ISA mission of A Better World Through Surfing.”

ISA African Youth Development Program in Senegal / Photo: ISA / Diego Weisz

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said:

“I am thrilled to support our friends in Africa in the development of Surfing on the continent with the official recognition of the African Surfing Confederation as a continental association of the ISA.

Africa has incredible potential for Surfing with excellent waves and opportunity for development. Together we can create “A Better World Through Surfing” through educating, empowering, and coming together.

Surfing in Africa is growing at a stunning rate and it gives me great joy to see. The amazing success of surfing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with the female silver medallist coming from Africa is a testimony to the potential for the development of the sport on the continent. This is also an extension of the ISA’s commitment to expand the reach of the sport and continue to spread surfing’s core positive values.”

African Surfing Confederation President, Oumar Seye said:

“The African Surfing Confederation is dedicated to promoting surfing interests across the African continent. We want to support the growth of the sport in collaboration with the ISA and represent the ISA in the African continent focused on coaching, judging, competition and development as well as the environment and advancement of women's surfing. African surfers face many challenges and we want to do our part support them and create more opportunities for success. The aim is to unite all African surfers around a common ideal: Africa Force.”

La ISA reconoce a la Confederación Africana de Surf y apoya el desarrollo del deporte en el continente

La Asociación Internacional de Surf ha reconocido oficialmente a la Confederación Africana de Surf (CAS) como Asociación Continental Reconocida para África, un hito para el desarrollo de este deporte en el continente.

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*  The International Surfing Association