What Is 2019 ISA World Surfing Games

Overview

The 2019 ISA World Surfing Games marked a pivotal moment in competitive surfing, held in Miyazaki, Japan, from May 7 to 12. Organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA), this event was the 35th edition of the championship and the first to be hosted in Japan, highlighting the sport’s global expansion ahead of its Olympic debut.

With 55 national teams competing across Open Men, Open Women, and Team divisions, the Games served as a crucial Olympic qualifier. The event attracted over 300 athletes from five continents, making it one of the most diverse in ISA history and showcasing the growing international footprint of competitive surfing.

• 55 national teams participated, setting a new record for geographic diversity in the event’s history.
• The competition was held at Shirahama Beach in Miyazaki, chosen for its consistent wave conditions and Olympic readiness.
• It served as a direct qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with the top four eligible nations earning spots.
• Brazil claimed the Gold Medal in the team standings, marking their first overall title since 2011.
• The U.S. won the Open Men’s division, led by standout performances from Griffin Colapinto and Kanoa Igarashi.

How It Works

The ISA World Surfing Games follows a team-based format where national federations field surfers in men’s and women’s divisions, with points aggregated to determine a world champion nation. The 2019 edition used a heat system combined with team scoring, emphasizing both individual excellence and national representation.

• Team Scoring: Each nation’s final score combines the best two results from Open Men and the best result from Open Women, rewarding balanced national programs.
• Heat Format: Surfers competed in rotating heats of four athletes, with the top two advancing to the next round based on two-wave totals.
• Wave Priority: A 30-minute time limit per heat ensured strategic wave selection, with priority rules preventing interference disputes.
• Judging Criteria: Each wave was scored from 0.1 to 10.0 by a five-judge panel, with the highest and lowest scores dropped to reduce bias.
• Olympic Qualification: The top four eligible nations not yet qualified earned one Tokyo 2020 berth per gender, making performance critical.
• Women’s Inclusion: For the first time, women’s results directly contributed to the team title, reflecting ISA’s gender equity push.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of top-performing nations at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games reveals key strengths in team depth and Olympic qualification success.

The table shows Brazil’s dominance in both individual and team performance, while host nation Japan secured a crucial Olympic berth. The U.S. and Peru demonstrated strong men’s programs, but France and Japan relied heavily on standout female surfers. This balance of gender performance became a key factor in final rankings.

Why It Matters

The 2019 ISA World Surfing Games was more than a championship—it was a bridge between grassroots surfing nations and Olympic legitimacy. By integrating team scoring with Olympic qualification, the event elevated national pride and competitive depth in a traditionally individual sport.

• Globalized the sport by including first-time participants from Africa and Eastern Europe, expanding beyond traditional powerhouses.
• Validated Japan as a surfing destination, proving the country could host elite wave-sport events ahead of the Tokyo Games.
• Introduced formal team dynamics to surfing, encouraging federations to invest in both men’s and women’s development pipelines.
• Provided Olympic exposure for athletes from smaller nations, such as Costa Rica and Lebanon, who otherwise lacked global platforms.
• Boosted media coverage in non-traditional markets, with live streams reaching over 2 million viewers worldwide.
• Set a precedent for future formats, influencing how the ISA structures qualification for Paris 2024 and beyond.

Ultimately, the 2019 Games redefined international surfing by merging Olympic ambition with national identity, setting the stage for the sport’s historic debut in Tokyo.