PRESIDENT DANIEL ORTEGA WELCOMES ISA PRESIDENT FERNANDO AGUERRE TO NICARAGUA

During a very special meeting, ISA President Fernando Aguerre presented Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega a Hawaiian Lei to symbolize the establishment of Nicaragua as a surfing nation.

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega, held a meeting with the President of the International Surfing Association, Fernando Aguerre. The meeting was also attended the first ever Nicaraguan Junior Surfing Team, right before the beginning of the 11th edition of the 2013 Dakine ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Playa Jiquiliste, Nicaragua

During this encounter, held at the President’s office “La Casa de los Pueblos,” located in Managua, President Ortega highlighted the participation of the National Team and international surfers like Dexter Ramirez and American’s Matthew Blevins and Sean Persons, and part of the under-16 team, among these, Jackson Obando, Oscar Espinoza from Playa Colorado in Tola, and Juan López of Playa Popoyo, in addition to the surfer, Kendra Baltodano.

ISA President amongst the first ever Nicaraguan Junior Surf Team

The President indicated that participants are boys and girls with ages between 15 and 18 years, who will represent Nicaragua’s youth with dignity.

“These are boys and girls who are filled with the magic from the sea, and who love the sea, and who practice this sport, a sport that here in our country, I would say it is becoming a little more well known with the visits from this brother, Fernando Aguerre,” expressed President Ortega.

The President of Nicaragua said that this is a sport for all ages, and that these boys and girls are going with all the encouragement and commitment to participate in this international event to be held at the beautiful and paradise of Jiquiliste Beach in the municipality of Tola, province of Rivas.

“It is becoming more well known, its becoming more popular, and I would say now with this event, we will have greater projections, there will be a greater understanding of what this sport, that has great strength, tenacity, and demands a lot of discipline of the boys and girls and older adults who practice it, ” continued Ortega.

Also, Daniel Ortega said there must be continuity to such major surfing events, as well as the links to the 300 participants from 30 countries who will be participating in the 2013 Dakine ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, due to the fact that this sport is opening an important path in Nicaragua.

“The truth is that this is a historic moment, in the 50 years that the ISA will reach as an organization, it’s the first time that a National Surfing Junior team from Nicaragua is able join this competition, and that is a historical fact and I congratulate these boys and girls,” said Ortega.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre congratulated President Ortega for the natural and lush beauty that is Nicaragua, which allows to have unique environmental conditions for surfing. He gave the President, two symbols of the sport, including a Hawaiian lei and a replica of an old photograph of the founder of modern surfing, Duke Kahanamoku.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre presents a replica of an old photograph of the founder of modern surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, to President Ortega

He stressed that the promotion of the sport allows positive spillover effects, such as increasing tourist arrivals to the country, a fact that is supported by the statistics of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR).

“The conditions that you have with the offshore winds that hit the waves head-on are unique. In most countries of the world, they might get one or two hours of the day or none at all, and here in Nicaragua due to the unique wind effect, it produces offshore conditions all the time, so it’s really unusual for surfers to have a place like this. There are very few places in the world with these conditions,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre to President Ortega, while praising the natural conditions Nicaraguan beaches have, particularly in the area of Rivas.

President Ortega holding Gina Eve, Fernando and Florenica’s daughter

Aguerre added that surfing is a vehicle for socio-economic integration, “because in the water there is no social, economic, or age discrimination. The water, is really a social equalizer, every one of us that is in the water enjoys the waves and the sea.”

ISA President explained that surfing can also be an engine for growth and knowledge of the places where there are good waves, as those places are also ideal conditions for resting and vacationing.

“Surfers don’t travel to surf alone, we bring our families, girlfriends, boyfriends, children, siblings, parents. We are a tribe that seeks places such as Nicaragua, as we have found in the past in places like Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Peru, with good waves. But in Nicaragua, it’s like we have found a mine filled with new minerals that never end, it simply requires that we take good care of it,” advised ISA President while talking about the beaches of Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega welcomed ISA President Fernando Aguerre and his family to the President’s office “La Casa de los Pueblos.”

Aguerre explained to President Ortega that in attendance in this tournament are over 270 surfers, but when you add the total members of each National Team (coaches, chaperones, etc..) they make up a total of 480 people from 30 countries.

Aguerre said that amongst the atheltes there are Russian surfers. He noted that for the first time in the history of the ISA, as it reaches its 50th anniversary in 2014, Nicaragua is participating with a junior team.

The National Junior Team Coach and President of the Association of Surfing in San Juan del Sur, Dexter Ramirez explained that during the year there were held three national tournaments in order to select the group of young people to represent the National Team in this ISA World Junior Championship. This was entirely possible with the support of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity presided by Daniel Ortega Saavedra and some private companies.

Ramirez said that boys and girls, ranging between 15 and 18 years, have been working very hard in preparation for the tournament with many exercises during the day and techniques to improve their surfing.

“What I can say is that here we have a good level of surfing, although it is a sport that is recently emerging in Nicaragua, these guys are young, have few years of surfing, but are very good, they fly in the waves, land on their boards, get into tubes and they do wonders, “added the coach.

On the other hand, Ramirez, thanked President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, President of INTUR (Minister of Turism) Mayra Salinas and others involved in the event allowing for the participation of the Nicaraguan Junior Surfing Team that provide them with boards, uniforms and food during the training period.

President Daniel Ortega (center) expressing his support for the sport of Surfing alongside ISA President Fernando Aguerre (right) and Minister of Tourism Mayra Salinas (left).

“Thanks to the National Government the kids now have access to good surfboards, good equipment so they can properly represent Nicaragua in this event and have the courage to fulfill the promise sworn to Nicaragua, with the help of God, to perform well in this event. We are not going to disappoint Nicaragua, if we do not get a medal, for sure we will give it our best effort, “said Ramirez.

Source- http://www.elpueblopresidente.com/

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