2011 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games

Playa Venao, Panama: June 25 - July 3

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UPDATE TO TEAMS!

OFFICIAL INVITATION (en español)

 Host Organizer: Surf Box
Sanctioned by the International Surfing Association

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

EVENT SCHEDULE   (Subject to change)

*Schedule is subject to change.  Contact the ISA to schedule your registration appointment.

EVENT SECURITY UPDATE

The ISA has directed the Event Organizer in Panama, Surf Box, to deliver a professional Security Plan for ISA approval.  Surf Box will employ a firm with experience managing security at major events.  A review of key Security Plan details will be explained during the Team Managers Meeting.  The ISA assures all member NGBs that safety of athletes and officials is the ISA's number one concern.

TEAM SIZE

Final Registration: 24 June 2011 at 6:00pm

Team confirmation, payment, seeded competitor lists and all documentation must be finalized with the ISA by 24 June 2011 to participate in the 2011 ISA World Surfing Games. 

Team size is as follows:

• 4 Open Men
• 2 Open Women
• 2 Open Longboard
• Alternates, Team Officials and Team Supporters at the discretion of team management

REGISTRATION FEES

The current rate for registration is USD$175 per registrant.  This rate is only available for all registration payments and documents received by the ISA prior to the close of registration.  See the complete Registration Fee schedule below.

The benefits of registration include:

1. Access to Official ISA Pre and Post Event Communications
2. Invitations to Official Event Functions
3. Limited Insurance coverage while participating in the ISA event 
4. Official transportation as described below:
   • Lodging to/from Official Events and Meetings
   • Lodging to/from Contest Venue
5. Participation in the Parade of Nations and Official Opening Ceremony
6. Access to Team discounted rates for lodging, and food and airfare, if negotiated by the host organizer
7. Official Event T-Shirt
8. Official gift bag with Rulebook, Event Program, Sticker, Poster, etc.
9. Access to Team Tents at Contest Venue
10. Water and snacks at Contest Venue

The ISA's policy is to collect registration fees for all those officially associated with each team, as well as those who desire to obtain any of the registration benefits.  This includes all coaches, medical staff, translators, media, family members and friends who want VIP credentials.

REGISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE

• Teams will pay USD$175 per registrant if fees are received by end of day on 14 June 2011.
• Teams will pay USD$200 per registrant if fees are received between 15-23 June 2011.
• Teams will pay USD$225 per registrant if fees are received onsite at event on 24 June 2011. (US$ and credit cards only; no checks)

The ISA will only accept USD$, or be prepared to pay online in the ISA Store with credit card, during Team Registration and throughout the duration of the contest.  Please bring the correct amount.

Items to note: 

• Registration fees will be charged to each team member, managers, coaches, translators, medical staff, media, supporters and additional parties.

• All registrants must sign an Indemnity Form provided by the ISA.

• A surfer competing in more than one division is required to pay a Registration Fee for each division entered.

• Alternates must be identified and paid for prior to close of registration to be eligible for participation in the contest.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

• A nation will not be allowed to compete if it has any outstanding dues payable to the ISA.  Contact ISA Operations Coordinator, Anne Tuite at annetuite@isasurf.org to verify outstanding account balances.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Registration will take place during the day on the 22, 23 and 24 of June. Please review the ISA's registration requirements.

• Complete list of names of all participants.  For security purposes, the ISA must receive the names and contact information of all athletes, coaches, managers, trainers, family and friends.  Athletes must be listed in seeded order. 
• Travel & Accommodation Information, including arrival and departure dates & times and lodging. 
• Passports - All athletes' nationality and ages must be confirmed. Actual passport and clear copies of passports must be provided at time of registration.
• Athlete Bios to be used for media purposes.
• Therapeutic Use Exemption forms.  These forms may be submitted via email or fax to the ISA HQ in advance of contest.
• Indemnity form for each registered team member AND ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.    
• Code of Conduct - forms must be completed and signed.
• List of team email addresses
• Sand – 2.5 liters of dry sand from the beaches of your country for the Sands of the World Ceremony.  Label the sand container with country and beach name. 
• National Flag

GENERAL INFORMATION

Representation
The ISA will ONLY accept a valid passport from the country the athlete is representing as proof of nationality for participation in World Championship events.   The only exception is for National Identification cards issued by the National Government of the team country, that clearly shows "Nationality or Citizenship". Note: Such a card showing place of birth but not Nationality or Citizenship of the athlete, will not be accepted, as place of birth does not provide automatic citizenship in many countries.

The ISA will not accept any other form of government documentation supporting a passport or eligibility of passport to verify nationality.  This policy will be implemented immediately and has been updated in the ISA rulebook.

Once a competitor has surfed for a country in any ISA event, he/she generally may not surf for another country at future ISA sanctioned International Events. If an athlete is allowed to represent a second nation based on the conditions set forth in Paragraph b of By-Laws to rule outlined below, he/she may not change back to representing his/her original country.  Special exemptions may be considered, however, after presentation to the Executive Committee at least three (3) months prior to the start of any ISA sanctioned event. Requests for exemption will only be considered if received in writing through the affiliated NGB to the Executive Committee via the ISA office, with certified copies of all relevant documentation (passport, letters from/to National Sports Organizations or Home Affairs Offices, etc) accompanying the representation.  *Please see the ISA rulebook for By-Laws.

Drug Testing
Drug Testing will follow the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines and will be conducted on or around the final day of competition.  All finalists plus three (3) random tests will be conducted.  To check on the updated list of banned substances, go to the WADA website www.wada-ama.org.

Passports & Visas
Please check with your travel agent or your Foreign Affairs Department for requirements. The Host has also provided a list of countries that may require Visas.  Click HERE to view the list.

Travel Vaccines
Please contact your Foreign affairs department for further information.

Travel Insurance
The ISA strongly recommends that each team procures travel insurance for all of their participants.  In addition, a free medical insurance program has been introduced by the Panamanian government for foreigners and Panamanians living abroad who enter the Republic of Panama through the Tocumen International Airport.  This will cover participants traveling for the WSG 2011 while in Panama. For the full details regarding this medical insurance program, the ISA urges teams to review the document provided by the Event Host.  Click HERE to read Travel Insurance details .

EVENT SITE INFORMATION

The Republic of Panama is the southernmost country of Central America, bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by Colombia and to the west by Costa Rica.  Its early status as a transit country allowed Panama to become a meeting point of cultures from around the globe.

Playa Venao is a sand bottom beach break located 30 minutes past Pedasi.  Venao catches just about any swell, so the chances are very good that waves will be at Playa Venao even when there is little or no surf elsewhere.  The surf is best at medium to high tide, as it tends to close out at low tide.  But depending on the direction of the swell, the low tide could provide good barrels.

The official Panamanian language is Spanish, but you will also find a lot of people who speak English in Playa Venao as well as other areas of Panama.  The official paper currency accepted in Panama is the US dollar.  Panamanian coins are of the same value, size and metal as US coins, so both are frequently used interchangeably. 

The country of Panama provides a variety of outdoor entertainment and activities including fishing, surfing, snorkeling and diving.

WEATHER FORECAST

Panama is known to have tropical weather with 2 seasons during the year: Sunny and Rainy. The 2011 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games should see mostly sunny days with showers in the afternoon.  Teams should come prepared with quality raingear in case the event experiences any heavy rain.  The water temperature is around 27° Celsius/ 80° Fahrenheit.  No wetsuit is needed, but sunscreen is highly recommended.  The air temperature should be in the range of 30° - 35° degrees Celsius/86° - 95° degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and about 26° degrees Celsius/ 78° degrees Fahrenheit at night.

SURF FORECAST

The event has been scheduled to take place in June/July at a beach break with many different lefts and rights, ranging from 2-10 feet high depending on the swell conditions.  Playa Venao will provide the best choice of long rides from mid to high tide.  Low tide will create short rides with barrels, depending on the swells.

AIR TRAVEL

The host recommends COPA as it is one of the largest airlines that flies regularly into the Panama City Airport.  COPA has informed the Event Host that a 50% discount on surfboard luggage bags will be provided, and the discount code will be issued to teams as soon as possible.  Teams must follow the instructions when booking in order to receive the discounted rate.

LODGING

Playa Venao provides various accommodation options in the areas of Pedasí and Tonosí.  The full list with contact details can be found HERE.  The Host encourages teams to coordinate accommodations directly with the vendor.

Teams must arrange their lodging prior to May 1 in order to verify availability in Pedasí and Tonosí.  As of May 2, accommodations will no longer be reserved for teams and may be booked by the general public.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

To/From Airport:
The distance between the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City and Playa Venao is about 5 hours by car or bus.  Teams hoping to arrange bus shuttle transportation should anticipate the cost of about $500 USD for a 30-passenger bus in each direction from the airport.  Teams are encouraged to coordinate bus transportation with other teams in order to reduce the cost. 

In order to request the provided bus transportation, teams must EMAIL THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO informationwsg@gmail.com BY 31 MAY:
-  Team Country
-  Quantity of Persons
-  Arrival Date and Time
-  Arrival Airline
-  Arrival Flight Number
-  Departure Date and Time
-  Departure Airline
-  Departure Flight Number

Pedasí or Tonosí To/From Contest Site:
The distance between the towns of Pedasí or Tonosí to the Contest Site is about 30 minutes by car depending on the lodging chosen. 

Rental Cars
It is highly recommended that teams rent cars for ground transportation purposes during the Event.  The Host has arranged a discounted rental car provider, Dollar Rent A Car.  Click HERE for full details of the discounted rates.

MEALS

The area around Playa Venao (Pedasí and Tonosí) will provide teams with different dining options.  Most lodging accommodations provide breakfast and dinner, so teams are encouraged to discuss options and rates with the hotels.  The restaurants in the local area may provide very slow meal service, so the Event Host suggests that teams arrange breakfast and dinner well in advance.

There will be lunch vendors at the contest site, so teams will be able to choose from various food stands. 

Teams may also choose to purchase food in the larger cities of Panama City or Santiago prior to making their way to Playa Venao, and preparing food in the fully equipped kitchens within the lodging selected.  Both Pedasí and Tonosí also have grocery markets that teams may purchase food items from.

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE

The media exposure this contest can provide you, your NGB and your athletes is absolutely priceless.   Please submit a list of key media contacts in your region to the ISA so that they may receive ISA press releases. We also ask that you forward local media coverage before and after the event to the ISA so we may use it to promote surfing worldwide. Please contact Pablo Zanocchi at pablo@isasurf.org.

PAYMENT DETAILS

IMPORTANT - A nation will not be allowed to compete if it has any outstanding dues payable to the ISA.

For Credit Card payments, pay through the ISA Store on the ISA website - "ISA Event Registration Fee".

For Onsite payment, the ISA will only accept US Dollars.

For Wire transfers, please contact the ISA for details.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN PANAMA!

• ISA Calendar
• ISA Event Press Releases
• ISA Event Resources

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