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ATHLETES FROM 33 COUNTRIES UNITE FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF 2006 LOST ENERGY DRINK ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES WITH THE COLORFUL “PARADE OF NATIONS” AND “SANDS OF THE WORLD” CEREMONIES

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Huntington Beach, Calif., October 14, 2006 –The 2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games officially kicked off today with the Opening Ceremonies where teams from 33 countries participated in the colorful "Parade of Nations" and the traditional "Sands of the World" ceremony. The teams assembled at the top of the Huntington Beach pier and paraded down as a vast crowd cheered the nations along the sidelines. Both ceremonies were visual and emotional beginnings to the nine-day contest similar to the Olympic opening ceremony.

During the “Parade of Nations,” teams marched in alphabetical order by country down the Huntington Beach Pier, proudly touting their nation's flag and wearing their national colors. The teams then passed over the contest site convening for the emblematic “Sands of the World” ceremony, where each country poured sand brought from their respective nations into a specially crafted acrylic box. The multi-colored layers of sand ceremoniously display the fraternal spirit, unity and the ISA's hopes for a peaceful world and continued spirit of community throughout the sport of surfing. It was not uncommon for each country to showcase their national pride with a chant, a dance or a national anthem. The Ireland team fashioned leprechaun hats, the New Zealand team shared a traditional Maori Haka while the spirited Mexico team shouted “Viva Mexico!”

Following the Sands of the World Ceremony, Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Sullivan, Surfing America Executive Director Mike Gerard and ISA President Fernando Aguerre, shared speeches to welcome and thank the athletes and sponsors.

Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Sullivan commented on the Games returning to Surf City U.S.A.

“It was my great pleasure 10 years ago when I was mayor to welcome the Games to our city,” said Mayor Sullivan. “It was the first year we had the ceremony for the first Sands of the World and the first presentation of the IOC Olympic trophy. We are so proud to have this wonderful event in our city again.”

Surfing America Executive Director, Mike Gerard reiterated this sentiment. “It is amazing to see all of the colors of the nations flags. We all share one common bond and that is the spiritual connection in the sport of surfing. We as a group, an industry and collectively as surfers from around the world can show how peaceful and loving this world can be if we all work together.”

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre who pioneered the ceremonies in 1996 addressed the crowd. “We’d like to thank Surf City USA Huntington Beach, Lost Energy Drink and all of our sponsors,” said Aguerre. “Long ago before there were borders and frontiers, there were tribes. This is the gathering of surfing tribes. It’s what I like to call the United Nations of Surfing. We will show the world over the next nine days that 33 countries with different cultures and religions can live in friendship and unity.”

Countries who participated in the opening ceremony and who will compete over the next eight days include Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Ecuador, Tahiti, Aruba, Sweden, Panama, Hawaii, Cote d’Ivoire, Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States.

Surfing competition begins tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 15th at 8:00 a.m. on the South side of the pier with the first round of qualifying heats for both Bodyboard Men and Bodyboard Women divisions, followed by the Open Longboard division. Catch all the action from anywhere in the world by logging on to www.Surfing America.org/isa or www.isasurf.org and experience live scoring and video streaming daily. Additionally, photos will be available for viewing and free downloading at www.isasurf.org. For more information on Surfing American and ISA, visit www.Surfing America.org and www.isasurf.org.

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