Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia is set to hold a six-day National Olympic competition, organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA), the world’s regulatory body of surfing, and the Liberia National Olympic Committee surf association.
This year’s worldwide theme, Surf to Rise, will be the focus of a six-day international surf tournament to be held at Robertsports, Grand Cape Mount County.
The chairperson of the organizing committee, Madam Robena Vincent, stated during the press conference held on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Monrovia at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism that the tournament will take place in Robersports, Grand Cape Mount County, from Thursday, May 23, 2024, to Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
The African Surf Confederation, in her opinion, is the official surfing confederation for the advancement of surfing on the continent.
The International Surf Association, staff of the African Surf Confederation, and over sixty (60) elite surfers from twelve different countries, along with an estimated hundred foreign visitors from the surf industry, all agreed that the event is critical to the growth of surf in the nation.
Robertsports, she said, has long been praised as one of the top 10 point breaks in the world. This one act, she said, “confirms Liberia’s place in the world,” because without the world-class point breaks (waves), Liberia would not have been chosen.
Madame Vincent claimed that the inaugural country for the Africa Surf Tour, the continent’s first international tour is Liberia. This indicates that all eyes in the surfing community are now focused on Liberia and strengthens the country’s standing as one of the world’s premier surf destinations. The market for surf tourism is expected to expand from $9.5 billion in 2022 to 17.1 billion in 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 6%.
This means that Liberia is now formally recognized as a player in the surf business. To properly capitalize on this multi-billion dollar investment, major initiatives like this tour which are becoming more essential events of this kind are crucial for establishing a destination’s tourism brand.
Madam Robena Vincent stated that although this event is a significant boost to surf tourism, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is fully in favor of it and hope it will become a national priority. At the same time, she’s urged Liberians to support the cause by coming out in large numbers, giving money, volunteering, and making sure the event is exciting.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Liberia National Olympic Committee both recognize the LSA.
In an effort to improve government relations and support athletic competition and capacity building, the Surfing Association was formally established in 2018.
Reported by: Joseph Kerkula
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