After closing the PASA Games 2025 in Guatemala, Pan American Surf Association (PASA) President Karin Sierralta completed a wide-reaching tour across Europe and Asia. His trip included attending major continental surfing events and meeting with the leadership of the European Surfing Federation (ESF) and the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF), with the goal of building stronger bonds of friendship, cultural exchange, and athletic cooperation.
The first stop was Santa Cruz, Portugal, from July 18–25, 2025, where EuroSurf 2025, the European Continental Championship, took place. There, Sierralta met with ESF President Jean-Luc Arassus.
From Portugal, he traveled to Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, for the Asian Surfing Championship, held August 3–12, 2025. The event, which also served as a qualifier for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, gave him the opportunity to connect with ASF President Atsuchi Sakai.
At both championships, Sierralta stressed the importance of creating stronger connections between regions—not just to support the growth of athletes and federations, but also to spark joint projects that bring continental surfing bodies closer together.
“It’s been a demanding journey—three continental championships in under 45 days—but also a rewarding one. Each region has its challenges, but the vision we share is remarkably similar. I see this as the beginning of a long-term collaboration, alongside the ISA, to build a better future through surfing,” Sierralta said.
With this spirit of international cooperation, PASA reaffirmed its commitment to working hand-in-hand with continental federations and the International Surfing Association (ISA) to strengthen surfing globally and expand opportunities for athletes, coaches, and coastal communities.
The tour also tied directly into the ALAS Global Tour Finals, coming up this November in El Salvador. As part of the initiative, the top eight finalists from both the Asian and European continental championships (four women and four men) earned a special invitation to compete at the City El Salvador ALAS Global Finals—extending the reach of Sierralta’s tour and further advancing his mission to elevate continental surfing.
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