Text in collaboration with Fernando Cataldo @latinwave.cl
- Over 600 athletes, staff, visitors and local community of Santa Catalina were part of the Opening Ceremony
- The Pan American Surfing Games return for the second consecutive year to Panama.
- 2023 PASG will define the Pan American champions and will award 42 slots to Santiago 2023.
In an emotional Ceremony and with the presence of more than 600 people, including athletes and technical staff from the participating countries, visitors and locals, the XVI Pan American Surfing Games (PASG), organized by the Pan American Surfing Association, officially opened today in Santa Catalina, Panama.
19 countries were part in the “Ceremony of the Sands”, an activity where the athletes climb up to a stage carrying their flag and sand from a beach of their country, and deposit their sand in a container, symbolizing fraternity, union and love for the sport.
“Today the Soná district, through Santa Catalina, opens its doors to the world. To this beautiful sport that is growing more every day. Young people, nowadays you represent them, they want to be like you, to be surfers. We are very happy to welcome you, as the highest authority of the district of Sona, in this beautiful town of beautiful people, hard-working people, very friendly people…”, said the mayor of Soná, Alcidez Hidalgo.
While the president of PASA, Karin Sierra Alta, said,
“Thank you Panama, thank you Santa Catalina for this incredible welcome. Coexistence, empathy and tolerance are vital in all surfing disciplines. You are leaders, let’s transmit the Olympic values, such as: friendship, respect and excellence, something so important today. Let’s make every day at sea a moment of connection with nature, charging energy and transmitting smiles,…”.
With these words the 16th edition of the Pan American Surfing Games were inaugurated, an event that will begin with the competitions on Saturday 22 until April 30.
More than 270 athletes from eight disciplines: Short Board Surfing, Long Board Surfing, Stand Up Paddle Surf and Stand Up Paddle Race, in the male and female genders, will fight for the honor of being the Pan American Championships and for being present at Pan American Games Santiago 2023.
Find all the information about the event, photos and videos, also relive the Opening Ceremony through www.pasasurf.org and in all our social networks.
Check the Series and Schedule – https://www.pasasurf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PAN-AMERICAN-SURFING-GAMES-Panama-Santa-Catalina-21-al-30-de-Abril- 2023.pdf.pdf
The Pan American Surf Association (PASA), with the invaluable support of the Government of the Republic of Panama through the Panamanian Sports Institute and the Panama Tourism Authority, and the collaboration of the Panamanian Surfing Association, invite you to be part of the XVI Pan American Surfing Games, Pan American Surfing Games Panama 2023.
What is at stake in this contest and who qualifies for Santiago 2023?
The champions of the PASA GAMES 2022 of Playa Venao – Panama, already have a guaranteed place to be part of Santiago 2023; They are joined by the best eligible athletes from the 2022 ALAS Tour and the best eligible athletes from world events of the International Surfing Association (ISA): Longboard World Cup 2023, SUP World Cup 2023 and World Surfing Games 2023.
In the PASG 2023, the 42 places that remain available in the different disciplines will be assigned.
Find the qualification system to Santiago 2023 – Here https://www.pasasurf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Surfing-Qualifying-System-esp-ver.pdf ).
About Santa Catalina
About 6 hours from Panama City, on the coast that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, is Santa Catalina, a small town belonging to the province of Veraguas. Place that has grown together with fishing and the development of surfing.
A place where high-level waves predominate and also to learn to surf, becoming a mandatory destination for wave lovers in the world.
The town has different wave spots (Santa Catalina beach, Punta Brava and Playa Estero), all accompanied by hotels, restaurants, hostels and surf schools. You can also visit Soná (capital of the province) and the beautiful Coiba National Park, a marine and humanity reserve (former Panamanian prison – called the Galapagos of Central America).
Learn more about Santa Catalina – Here https://es.tourismpanama.com/lugares-para-visitar/veraguas/santa-catalina/ ).
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