World Longboard Surfing Championship (WLSC) is being held in Biarritz, France this year, from May 26th to June 2nd. 103 surfers have participated in this Championship, and they are from 32 different countries. The grand Opening Ceremony for this World Surfing Championship was organized on Sunday morning at 10 AM. On this festive day, the participants marched from Place St. Eugenie to reach the major event site, located at Côte de Basques.
The official press conference for this ceremony has taken place on Saturday. Top dignitaries and athletes had assembled there. The panel of this conference included Michel Veunac (Mayor of Biarritz), Maider Arosteguy (Pyrenees Atlantiques Department Counselor) and Sandrine Derville (Nouvelle Aquitaine Region Vice President).
Michel Veunac said that Biarritz always welcomes this World Championship. He also added that Biarritz has become the Surfing capital in Europe since the introduction of surfing in 1957. He anticipates that when Surfing would be a game in Olympic 2024, Biarritz could be the host site for the contest.
Sandrine Derville also thanked all the participants for arriving at Biarritz. Especially, the French team has proved their talent all over the world. Due to this surfing competition, finding the best longboard has become easy for many other interested surfers as well. Derville has also realized that this organization of surfing competition will increase the development of international tourism sector. It will also result in more employment. Jean-Luc Arassus, the President of French Surfing Federation, commented that surfing is highly essential for social and economic development of Nouvelle Aquitaine. This ISA World Championship will promote the region in future and increase the revenue of tourism sector.
