Junior team collects sand at city pier to use for the ‘Sands of the World’ championships opening ceremony tradition

Oceanside CA— USA Surfing recently named Oceanside an official training ground for USA Surfing and thanked city leaders and the community for their longstanding support for all surfing disciplines from shortboard, longboard, Stand Up Paddle and Para Surfing, the organization and Visit Oceanside announced Monday, May 23.
The designation comes on the heels of USA Surfing’s junior team trainings in Oceanside as the team of teen surf phenoms prepare to defend USA’s team Gold Medal at the International Surfing Association World Junior Surfing Championship in El Salvador.
Oceanside was the host City for the 2015 ISA World Jr Surf Championships — the site of USA’s first-ever team Gold Medal. USA Surfing Head Coach Ryan Simmons coached the 2015 team to victory and is looking for a repeat in 2022. Simmons saved the U.S. flag from that victory and brings it to every practice as a reminder of the legacy and inspiration to go for Gold in El Salvador.
Simmons and the team gathered sand from Oceanside Pier on Monday to use in the ISA Sands of the World ceremony, which combines sand from the beaches of 45 competing nations creating beautiful patterns in a glass container. The ceremony marks the official start of the May 27-June 6 global competition.
Oceanside is also the host city for USA Surfing Championship competition for adult shortboard, longboard, SUP and Para Surfing June 14-18. Surf athletes from across the mainland and Hawaii will compete for national titles and qualification to compete internationally. Surf athletes across these disciplines look forward to the Oceanside Championship’s fun waves, friendships and some of the best competitors in the world.
“Oceanside has a vibe, multiple great surf breaks, and an authentic community that surfers have loved for decades,” said USA Surfing CEO Brandon Lowery. “We are proud to partner with the City of Oceanside and Visit Oceanside to help more surfers and action sports athletes take advantage of Oceanside’s exceptional facilities, world-class hotels, restaurants and retailers.”
“We are thrilled with this announcement to recognize our long-standing partnership with USA Surfing,” said Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside. “Oceanside is the birthplace of some of the greatest surfers and home to many renowned surf brands, surf shops, board shapers and manufacturers so this has been a natural synergy. Our surf culture aligns with our action sports tourism. Oceanside Sports Commission is proud to support these athletes during their home training and while they travel representing the USA.”
The USA Surfing, Visit Oceanside and Oceanside Sports Commission partnership will include event and competition planning, educational seminars, and high-performance training summits that includes discounted athlete lodging, wellness and performance resources, culture, music, entertainment and dining, multi-sport recreation venues and more.

— News release

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