By Antonio Sotillo*

Sometimes I meet people who ask me why PASA exists, the explanation is easy: FIFA has UEFA (for Europe), and under the same line, the ISA has its equivalent for America.

In the past, it did not have the same importance as it does today, thanks to the fact that surfing is in Tokyo 2020. But we were definitely lucky that it was created in 1992, in France, during the ISA World Championships. I had the honour of witnessing its birth and being co-responsible for the organisation of the 2003 Pan American Games, the first one, on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

Another detail that many may have missed is that PASA was the first serious and organized movement of unity among Latinos, which resulted in the formation of a continental organization governed by Spanish speakers.

Also, no one would have thought that its first president would be who he is today: Fernando Aguerre, a kind of guru and monarch in the ISA and for whom PASA was surely his high school or “prepa”, with a view to something that was in his mind many years before anyone even dreamed of it, like being president of the ISA and leading our sport to become an Olympic sport.

I had the honor of being part of PASA for two terms after Fernando left in 2003.

During this period, PASA established the beginning of inclusion as a sovereign rule of democratic development. For example, during the 2006 Pan American Games, courses for judges, school trainers and technical direction of events were given free of charge, perhaps the first time in the history of world surfing.

Two Pan American Games were held, one in Ecuador and one in Peru. In the latter, Maile Aguerre was elected president and PASA entered the darkest phase of its history, as its board of directors had a poor performance in their respective countries and it was obvious what was coming for the organization without any leadership.

After the total disaster of the Pan American Games in Guadalupe Island, PASA is practically headless and without venues for events, leaving no other sensible option than to hold virtual elections.

In this election, the board was formed by a board that had already demonstrated efficiency and good results in their countries: Karin Sierralta from Peru, Xavier Aguirre from Ecuador and Paula Muñoz from Chile.

Three Pan American Games have already taken place, this year is the fourth in a row, with the added ingredient that this event will be a qualifier for Lima 2019.

PASA is experiencing its best moment in history, but what will happen after this year? Will it have the same participation and attendance? Will there be more venues other than Peru? Will the same board of directors be re-elected this year?

There are many questions. What is certain is that there are now highly qualified managers in various federations on the continent who can apply.

With the Olympic era, PASA will hardly lose its relevance, as it will be the entity to consult and advise on for many beach events and original Olympic events where surfing is a part.

We will see what happens with PASA from next year onwards.

Antonio Sotillo is an authoritative voice on Latin American surfing. He was a driving force behind its growth as a founding member of the Latin American Association of Professional Surfers (ALAS) and president of the Pan-American Surfing Association (APAS) from 2004 to 2006. He was also president of the Venezuelan surfing federation for several periods, including the golden years of surfing in that country.