The Mondial de Surf was organized for the first time in 2008 by the International Surfing Association (ISA) - the International Surfing Federation - not to be confused with the World Surf League (WSL), the World League that manages the annual professional circuits of the world's best surfers. These world championships will be held three years before the Tokyo Olympic Games (2020), where surfing will make its debut on the programme of events (decision on 3 August).
Every year, the International Surfing Association (ISA), chaired by Argentinean Fernando Aguerre since 1994, organizes the World Surfing Games, which are the world championships of nations. The International Federation also organizes every year the World Junior Surfing, Stand Up Paddle and Handi Surf Championships.
1- For the 3rd time in France
It's the 3 e france has been organizing the World Surfing Championships since the first edition in 1964. Biarritz had already been host city in 1980 for the 8 e edition, and Lacanau (Gironde) had hosted the 14 e edition in 1992.
2- Competitors from all over the world
47 : This is the number of nations represented, with 245 surfers competing for the individual men's and women's titles, the relay title and the team title. France will be in full force, alongside Australia, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Peru, Portugal and Japan. There will also be some rarer or completely new countries such as Russia, Denmark, Tahiti, Canada, Switzerland, Israel, Morocco, China, South Korea and Afghanistan.
3- The world's best present
8 : This is the number of surfers from the World Tour (CT) who will be present, so 4 French: Jérémy Florès (16 e ), Joan Duru (32 e ), Johanne Defay (4 e ), Pauline Ado (17 e ), New Zealand's Ella Williams (19 e ), the Brazilians Ian Gouveia (27 e ) and Wiggoly Dantas (20 e ) and South Africa's Bianca Buitendag (18 e ).
While many headliners were announced by the organization, they are not so numerous. A QS event programmed by WSL is taking place at the same time in Japan, while stages of the CT (world elite) are taking place around the same dates.
4- Headliners in Biarritz
6 : This is the number of athletes (4 men and 2 women) who will make up the teams, selected to participate in the ISA World Surfing Games 2017. These are considered as the Olympic Surfing Games.
5- Four titles in play
4 : This is the number of titles that will be awarded: two individual titles: men and women and two team titles: world champion of nations and world relay champion. Four medals are also at stake: gold, silver, bronze and copper (4th place).
6- A unique site: the great beach
1 : This is the number of sites used for this competition. The unique site of the Grande Plage will be the epicenter of the surfing planet. The wave is a beach break with a few rocks, right and left. It is capricious according to the tides, but delivers technical tubes.
Officials and facilities are located on the terrace and rooms of the Casino de la Grande Plage. Competitors are set up in private areas on a 180 m long structure overlooking the promenade. VIPs and the general public will be able to watch the events from the Club Surfing France, while the Surfing Village will be located in front of the Casino.
