Guam Sends Six Surfers to ISA Surf Qualifier in El Salvador

(Tamuning, Guam) Thursday, May 11, 2023 - Guam's surf community is proud to announce the selection of six of its top surfers to compete in the upcoming International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games Qualifier in El Salvador. The event, scheduled to take place from May 29 to June 6, 2023, will bring together surfers from all over the world to compete for a chance to represent their respective countries in the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games.

The ISA Surf Qualifier is an important event in the global surfing community as it serves as a pathway to the ISA World Surfing Games, which is the pinnacle event of international surfing. The top teams and surfers from the ISA World Surfing Games will earn a spot to represent their country to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

The six surfers representing Guam are: Cienna Riley Purcell, Noa Mendiola, Derrick Ikehara, Jared Gogue, Every Alexander, and Minami Cramer.  The team will be accompanied by coaches Martin Leon Guerrero, Fred Mendiola, and Cheyne Purcell, who will guide the surfers as they compete against some of the best surfers in the world.

Team Guam is grateful for the support of its premier sponsors, local companies GTA and Bank of Guam, who have generously provided airline miles and a monetary donation to help the team represent Guam at the ISA qualifier. This support from the community has enabled the team to cover its travel and accommodation expenses and focus solely on preparing for the competition.

"We are thrilled to have the support of GTA and Bank of Guam as we represent Guam on the international stage," said Coach Martin Leon Guerrero. "Their contribution has been instrumental in helping our team prepare for this important event, and we are grateful for their support of our local surf community."

GTA donated airline miles to cover the Guam team along with their coaches.

"At GTA, we're proud to support Guam's surfers as they represent our island on the world stage," said Roland Certeza, President and CEO of GTA. "We know how important it is for these athletes to have the resources they need to compete at the highest level, and we're honored to be a part of their journey to the ISA World Surfing Games."

Bank of Guam also announced its donation of $10,000 to assist surfers with accommodations while in El Salvador.

“We’re honored to support our island’s surfers as they prepare to compete at the ISA World Surfing Games. Beyond strength, skill, and dedication, they represent a deeply rooted connection to our ocean, the very same body that connects us our island to the rest of the world," says Joaquin P. L.G. Cook, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Guam. "Their commitment to don’t stop until their proud, inspires us all to keep going, to keep working and to keep dreaming until the day those dreams become reality.  Our Bank of Guam Familia is proud to stand behind them as they represent our community on the global stage and we look forward to cheering them on every step of the way.”

To follow Team Guam’s journey to El Salvador, follow Guahan Napu, Inc. on Instagram @guahannapuinc.