The most prestigious Masters surfing event, the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, will be held from October 16 to 23, in La Libertad, El Salvador.

The best surfers over 35 year old from more than 15 countries will meet in the epic waves of Punta Roca to decide the winner of the World Team Gold medal, as well as the ISA World Champions in the Masters, Grand Masters, Kahunas, Grand Kahunas and Women Masters divisions.

The Ten Things You Need to Know About the 2011 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship are:

One
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is the biggest surfing event in the world for surfers older than 35 years, taking in consideration the surfing level, amount of competitors and participating countries. This is the pinnacle for every Master surfer around the planet.

Two
It is an “Olympic Style” event. Teams compete for medals and the honor of representing their nations. The excellence of competitive surfing reaches it highest level as each participant is not surfing for money, but for their flags.

Three
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is an annual event that started in 2007 in Rincón, Puerto Rico. The International Surfing Association decided to hold a special event for Masters due to the growing level and popularity of this division. The decision proved to be wise, as these days the desire of every Master surfer is to represent their country in this coveted event.

Four
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is being held for the second time in Central America. The 2010 edition of the event was held in Santa Catalina, Panamá. It will be the fourth World Championship to be held in mainland Central America since the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games that took place in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.

Five
El Salvador won the hosting bid over other candidate nations because of its great commitment to a better surfing future, a coast packed with consistent waves and also to promote surfing in the region.

Six
Over 120 surfers from more than 15 countries will be competing in the event. It will feature the following divisions with the following maximum competitors per country:

Masters (Over 35): 2 competitors per country
Grand Masters (Over 40): 2 competitors per country
Kahunas (Over 45): 2 competitors per country
Grand Kahunas (Over 50): 1 competitor per country
Women Masters (Over 35): 1 competitor per country

Seven
The fourth edition of the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship will officially open on October 16 with the Parade of Nations and the Sands of the World Ceremony at La Libertad. The participating countries will pour the sand from their favorite beaches into the same box, representing the peaceful union of the nations through the love of the sport of surfing.

Eight
Previous Medalists of the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship

Masters are:

2010 – Santa Catalina, Panama
Overall Team Standings
Final Team Medal Standings:
Gold: Australia – 10456 points
Silver: South Africa – 10196 points
Bronze: Brazil – 8770 points
Copper: Puerto Rico – 8684 points

Masters
Gold: Andrew Banks (RSA)
Silver: Brett Bannister (AUS)
Bronze: Dean Hall (AUS)
Copper: Juan Ashton (PUR)

Grand Masters
Gold: Juan Ashton (PUR)
Silver: Glen Pringle (AUS)
Bronze: Andre Malherbe (RSA)
Copper: Ricardo Villanueva (PUR)

Kahunas
Gold: Rod Baldwin (AUS)
Silver: Sergio Penna (BRA)
Bronze: David Malherbe (RSA)
Copper: Martín Jerí (PER)

Grand Kahunas
Gold: Chris Knutsen (RSA)
Silver: Javier Huarcaya (PER)
Bronze: Kenneth Myers (PAN)
Copper: Javier Gorbea (PUR)

Women Masters
Gold: Heather Clark (RSA)
Silver: Andrea Lopes (BRA)
Bronze: Patricia Rossi (TAH)
Copper: Sandra English (AUS)

2008 – Punta Rocas, Peru
Overall Team Standing
Gold: South Africa
Silver: Australia
Bronze: Brazil
Copper: Peru

Masters
Gold: Juan Ashton (PRI)
Silver: Ricardo Toledo (BRA)
Bronze: Rob Page (AUS)
Copper: Jay Sharpe (AUS)

Grand Masters
Gold: Rob Page (AUS)
Silver: Magoo de la Rosa (PER)
Bronze: Jojó de Olivença (BRA)
Copper: Andre Malherbe (ZAF)

Kahunas
Gold: Marc Wright (RSA)
Silver: Nick Pike (RSA)
Bronze: Jorge Posso (PER)
Copper: Rod Baldwin (AUS)

Grand Kahunas
Gold: Chris Knutsen (RSA)
Silver: Paco del Castillo (PER)
Bronze: Frank Hayter (AUS)
Copper: René González (PRC)

Women Masters
Gold: Heather Clark (RSA)
Silver: Rocío Larrañaga (PER)
Bronze: Sandra English (AUS)
Copper: Briggite Mayer (BRA)

2007 – Rincón, Puerto Rico
Overall Team Standing
Gold: South Africa
Silver: Puerto Rico
Bronze: Tahiti
Copper: Peru

Masters:
Gold: Juan Ashton (PRI)
Silver: Heifara Tahutini (TAH)
Bronze: Wagner Pupo (BRA)
Copper: John McCarthy (RSA)

Grand Masters
Gold: Magoo de la Rosa (PER)
Silver: Heinare Paez (TAH)
Bronze: Alberto Licha (PRI)
Copper: David Malherbe (RSA)

Kahunas
Gold: Chris Knutsen (RSA)
Silver: Javier Huarcaya (PER)
Bronze: Gilles Asenjo (FRA)
Copper: Rudi Palmboom (RSA)

Nine
Fast facts
-South Africa has won two out of three events. In 2010, Australia won the last event missing in its trophy cabinet by winning the Panama ISA World Masters Surfing Championship’s trophy.

-The only two surfers in the history of the event that have won three gold medals are Chris Knutsen from South Africa and Juan Ashton from Puerto Rico.

-Rob Page from Australia and Juan Ashton from Puerto Rico are the only two surfers in the history of the event to make two finals at the same WMSC. In Peru in 2008 Page won the Grand Masters division and the bronze in the Masters division. Ashton achieved the same result last year in Panama.

Ten
The best Master surfers from around the world have been lucky with the waves in this ISA signature event. In 2007, the waves of Marías reached a solid barreling eight-foot. At the 2008 contest, Punta Rocas had a non-stop swell that never dropped below six feet and had sets coming in at 10 feet. Santa Catalina in 2010 reached the 10-foot mark and had a final day with solid six-foot waves.

La Libertad’s Punta Roca is known for its perfect and consistent barreling rights, it’s easy to expect another year of perfect barreling waves.

The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is sponsored by El Salvador Impresionante, Alcaldía del Puerto de La Libertad, Surfos, Alcatel, TACA), El Gráfico, Olas Permanentes Magazine, TIGO, Decameron, Cushe, Maya Realty, Yamaha, Alamo, La Femenina, CONJUVE, Amate Travel, Línea Ejecutiva, Surfline, Hospital de la Mujer, Arreconsa, Torogoz, Pepsi, Adrenaline, Gray Line El Salvador, CASATUR and POLITUR