The Channel Islands Surfing Federation is set to enjoy significant benefits from the latest round of Olympic funding from the UK government’s elite sports agency, with surfing being included for the first time ahead of its Olympic debut in Tokyo next year.
British Surfing – of which the CISF is a central member – is one of 43 associations sharing a total pot worth £352million, as the British Olympic Association sets out a new path to silverware covering a 12-year period.
‘We are so excited to hear the news that surfing will get such a huge boost from UK Sport,’ said David Ferguson, CISF president. ‘During the pandemic surfing on the Island has proved to be a great source of wellbeing for many surfers, with so many more people taking up the sport. This investment comes at a great time when we all need some good news and we may well see our young local surfers on that Olympic performance pathway. It gives young talent something to aspire to.
‘The deployment of funding is to be discussed but we will certainly be looking to improve the coaching aspect. We will look at adaptive surfing more closely and work closely with other federations in respect to using wave pools.’
Ferguson added that the CISF will also be investigating possible new links with Jersey’s skateboarding community and Strive – the elite performance academy currently under construction on former Jersey RFC land in St Peter.
Skateboarding and sport climbing are also new additions to the funding list for 2021 as they prepare for a first-appearance at the rescheduled Tokyo Games.
