THE International Surfing Association (ISA) has just announced that it’s now accepting applications for the 2019 ISA Scholarship Program.

The ISA Scholarship Program was established in 2007 and has awarded more than $US308,500 ($F664,000) in scholarships to role model student-surfers around the world.

Fijian surfers have benefited greatly from the scholarship’s assistance.

In 2011 William Dansey, in 2014 Navi Rokete and Timoci Tomeru, in 2016 John Vasea and Kiesha Wakeham, in 2017 Kalani Wakeham and Ulaiasi Tukana and in 2018 Samu Bokadi and Linieta Ralumi.

This year, the ISA will award $US20,000 ($F43,000) in scholarships to U18’s who demonstrate a real financial need, are enrolled in school, are an outstanding role model to their surfing community and are recommended by their national surfing federation.

Applicants must be age 18 years or under as of December 31, 2019. The 2019 ISA Scholarship applicants may receive financial support for the following:

• Education (tuition, books, uniforms, transportation, etc.)

• Equipment (surfboard, wet suit, leash, etc.)

• Competition/training (coaching, travel, contest fees, etc.) If you know someone who should be nominated by the FSA please contact headcoach@surfingfiji.org for more details. The deadline for submitting 2019 ISA Scholarship applications is July 15, 2019.

This weekend May 11, the best surfers in Fiji will compete in the VONU Lighthouse Surf Challenge at Suva Lighthouse.

VONU are again supporting surfing with this annual competition in Suva.

The event brings together the best surfers from the West, the Coral Coast and the East to gain valuable rating points, selection points and bragging rights.

This event is one of the selection events for the Fiji National team that will head to Japan for the ISA World Open Surfing titles.

If you haven’t entered yet do so today or you may be too late and miss out. Contact headcoach@surfingfiji.org