The world’s best log riders are converging on Central America this week as the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship (WLC) gets underway at El Sunzal, October 16–22.
It marks the fourth straight year the long, peeling right-hand point in La Libertad has hosted the International Surfing Association’s longboard world titles, following the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions. The event is part of the ISA’s multi-year partnership with Surf City El Salvador, which runs through 2027 and also brought the World Junior Surfing Championship to the country last month.
Schedule
Team managers gather on Thursday, October 15, with the press conference and Opening Ceremony on Friday, October 16. Competition starts at sunrise on Saturday, October 17, and runs sunrise to sunset through Wednesday, October 21. Thursday, October 22 is reserved for Finals Day, followed by the Closing Ceremony and the traditional Aloha Beach Party.
Originally slated for November, the event was moved to October to align with the 2026 ISA calendar, which also includes the World Surfing Games in Peru.
Champions Return
The 2025 championship crowned Rachael Tilly (USA) and Edouard Delpero (FRA) as individual gold medalists. For Tilly, a two-time ISA silver medalist, it was her first individual ISA gold. For Delpero, it was a long-awaited breakthrough after years of near misses, joining his brother Antoine as an ISA World Champion.
France won an unprecedented fourth team gold medal last year, with the USA taking silver, the Philippines bronze and Brazil copper. Last year’s event drew a then-record 143 athletes from 44 nations, including first-time appearances from Norway, Poland, Tahiti and Thailand.
Teams to Watch
National federations have been announcing rosters for months. Australia’s Irukandjis bring a mix of national champions and World Longboard Tour experience, including WSL Longboard Tour competitor Kirra Molnar. New Zealand is sending its youngest-ever longboard squad, with all four athletes under 20 — led by 18-year-old Mount Maunganui surfer Jaxon Willows, the national Open Men’s and Under-18 champion. South Africa’s squad includes 2026 World Longboard Tour qualifier Christy Gilmour of Durban.
Team Hawaiʻi will be looking to add to its proud longboard legacy at a wave that rewards classic trim, footwork and nose rides — the kind of surfing Hawaiʻi has always done best.
Beyond the competition, organizers have lined up a free beachside festival of yoga, pilates, surf lessons, beach volleyball, a cross-step clinic and more, open to the public throughout the week.
Stay tuned to Freesurf for daily updates from El Sunzal. The event will be streamed live at isasurf.org.