The World Surf League (WSL) has canceled the Basque Country Junior Pro, a key stop on its junior tour, after a local surf club withdrew support in protest against the participation of Israeli surfers.
Groseko Indarra Surf Taldea, a Spanish surf club responsible for providing essential services such as internet and power for the event scheduled June 6-8 at Zurriola Beach in San Sebastian, announced their decision to cease collaboration just days before the competition.
In an Instagram statement, Groseko Indarra cited their opposition to Israel’s participation, linking it to what they described as “the genocide suffered by the Palestinian people.” The club called for the WSL to adopt a policy similar to sanctions imposed on Russian athletes, who have faced bans due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Political decisions are constantly being made in the world of sports, such as the bans imposed on Russia from participating in tournaments due to the war in Ukraine,” the statement read. “We believe the same should be done with Israel; pressure should be applied in every possible area, including surfing, to end the Palestinian genocide.”
The club added, “We do not welcome Israelis participating in a tournament held on our beach, and therefore choose to withdraw from the event as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Historically, the International Surfing Association (ISA) banned Russian surfers from its competitions in March 2022. The WSL, however, has allowed Russian athletes to compete, initially under a neutral designation but later under the “Russian Federation” banner.
In a communication obtained by Surf30 and addressed to participating athletes, the WSL emphasized that excluding Israeli surfers would violate the organization’s rulebook and its zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination, harassment, and abuse. The statement also cited the withdrawal of support from the local municipality, which compromised the ability to ensure adequate safety for all competitors. Consequently, the WSL announced the cancellation of the event.
Requests for an official English copy of the WSL’s communication were not immediately fulfilled.
In response to the cancellation, local organizers restructured the event, branding it as the Waxdays Junior Pro. The competition proceeded without WSL sanction and was won by Basque surfers Kai Odriozola in the boys’ under-20 division and Sarah Leiceaga in the girls’ under-20 division.
