If there’s one country in the world that has truly embraced surfing as a transformative tool, it is undoubtedly El Salvador.
Through the public policies of the current president, Nayib Bukele, El Salvador has forged a strong surf identity with the Surf City initiative, attracting major events such as official WSL and ISA championships, as well as many other surfing events throughout the year.
We, who work directly with the local community, witness first-hand how the money brought in by surfers has transformed the lives of those involved in surfing, and how this flow of revenue indirectly impacts other local businesses, such as restaurants, shops, markets, hotels, and bars, often without us even realising it.
In the film Going Places, the surfer Pacha Light, born in Ecuador and residing in Australia, is introduced to El Salvador’s most iconic wave, Punta Roca, by local surfer Bryan Perez, the country’s first professional surfer.
This post is not intended to defend or support any politician, but simply to share facts based on our own experience.