Tracksmag.com has been informed that the sport of surfing has again been overlooked for possible inclusion into the Olympic games. Debate over whether surfing is even a sport or not aside, do we care?

The International Surfing Association (ISA), the only surfing body recognised by the committee, reported via a press release from President, Fernando Aguerre, “Surfing is naturally disappointed not to have been included on this short list.”

The ISA’s disappointment is not surprising; Fernando (and his team) have been hard selling surfing to the IOC since way back in the early nineties. Being given the slip in 2011 made extra hard to swallow when some of the sports on the short list include Wushu [what the?], rollersports [really?] and wakeboarding.

To his credit Fernando showed no bitterness in his statement and even went the extra mile by declaring, “The ISA would like to congratulate the eight sports included on the short list for further consideration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2020 Olympic Program.”

Keeping the IOC wheels well greased, Fernando is philosophical about the omission and takes positives away from the fact it was at least in the ball park for consideration, while other major sports such as 20/20 cricket did not even get a look in. “We recognise and appreciate the serious consideration the IOC has given us thus far” he said, “we can see tangible progress in our Olympic aspirations.”

Maybe the 1986 OP riots are still a concern of the IOC's? Pic: Tracks Archives

Being a surfer himself, Fernando went on to put it into context this way, “We may have missed this big wave, but like any good surfer, we know there are more waves to come.”

Nice.

But is inclusion into the Olympic Summer Games what we want for surfing? Let’s face it, the fact that it’s a summer seasonal event is worry enough, not too many surf spots around the world pump in summer – winter may be a better option I’m thinking.

The core reason these sports got the nod over surfing is the playing field – we have none. No one heat has the same conditions as the next. Let alone one day’s swell compared to the next. This alone is the reason I don’t want a part of it (yet). Having an unknown shore break specialist win an Olympic gold medal thanks to a stink-bug-stance-air-reverse in one-foot slop is the stuff of nightmares.

I think today’s announcement is a good thing, sorry Fernando, until there are wave pools pumping out consistent six-foot perfection we have no reason to be there. We then have the best of both worlds. A form of surfing going out to the masses, wave pools popping up around the world, and the chance to slip down the coast and surf alone still an option.

Fingers crossed anyway.

– Col B