The 9th Annual Meeting of the World Surf Cities Network (WSCN) took place on December 2nd and 3rd, 2020, organized by the city of Salinas (Ecuador) and held digitally via the Zoom platform, due to global restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fourteen member cities participated, with a total of approximately 30 representatives, including mayors, municipal technicians, surf associations, companies, and entities linked to the sea.

Cities Present

The following cities were represented:

Arica, Donostia / San Sebastián, Ericeira, Gold Coast, Huanchaco, Lacanau, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Miraflores, Montañita, New Plymouth, Salinas, Santos, Viana do Castelo and Viña del Mar.

The cities of Durban and Newcastle did not participate in the assembly.

Meeting Objectives

The main objective of the assembly was the presentation and validation of the Network's new Strategic Plan, developed throughout 2019-2020, with the technical support of Iker Aguirre and the coordination of Fomento de San Sebastián.

The meeting also included an evaluation of the activities of 2019 and 2020, organized into four main areas of work:

• Economic Development

• Environment

• Sports and Social

• Marketing and Communication

Evaluation of the 2019–2020 Work Plan

Management and Coordination

• Conclusion of the new WSCN Strategic Plan, with contributions from the cities and consultant Iker Aguirre.

• Contacts with potential new member cities: Ferrol (Spain) and Da Nang (Vietnam).

• Review of membership fees and financial statements.

Marketing and Communication

• WSCN website update.

• Distribution of two newsletters with 29 news items from the cities.

• Creation of the network's image book.

• Promoting the WSCN brand at various international surfing events.

• Of particular note is the recognition of the Viana Surf Club as an "Institution of Merit" by the Viana do Castelo City Council.

Economic Development

• Sharing strategies for reopening beaches during the pandemic.

• Workshop on de-seasonalizing surf tourism offerings, led by Donostia Surf City Cluster.

• Creation of a business directory with over 450 contacts in the surf industry.

• Coastal revitalization projects in Arica (“El Gringo” and “El Buey”) and reconstruction of the Surf Museum in Santos (Brazil).

• Development of the Nautical Competitiveness Plan in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Sports and Social

• Surf 50+ Project, a partnership between Santos (Brazil) and Arica (Chile) for senior surfers.

• Inclusive beaches in Arica and accessible surfing in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

• Creation of the Adapted Surf School in Santos.

• Support from the Salinas City Council for youth surfing and training programs.

• Portuguese Surf Film Festival (Ericeira) – 9th edition in online format.

• Surf Adapted Summit in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

• Lifeguard Model Project (Chile, Peru, Ecuador).

Environment

• Huanchaco: first coastal recycling station (“Ciudad Saludable”).

• Surf Clube de Viana: organizer of the 1st European Adapted Surfing Championship certified by STOKE.

• Lacanau: coastal cleanup actions with the association The Sea Cleaners.

• Ericeira: promotion of the Ericeira WSR+10 program and application for Sustainable Tourism Destination status.

Submission of Applications for Upcoming Meetings

The candidate cities for future annual meetings were:

• 2021: Salinas (Ecuador) and Miraflores (Peru)

• 2022: Viña del Mar (Chile)

• 2023: Viana do Castelo and Ericeira (Portugal)

• 2024: Lacanau (France)

Presentation of the New Strategic Plan

The new WSCN Strategic Plan was presented, focusing on:

• Strengthen the role of cities as centers of sustainable development;

• Define performance and maturity indicators for cities;

• Strengthening the link between local governance, social inclusion, and the surf industry;

• Establish a methodology for the continuous evaluation of member cities.

The plan was widely debated and received unanimous support from the cities present, with significant contributions from Arica, Ericeira, Lacanau, Las Palmas, Miraflores, Montañita, New Plymouth, Viana do Castelo and Viña del Mar.

Conclusions

The 2020 Annual Meeting was considered a decisive milestone for the consolidation of the network.

Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the WSCN managed to maintain its activity and complete the new Strategic Plan 2021–2024, reinforcing its role as an international platform for collaboration between surf cities.

The meeting highlighted the value of surfing as an engine for social, economic, and environmental development, and the commitment of cities to work together towards a sustainable and inclusive growth model.

Meeting Data

• Location: Salt flats (Ecuador) – digital format

• Dates: December 2–3, 2020

• Presidency: Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain)

• Participants: 14 cities, 30 representatives

• Central theme: New WSCN Strategic Plan 2021–2024