Surf

The start of surfing in the Dominican Republic came about as a result of the influx of people from the United States in 1965, when marines rode the first waves on the beaches of Playa Manresa and Güibia, in Santo Domingo. Shortly afterwards some Dominican citizens started to take up the sport, and started to discover other beaches: Patho in Nizao, Boya, in Boca Chica, and Encuentro, in Puerto Plata.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s the first competitions and surfing activities for surfing in the country took place. As a result, the sport has come to appeal to middle class and upper class young people in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and has become very fashionable. 

At the same time the first international events took place in the country including World Surfing Games (global competitions), Caribbean competitions and other types of competition. At the end of the 1980’s and the beginning of the 1990’s the first organizations bringing surfers together were created, with ADOSURF being particularly noted, bringing together surfing athletes in all its forms: surfing (short board), Long board, Body board and Knee board in their respective categories: Ladies, Under 18, “Junior”, Open and Master.

Throughout all these changes, the results of at least two local surfers are noteworthy. In the 1980’s the Dominican citizen Alan Nadal qualified among the 10 best surfers in the world at that time. 

In the 1990’s, Orlando Bonilla (KKLE) achieved first place in a Pan-American meeting and various merits in other international competitions. Other homebred talents have shone in various international tournaments.

During this period inter-provincial competitions were organized as well as several international trips. Towards 1998 the organization slowed down and the development of the sport went into decline. In 2000 the surfing movement gained new momentum with the formation of the Surfing Association of Santo Domingo ASSD, which started a program to establish five other associations, which culminated in the establishment of a Federation of Surfing (FEDOSURF), in June of 2002.

Consolidation on tables

The solid base that surfing has managed to achieve among the giant waves is proven by the heights reached through FEDOSURF. This organization, governed by the Dominican Olympic Committee, which establish the Nation Surfing Ranking in all its forms and obtained the support of the International Surfing Association ISA in recognizing the 13 associations and/or federations by the Olympic Committees of the countries participating in the Pan-American Games in Santo Domingo in 2003.

The International Surfing Association, the Pan-American Surfing Association and the Latin American Surfing Association, which recognize the federation as an official governing entity of the sport in all its forms in the Dominican Republic. 

In October 2002, as a result of the developments achieved, the first Latin American Surfing Competition took place in the Dominican Republic on the beach of Encuentro de Cabarete in Puerto Plata, where the Latin American Tournament was held (in its third year). Nine countries from Latin American took part. The tournament has taken place three years in a row and Dominican athletes have featured in the ranking within Latin America.

Currently the country has two teams of players endorsed by ALAS and PASA.

Also happening at the moment is the implementation of a procurement program for new places to surf in areas that have not yet been incorporated into our organizations, such as Samaná, Higuey, Montecristi and Pedernales.

Some of the coastline where surfing is mostly practiced is located in Monte Cristi, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Sabaneta, Río San Juan, Cabrera, Nagua, Samana (Terrenas), Miches, Uvero Alto, Macao, Babaro and Punta Cana (on the outskirts of the reef) Juan Dolio, Andrés Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, Nigua, San Cristóbal, Nizao, Barahona and Pedernales.

The waves in the south tend to be come consistent in the summer season, due to cyclone activity. The most visited beaches in this area are Patho, Manresa, Güibia, Boya and Bahoruco. The waves in the north are more consistent from autumn to spring, due to cold fronts coming from the North Atlantic. The most popular beaches on this coast are Encuentro, Mañanero, Playa Grande and Preciosa.



Néstor Puente, FEDOSURF president.