The World Surf League announced it will open a regional headquarters in Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing.
The 1,900-square-foot office will be located in the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa and will be the first in 40 years of the state’s association with the pro tours, the WSL said.
The WSL, formerly known as the Association of Surfing Professionals, is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif.
The opening is scheduled in advance of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (Nov. 12 – Dec. 20) and Maui Women’s Pro (Nov. 23 – Dec. 5), the conclusion of the 2016 WSL Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour.
In a statement, Jodi Wilmott, general manager of WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui, said “Through local job creation, economic stimulus, youth career training, and global media distribution, we are a staple of our community year-round. Our WSL Hawaii headquarters will be the heartbeat behind those efforts. Hawaiian surfers and professional surfing have been delivering visibility and economic value to Hawaii for 40 years, so we are thrilled to finally have a location for our members and community.”
Other offices are located in Huntington Beach, Calif.; Coolangatta, Australia; and France.
The WSL said its Hawaii office will also be home to WSL Hawaii’s new youth-centered 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Hawaii Youth Surfing Development Organization, as a junior development program.
A Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii’s Education Station, a 20-foot mobile center, will be located on the main lawn for five weeks starting during the Vans event.
