Tandem surfing is growing, and the world's best performers will be acting at the ISA Tandem Surfing World Championship in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Tandem riding was born in Waikiki, but the surf partnership euphoria rapidly spread all over the world.
Now, it's time to show off between 1 and 2 September during the 27th edition of the National Kidney Foundation Rich Salick Pro/Am Surf Festival.
Hawaiian favorites like Chick Inman and Lauren Oiye, Pauly Chambers and Krystl Apeles, and Kalani Vierra and Tiffany Rabacal have confirmed their participation in the event and will be joined by over ten couples from California, USA's East Coast and Europe.
"We are totally happy about the hosting of the annual ISA Tandem Surfing World Championship," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.
"I enjoy watching Tandem Surfing; as a surfing discipline, it's a beautiful mix of dancing and surfing requiring strong gymnastic skills. We look forward to having an amazing event in Cocoa Beach."
Teams will be vying for the coveted World Champion title and for additional ranking points on the International Tandem Surfing Association's World Tandem Tour.
Merritt Island's own ‘Surfing Doc,' Dr Lance Maki, MD, is the event director. Known as the father of East Coast Tandem Surfing, Maki and his teammate, Jacqueline Remey, will be demonstrating that Tandem Surfing is not just for the young but the young at heart.
At a combined age of 126 years, the locals have represented Florida in contests from Hawaii to France in recent years.
"The spectators will once again see some of the best the Tandem Surfing world has to offer. Time and time again, the teams deliver a level of skill and talent that has few rivals. Grace, strength, and surfing skills will wow the crowd again this year", says Maki.
This year's competition is sure to be a special event, as it will celebrate the life of Rich Salick, a friend of Tandem Surfing and surfing as a whole.