Join Local Surfers’ Petition to Legalize Surfing in Cuba Makewild Films
go to original June 10, 2017

Legitimize Surfing in Cuba #surflibre (Makewild Films)

Today, surfing is not a legal sport in Cuba. A group of dedicated athletes on the island has dreamed of changing this for their entire lives.

With sweeping political changes on the island, and the introduction of surfing to the 2020 Olympics, these surfers hope their chance to prove surfing is a true sport has arrived.

In Cuba, unless activities are explicitly stated as legal, they fall under an enforceable category of “not legal”. Ever since it originated on the island, surfing has lived inside that zone of illegality.

For the past several years, a case to legitimize the sport has been building under the leadership of Yaya Gurrero, who is known on the island for spreading the sport to empower women on the island. The group aims to demonstrate that not only is surfing respected worldwide, but there is a rich history of the sport in their own country, and there is cultural and economic value in being granted permission to pursue the sport freely.

Many people in Cuba don’t know what surfing is, and many more don’t believe there are even waves in the country to support it. The main battle for the Cuban's is against this lack of knowledge - to prove to the people and the government that surfing is a viable sport. This petition's purpose is to showcase solidarity within the sporting community, and arm the surfers with undeniable proof of the global support for their mission.

As a legitimate sport on the island, Cubans will be able to compete internationally, import surf supplies and most importantly form an official organization capable of advocating for the needs of surfers and ocean health around the island.

Learn more and sign the petition at Change.org, or follow @surflibre on Instagram.

Related: Local Surfers Are Rallying to Legalize Surfing in Cuba (The Inertia)

Related: Macedo Wins World Surf League Junior Event in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico (The Maui News)

Related: Photojournalist Morgan Lieberman Cruises Through Cuba’s Past and Present (The Huffington Post)

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