Lima 2027 Defines Its Qualification System and Evaluates the Inclusion of Bodyboard

The Lima 2027 Pan American Games are beginning to take shape with the definition of qualification systems across different disciplines. The event will bring together more than 7,000 athletes from across the continent and will serve as a key milestone on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The road to Lima 2027 includes a combination of continental events, regional competitions, and sporting criteria. This system aims to ensure that the best athletes from the continent secure their spots while maintaining balanced representation among countries.

Tatiana Weston at Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu. Photo: Heuler Andrey / Pan American Games Santiago 2023 via Photosport

For board sports, the qualification system is structured around three main pillars: direct qualification spots at key events, continental rankings, and a maximum number of participants per country by gender to promote equity.

In this context, the first key event will take place this year from April 24 to May 3, with the Pan American Surfing Championship in Panama, to be held at Playa Venao, which will award the first direct qualification spots for Lima 2027.

Photo: Pan American Surf Association

Athletes who earn medals at this event will secure their place at the Pan American Games, while others will have the opportunity to qualify through the continental ranking, which rewards consistency and performance throughout the season.

Bodyboard under evaluation

Within this process, the inclusion of bodyboard is still under evaluation. According to the Pan American Surf Association, the discipline has been requested by several National Olympic Committees, reflecting the growth and consolidation of the sport across the continent.

Bodyboard rider in competition. Photo: Ayelet Fuentes

If confirmed, bodyboard would join the board sports program at Lima 2027, expanding opportunities for athletes and strengthening the presence of the sport at major international events.

Official surfing venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Trestles State Beach. Photo: LA28

Meanwhile, as bodyboard awaits confirmation, surfers across the continent are preparing for a decisive season. Upcoming events will not only determine the qualifiers for Lima 2027, but will also mark the beginning of the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, in a cycle that promises high-level competition and emerging talents in board sports.