The Samoa Surfing Association (SSA) has defended the selection of Billy Peters as a longboard competitor for Samoa in the South Pacific Games.

Newsline followed up the story after insiders suggested “unfair selection” of the long boarder.

The complaint reflected a recommendation by the Prime Minister Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele proMalielegaoi when he urged sporting committees to select competitors based on merit and qualification and no other reasons.

The issue on fair selection process came after an insider complained about that there was no official longboard competition to determine the national longboard representative for Samoa.

Vice President of SSA Mr. Richard Betham, confirmed to Newsline at the time, that there was no official selection for the South Pacific Games longboard team.

According to Betham this is due to the fact that there is a lack of long boarders in Samoa and not for other reasons.

Betham said they have selected the best surfers for the team competing in August.

"The long boarders were judge against the short boarders, they have been judge on ability."

According to him, long boards are not suited to the waves in Samoa and that is the reason there are very few long board competitors.

"There doesn't need to be a separate long board competition," he said in defence of their process.

SSA last week responded to the Newsline article which appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

They stated: “The Samoan Surfing Association (SSA) followed a set selection process, as outlined in SSA Constitution, when selecting the Samoan surfing team.”

According to them, the Constitution of the SSA outlines the Association’s team selection policy. According to the constitution, “it is the responsibility of the Selection Committee to determine the size of a team for any contest to which Samoa has been invited or is hosting and to determine who shall be included in any team.”

They further state: “The Association’s policies also guide the Selection Committee and provide a fair procedural framework for the selection process and any appeals regarding the decisions.”

The question of whether Peters who is not Samoan by birth was also addressed by SSA.

They stated: “The article also questioned the eligibility of one of the Association’s team members. The Constitution states that “to qualify to represent Samoa in international contests, a surfer must be a Samoan citizen and be prepared to represent and be a good ambassador for Samoan surfing.”

According to the release: “The SSA followed these guidelines in selecting the Samoan surfing team.”

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