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Five Takeaways from the 2022 IBC World Tour

The International Bodyboarding Corporation waited patiently for two years to get their tour up and running. For obvious reasons, 2020 and 2021 are without bodyboarding world champs in the record books, with the exception of Sammy Morretino, who earned his fourth world title last year in the drop knee division. Finally, the 2022 bodyboarding world tour has come and gone, the first year it has been accomplished under the management of the IBC. Here are five observations gleaned from a fan’s point of view.

1. Class was in session with Professor Moz at the Arica Cultura Bodyboard.

Amaury Lavernhe was so in tune with the wave at El Flopos this year that he created bodyboarding history. His knowledge and experience at this break were demonstrated by his impeccable wave selection and flawless tube riding which earned him 4 perfect tens during the final day of competition, three of them within the first two minutes of his heats and two of them for a perfect heat total during the Final of the Arica Cultura Bodyboard in Chile. Tanner McDaniel and Alan Muñoz are the only other bodyboarders in history to score a perfect heat. Tanner did so during the Final at the Arica Cultura Bodyboard of 2018 and Alan gave us perfection at the 2017 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival in Round 1 Heat 11, however their back-up scores don’t hold a match to Amaury’s. McDaniel scored a 1.0, a 2.25 and a 4.0 before lighting a stick of dynamite and blowing up the entire scene with a pair of tens. Alambre had a 1.0 and then an 8.0 before he shocked the world with his two times ten (the first time in bodyboarding history.) Mike Stewart posted on Instagram that he believes Moz may have set the record for the highest heat score total in wave riding competition. Aside from the two perfect tens rewarded for his time spent gliding behind waterfalls, Amaury scored a 7.25 for a barrel to a roll on a smaller wave, a 9.0 for maneuvering through two barrel sections and finishing with a roll, an 8.6 for a forward spin that set him up perfectly for a tube which he exited with a roll and an 8.85 for launching an invert off the first section, sliding through the barrel in the second section and rolling off the third section near the rocks. Tallying up those scores gave him a total of 53.7. Lavernhe has been competing at this level for 16 years now and it shows.

2. Longevity is no big deal for elite bodyboarders.

Wisdom comes with age and experience, and that comes in handy for ripping it up on a bodyboard. According to various professional bodyboarders on various podcasts; all one has to do is exercise regularly, eat healthy, hydrate and sleep well. We can even enjoy sweets or fatty foods in moderation, but the real trick is finding out what works for each individual and how to fit it in his or her life. Everyone points to Mike Stewart for setting the example. He reached 59 years of living back in May and still chases sizable swell at waves like Teahupo’o, Shipsterns, obviously Pipeline and this year he added a new slab to his hit list, La Cosa, but he’s not the only one who has figured out the key to longevity in the sport of bodyboarding. Guilherme Tamega recently turned fifty and still charges Pipe. Jay and Vicki Reale continue to enjoy the lifestyle at ages 59 and 49 respectively. Now let’s get to the veterans on tour.

On the world tour this year the best 4 results, out of 8 events for the men’s division, were counted to determine the victor. Jeff Hubbard threw his hat in the ring by entering the bare minimum of four events; the Arica Cultura Bodyboard Presented by Pride Bodyboards where he finished equal 5th, an equal 9th place finish at the Erizos Iquique Pro, and 1st place finishes at the Walker Bay Pro and the Gran Canaria Frontón King. He would win the last event of the year just after his 47th birthday earning 10 points in the Final for a high flying ARS launched off a mega ramp that El Frontón generously offered as a birthday present. These results landed him in 5th place overall for 2022. Hubb winning an event at 47 years prompts one to wonder if he’s the oldest bodyboarder to ever win an event on the world tour, but that honor belongs to Mike Stewart who won the 2017 Urban Research Tahara Pro at age 54 also with a 10-point ride in the Final. Stewart was 46 years old for a previous win at the 2009 Arica Chilean Challenge.

46-year-old Neymara Carvalho was a world title contender this year and she won the first ever women’s only bodyboarding event in Brazil, the Arcelormittal Wahine Bodyboard Pro which she helped organize and make possible. She came in second at the Erizos Iquique Pro and equal third at the Visit Maldives Pro and Walker Bay Pro resulting in a 2nd place finish overall.

Dave Hubbard completed 40 rotations around the sun before becoming drop knee world champion for the ninth time and now holds the record as the oldest bodyboarder to ever win a world title.

3. Dubb Zero and Onda Bela are cementing their GOAT statuses.

Dave Hubbard lost only one heat during the entire drop knee tour this year (which consisted of 4 events, the most since 2013) and that heat was the Final of the final drop knee event in 2022 proving he’s a level above the rest in this division. Amaury Lavernhe finished runner-up for the year prompting one to wonder what happened to Sammy Morretino. The Meerkat is the only one who seems to be able to take down the drop knee half of the Hubboards brothers and has done so in the past for four years in a row. Sammy participated in two of the four events this year, the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival in Chile and the Garden Island Boogie Board Classic on Kauai, the island that both he and Dave Hubbard call home. Morretino placed third and second in these competitions respectively but at the young age of 25, and with four drop knee titles under his belt already, he’s well positioned to follow in Dubb’s footsteps. Interestingly, Hubbard took out both the men’s and drop knee divisions during the inaugural Visit Maldives Pro, a feat accomplished only once before, by the Meerkat, at Antofagasta in 2019. Moz placed second to Dubb in both divisions in the Maldives this year with his smooth style on prone drawing comparisons to Mike Stewart from eBodyboarding entrepreneur/ U.S. East Coast legend Jay Reale, who was invited to be one of the commentators for the event. During one of his post heat interviews, Lavernhe expressed admiration for Dubb and Morretino’s adroitness on drop knee stating, “when I watch guys like Dubb and Sammy, I realize I still have work to do.” Dave Hubbard is now tied with Mike Stewart for the most world titles in bodyboarding.

Isabela Sousa had a less dominant route to her fifth world title; her main competition being the exact person whom she’s attempting to usurp, the aforementioned 5x world champ Neymara Carvalho. Brazilians have been dominating the feminine side of bodyboarding since the inception of women’s championships in 1990, winning every year it was held except for 2005, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (those world titles respectively belong to Kira Llewellyn of Australia, Marina Taylor of the Canary Islands, Eunate Aguirre of the Basque Country, Alexandra Rinder for the Canary Islands two years in a row, Portugal’s Joana Schenker, Ayaka Suzuki and Sari Ohara of Japan.)

It all went down in Onrus, South Africa. It all came down to the semifinals at the penultimate event of the year, the inaugural Walker Bay Pro. To win a women’s world title in bodyboarding this year, the best 4 out of 6 events would count. A victory at the last event of the year, the Sintra Pro in Portugal, would award the winner 1,000 points, not enough to overtake the three ladies in contention; Alexandra Rinder, Neymara Carvalho and Isabela Sousa.

Semifinal heat number one pitted the youngest ever to win a world title against the 4-soon-to-be 5 x world champ. Alexandra Rinder would need to win the semifinal and the event to secure a third world title. She was afflicted with challenging conditions, lacking in opportunities for high scores. Strategy would be the deciding factor here. Isabela would take advantage of the rip current in the channel while Alexandra would get pushed back to shore by an onslaught of whitewater probably feeling as if Onrus Beach was denying her. Queen High stated afterwards how she likes to compete with Alex and how the whole tour is like a big family. “I know that Alexandra really wanted to win the world title and actually win this contest so I knew I had a difficult heat but I had a good plan with the current and everything…I know that if Neymara doesn’t make the Final, I’ll be world champion so it’s difficult to control the emotion through this but I really need to focus on the Final. And if I win the world title, it’ll be great!”

Semifinal heat number two had Neymara Carvalho, the pride of Brazil, versus Pamela Bowren who wants to make South Africa proud. Neymara is in control almost the entire heat on the strength of a through the lip roll at a critical section of the wave. Onrus decides to put her foot down and she sends her old buddy Pam a wave, which was capitalized on with a perfectly timed roll to a smooth landing. This wave would be the last step to giving Brazil another 5x world champ. Isabela Sousa is now tied with Neymara Carvalho for GOAT status in the women’s division.

4. King Roberts and The Prince Who Was Promised .

Tristan Roberts placed equal 3rd or better in every event on tour this year proving to himself and all others that he is indubitably deserving of the world championship. At 25 years old he has achieved back-to-back world titles in 2019 and 2022 (for the first time in 18 years) by way of charging headlong into heavy sections, whether it’s a lofty backflip over the round reef at Frontón (with a muscular injury in his lower back) or a giant roll off of deep water energy detonating onto the shores of Itacoatiara. If there was any sliver of a doubt regarding his right to the crown, Tristan eradicated it by continuing his momentum at the Frontón King of Kings, an event where 8 competitors consisting of 6 previous kings plus 2 of the most competitive locals (Dailos Rodríguez and Jonathan Vega who have come close to being crowned several times) are invited to go head-to-head. Eventually all were made to bend the knee to King Roberts.

Tristan’s main competition this year was someone who many have been expecting to rise to power, ever since he became the youngest bodyboarder to ever qualify for the main event at Pipeline, back in 2012 when he was only 12 years old. Tanner McDaniel’s skill in waves of consequence, within the barrel or above the lip, would make him an automatic favorite at El Frontón. He did win the Pipeline Boog Jam earlier this year in February and the Arica Cultura Bodyboard in 2018, which is the only other year he’s been in contention for a world title so far. And when a large south swell arrives and reflects off the jetty at Newport Beach in Southern California, clips of Tanner launching off catapults and pulling into unforgiving dungeons at the Wedge appear on all our Instagram feeds. Chad Barba would be proud. Tanner has competed at El Frontón four times with his best result so far being a 5th place finish in 2019.

This year, El Frontón had other plans for Tanner. McDaniel’s best 4 results included 1st place at the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival and an equal 3rd at every other event he entered with the exception of the Erizos Iquique Pro where he had to forfeit his quarter final heat due to illness. The Walker Bay Pro, held on Roberts’ home turf, was the only event he didn’t attend. Tristan’s best 4 at this point, upon the commencement of the Frontón King, included winning in Iquique, runner-up finishes at Arica and Itacoatiara and an equal 3rd everywhere else. Tanner would have to beat Jannie in the Final in order to beat Jannie to the world title but there was a strange feeling in the air before the fifth heat of Round 8. It was as if there was a tear in the space-time continuum altering our reality for a totally new one. First, the heat was delayed due to the re-fueling of the rescue ski. Then, Jay Reale started speaking Spanish surprisingly well in a post heat interview, “En una ola, nueve puntos, si?” Tanner would seem to struggle with wave selection. He would land off the side of the wave when attempting backflips on the left or pull into a barrel that didn’t offer the clean exit judges like to see on the right, starting him off with a 4.0 and a 4.5. Lewy Finnegan would go around a non-barreling section on the right to backflip into a 6.25. Aitor Ojeda would eventually sniff out a clean barrel to a roll on a smaller wave under priority for a 5.0. All three of them would struggle for a while during this heat, searching for the wave that would allow Aitor to land the air forward he attempted or the freight train tube ride that Finn Dizzles was looking for. Later on, Lewy would collect a 7.0 for another well performed backflip and Ojeda would roll off a critical section on the left earning a 5.75 taking second place and the advancing spot away from Tanner. Tanner would go down fighting, attempting an ARS on a gurgling monster of a section on the left followed up by a barrel that would swallow him whole on the right. Earlier in the day, after exiling all opponents to Combo Land, Grandmaster Moz stated in a post heat interview, “Obviously in the water, people with experience that really know the waves, today I mean, it’s really good from outside but this wave is a bit more north. It’s kind of a different strategy than the previous day so I’ve got a couple of points I’m watching from inside the water to see where to sit and which waves are the best so yeah, experience obviously is a big advantage on this kind of wave.” The prophecy will be fulfilled eventually.

5. The IBC world tour is a giver.

The IBC world tour gives some of the most talented bodyboarders on the planet a platform on which to showcase their abilities. It also gives them something to strive for, goals to set, and motivation to improve upon their already honed bodyboarding skills pushing further into the progression of the sport. Young kids who discover how much fun boogie boarding at their local beach is during their summer break might Google their newfound adventure and watch some highlights of a past event where they’re introduced to the names of their new favorite bodyboarders, then further down the rabbit hole they go.

Joaquin Soto could’ve been one of those kids some years back. Now the 20-year-old is taking out his heroes when they come to his hometown. At the Erizos Iquique Pro, on Day 5 in Round 8 heat 3, Soto was able to test his abilities against the world champ and he passed with flying colors. At the start of this 3-man heat, he scores an excellent 9.25 by an impressive backflip off a heavy first section and repeating the maneuver off the last section. Tristan responds by getting nice and barreled, comes out immediately after it spits and flips off the end section for an 8.5. Under priority, Tristan knows he should get to work on a good back-up score rightly thinking Soto’s going to wait for another set, which could lead to another good score. He tries a backflip on a smaller wave, gets hung up for a split second trying to turn it around and La Punta 2 makes him pay. He then slides into another tube, La Punta 2 isn’t in the mood and shuts him down again. Joaquin decides he’s rested enough. He races towards the end section for another backflip and earns a 5.75. The world champ splits the peak with the third man, Gonzalo Gil, who can’t seem to part with his beloved lefts even though they’ve proven to be inconsequential throughout the heat. La Punta Dos finally gives Tristan more than the dos puntos he’s had for a back-up score so far, because he showed her some respect and played it safe, rolling each of the three sections for a 5.85. It’s still not enough to take first place though and he opts for a backflip under priority increasing his back-up score to a 6.5. Soon after, Joaquin gets deep in a tube and comes out for a roll increasing his own back-up score. Soto had maintained his lead throughout the heat and took the victory. Roberts took second place and was able to advance to the man-on-man heats in Round 9 where he would face off against Gabriel Braga. Joaquin would have to take his momentum straight to the one and only Jeff Hubbard.

Hubb is one of the most influential bodyboarders in the history of the sport. Similar to how Mike Stewart is credited as the one who emphasized style and flow in bodyboarding, Jeff Hubbard is the one who upped the air game. This doesn’t faze Joaquin. Jeffrey scored 2 waves in the 6 to 7 range within the first 5 minutes of the heat, one of them was a 6.75 for getting barreled in the first section followed by a spin and a roll at the end section. Joaquin lost a fin off his foot, probably from the wave he scored a 4.25 on and borrows a fin from a friend. Still not fazed. He catches the best wave of their 25 minutes, backflips the most critical section and couples it with a roll gaining the highest score of the heat, a 7.0. The rest of the heat goes much like the last one did. Soto increases his back-up score with a wave that makes it obvious they know each other. The lines drawn perfectly time his maneuvers off each section for a 6.1. Hubbard is unable to overtake him. At the end of the heat, Joaquin does make a rookie mistake. Jeff hands priority over to Joaquin when he catches a wave that didn’t offer the opportunity he needed during the dying minutes of the heat. Almost immediately, Soto goes on a wave, giving up that priority and the chance to block his opponent should another wave eventuate. With 8 seconds left, Hubbard catches his second chance and uncharacteristically fails to land an ARS. Soto barely made it out alive to face King Roberts once again in the quarterfinals, where he wouldn’t be so lucky. “Joaquin, I’ve known him since he was a little kid. I met him here in Chile many years ago and watching him grow up and evolve as a rider, it’s pretty intimidating to get him in a heat and as well he’s got all the local knowledge.” says Tristan Roberts in the post heat interview. The youngest of the royal lineage at El Frontón, Canarian Lionel Medina, would have an amazing run in this competition to meet Tristan in the Final.

The IBC highlights local talent at every venue giving them the opportunity to test their ability against the world’s best while concurrently developing their skills.

At the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival, Manuel Cepeda experienced what could be considered the underdog story of the year. The 32-year-old local bodyboard coach made it all the way to the Final, taking down the 2008 world champ Uri Valadao in the second heat of Round 7, world title contender Alan Muñoz in the quarterfinal, and Tristan Roberts in the semifinal. Much like Joaquin Soto at La Punta Dos, Manuel Cepeda demonstrated his intimacy with La Cúpula by his wave selection. His bodyboarding would match the wave’s behavior almost like partners in a dance routine. In Round 7, he bobs and weaves to arrive at the lip just in time to soar an ARS, earning the highest score of that heat, a 7.5. In the semifinal, on the first wave of the heat, he stalls and accelerates at the perfect moments to get himself some durable tube time earning a 7.0, again the highest score of the heat. He meets up with Tanner McDaniel in the Final, who had also found a connection with La Cúpula and could not be stopped by Cepeda.

The Visit Maldives Pro stood out as one of the best events of the year. The excitement and good vibes of the local community there would come through the broadcast. Even the country’s president was in attendance. This is the second sitting president in world history who wasn’t afraid to be associated with boogie boarders. The first was Barack Obama. Ali Khushruwan Ahmed and Muhamed Wiaam would get to test their mettle against the heir apparent to the throne, Tanner McDaniel, in Round 3 heat 5. The 19-year-old Wiaam would start the heat off with a backflip to the right and a 5.0. Tanner catches a smaller wave and air-roll-spins to a 4.0. Ali finds the biggest wave so far, but it closes out and he resorts to rolling through the lip for a 5.0. Now, Tanner catches one of the set waves and launches an impressive backflip. This is when Ali and Wiaam might understandably start to panic but Ali keeps his faith and would use his local knowledge for the win. The next set wave comes his way and he glides within the barrel, aims high to come out clean and then rolls smoothly with the wave’s lip line on the next two sections. Not long after, Varunula Raalhugandu sends Ali another barrel, which he accepts, follows it with a roll and reverse spins off a small section at the end putting their symbiotic relationship on full display. McDaniel attempts to come between them with an ARS but Varunula doesn’t seem interested as she shuts down the second section in front of him. “The thing is I know this wave pretty much so I just wait and wait, I don’t care about the others, I just wait for my wave to get so I got the best two waves. I got really nice two good waves. I was really lucky.” says A.K.A. He would go on to defeat Yann Salaun in the next round only to meet back up with a vengeful Tanner in the quarterfinals, where his successful run ends.

World tours are expensive. It costs a heavy chunk of change to travel and compete on every event on tour. The IBC, like the APB before them, try to alleviate that cost somewhat while still keeping the tour intact. They do this by awarding the world championship of each division based on a fraction of the results. The world title for the men’s division this year was based on the best 4 results out of 8 events and the women’s division was the best 4 out of 6.

The situation for drop knee world title contention was not so straight forward and the IBC was kind enough to clarify via email. “For 2022, the DK title criteria was best result plus the Sintra Pro result – total of 2 events to count. Before Sintra Pro started, the standings were as follows:

Dave Hubbard – (best result Maldives Pro or Antofagasta 1st) – 2000 pts.

Amaury Lavernhe – (best result Maldives Pro 2nd) – 1720 pts.

Fabien Thazar – (best result Maldives Pro 3rd) – 1460 pts.

Sintra Pro provided the following points: 1st place – 2000pts, 2nd place – 1720pts., 3rd place – 1460pts.

Because of the points available and the points the three riders had, it meant that any one of them could win the world title at Sintra, all depending on how each rider did in the event. With Dave getting 2nd at Sintra (total of 3720pts) and Amaury winning Sintra (total of 3720pts.), to break the tie the next best result was counted. As Dave’s next best result was an additional 2000pts win, this meant he was crowned world champion, hence ending the year on 4000pts. Moving into the 2023 season, the IBC will be making the ranking scores etc a lot more transparent for fans to follow and understand.”

One might think Dubb didn’t have to compete in all four drop knee events to win the world title, but ultimately it did give him an advantage. Let’s pretend David decided to skip out on the Visit Maldives Pro, a decision he’d certainly regret. Amaury would’ve most likely taken the win there, without Dubb to stop him, making his best result worth the same number of points as Dave’s win at Antofagasta. In this situation, when Amaury took the win at Sintra, he would’ve also taken the world championship. This might lead us to believe that those competitors who enter every event on tour are the most likely to win, but Jared Houston’s win in 2018 proves us wrong, sort of.

In 2018, the APB world tour was divided into QEST (Qualifying Event Series Tour) events and WGS (World Grand Slam) events. The Grand Slam events were the ones that would count towards the world championship, the best 3 results out of a total of only 4 events. (It was supposed to be the best 3 out of 5. The Frontón King was the fifth Grand Slam event, but due to disagreements between the APB and the event organizers, it wasn’t a part of the world tour in 2018.) Iain Campbell’s smooth style and polished technique had given him a shot at going back-to-back with his 2017 world title. He entered every event on the WGS (plus many of the QEST events) which included the Arica Cultura Bodyboard, the Itacoatiara Pro, the Kiama Bodyboard King Pro and the Nazaré Pro. Heading into the Nazaré Pro, Campbell was at the head of the pack, his best results were 1st place at Itacoatiara and equal 3rd place finishes at Arica and Kiama. Tanner McDaniel was a contender with a win in Arica, an equal 5th in Itacoatiara and an equal 9th at Kiama. He’d have to win the Nazaré Pro to win the world title. Jared Houston’s best results were two equal thirds in Arica and Itacoatiara. He did not compete in the Kiama Pro which meant his third result would hinge on Nazaré. Tanner faced Jerry in the Final, close enough to taste victory and the world title, until Houston launched an air reverse into orbit for 10 points. Jared had this to say about his second world title, “I competed in 3 events in 2018. I think there were 5 in total but only 3 counted. I had two thirds, and a win. That put me in a tie with Iain Campbell that was then broken in that super heat and I won the title. The super heat concept was born from all the frustration surrounding the Ben Player / Amaury drama in 2013 when they were tied for first and the tie was broken on a count back to the previous year’s results. It was decided in 2014 that in the event of a tie, the tie would be broken in a surf off scenario. I only did the three events that year because I was working. When I signed with Hubboards they offered to pay for me to go to the events that I wanted to do so I went to Chile and Brazil. I went well on those events so it was just a natural decision to go to Nazaré.” While 3 out of 4 doesn’t really prove the point that competitors who enter every event don’t actually have the advantage, it does suggest it’s possible. Imagine if it was best 3 results out of 6 events. The level of riding is really high throughout the competitive field in professional bodyboarding. A world title contender would still have to get through stiff competition such as Uri Valadao, Socrates Santana or Gabriel Braga, Brahim Idouch or Maxime Castillo, Jonathan Vega or too many locals to list at El Frontón, not to mention the locals in Chile, Brazil and Portugal, assuming they aren’t in world title contention themselves. The point is the best three results for Tanner and Iain could have stayed the same if there were more events and Houston could still have come out of nowhere and snatched the world title. If Hubb had a better result at the beginning of this year, when he breached at El Frontón, he could’ve swallowed up the title. It’s less likely someone will win the world title entering the minimum number of events, but it’s possible. It goes to show there’s a strategy to plan for the year and a numbers game to play when competing on a world tour.

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IBC unveils the 2022 World Tour

Get to know the calendar for this season. .

The International Bodyboarding Corporation (IBC) has unveiled it’s events schedule for 2022. With 15 contests lined up across 10 countries, the 2022 tour promises to offer athletes all over the world the best possible chances of ensuring they can gather as many points in their respective divisions in the pursuit of a World Champion title.

2022 will see 6 IBC World Champion bodyboarders crowned and a total of $537 000 (USD) in prize money awarded. This will be across the following divisions:

●  Men (8 events) ●  Woman (6 events) ●  Junior Men (10 events) ●  Junior Woman (10 events) ●  Dropknee (3 events) ●  Masters Woman (1 event)

The criteria to crown World Champions for both Men and Women’s division is as follows: Top 4 results to produce a final points total.

Junior men world champion : Best single result along with their points earned at the Gran Canaria Fronton King event.

Junior women world champion : Best single result along with their points earned at either Sintra Pro or France Pro (this is  still to be confirmed). 

Dropknee world champion : Best single result along with their points earned at Sintra Pro.

Masters Woman world champion : This will be determined by a single event, Wahine Bodyboard Pro in Brazil.

As there has not been any official tour points gathered across the Men and Women’s divisions since the end of the 2019 World Tour season, going into the 2022 tour, riders will retain their original rankings in both divisions. Both Junior Men and Dropknee athletes will use rankings from the events that took place in 2021, namely Sintra Pro and Gran Canaria Fronton King. All 2022 rankings will be available on the ibcworldtour.com website and will provide a running scoreboard throughout the year. 

The 2022 IBC World Bodyboarding Tour officially gets under way at the Lurin Pro, Peru, on March 11th. This event is focused on the future of bodyboarding and features both junior men and junior women divisions. The first event to host the highly competitive men’s division takes place on April 29th at the Arica Cultura Bodyboard contest in Chile whilst the Women’s world title race gets started at the Iquique Pro event a few weeks later. Dropknee riders will be able to earn their first points at the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival.

The tour events take place in Peru, Chile, Brazil, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Portugal, France and Spain (Canary Islands). The 2022 IBC events schedule also features two special events, the TAND Invitational in South Africa and the Annaelle Challenge in France.

2022 Word Tour

11 – 13 March –  Lurin Pro (Peru)

JUNIOR MEN – $10 000 – 2000pts

JUNIOR WOMEN – $3 000 – 1000pts

18 – 20 March –  Marcona Pro (Peru)

JUNIOR WOMEN – $3 000 – 1000pts 

29 April – 7 May –  Arica Cultura Bodyboard  (Chile)

MEN – $30 000 – 3000pts

JUNIOR MEN – $10 000 – 2000pts 

*8 – 14 May –  Iquique Pro (Chile)

MEN – $50 000 – 3000pts

WOMEN – $15 000 – 1250pts

JUNIOR WOMEN – $5 000 – 1500pts

19 – 29 May –  Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival (Chile)

MEN – $50 000 – 3500pts

DROPKNEE – $10 000 – 2000pts

6 – 16 June –  Itacoatiara Pro (Brazil)

20 – 26 June –  Wahine Bodyboard Pro  (Brazil)

WORLD CHAMPION MASTERS WOMEN – $10 000

24 – 26 June –  IBC Junior Sandy Beach Pro  (Hawaii)

JUNIOR MEN – $5 000 – 1000pts

22 – 31 July –  Pascuales Bodyboard Festival  (Mexico)

MEN – $30 000 – 2750pts

*August –  Kiama Pro (Australia) Event to be confirmed

19 – 28 August –  Walker Bay Pro (South Africa)

MEN – $20 000 – 2000pts

WOMEN – $20 000 – 1500pts

*5 – 11 September –  Sintra Pro (Portugal)

MEN – $30 000 – 2250pts

WOMEN – $10 000 – 1000pts

DROPKNEE – $10 000 – 2250pts

*September –  France Pro (France)

17 – 31 October –  Gran Canaria Fronton King  (Canary Islands)

JUNIOR MEN – $10 000 – 2250pts

* Dates to be confirmed.

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World’s best bodyboarders compete in Garden Island Boogie Board Classic

Looks can be deceiving. To unaware visitors, Prince Kūhiō Beach may appear to be a mere spit of sand opposite Lāwaʻi Beach Resort on the South Shore of Kaua‘i.

But to some of the world’s best bodyboarders, it’s home to a beloved set of surf breaks – PK’s and Centers – and to the annual Garden Island Boogie Board Classic.

On Friday, with 1- to 2-foot waves, the three-day pro-am contest entered its fifth year, drawing 241 participants from Hawaiʻi and California.

“It’s on my home break,” 16-year-old Aarya Tabalno of Kōloa said between heats. “I love how [the Classic] brings the community together. It gives a chance to the kids I want to show that they can bodyboard. It’s super good for everybody in the community.”

Tabalno is no ordinary teenager. She’s the number one Junior Women’s bodyboarder in the world, winning her crown at contests in Brazil and Chile on the 2023 IBC Bodyboarding World Tour.

The Garden Island Boogie Board Classic was founded in 2018 by professional bodyboarders Jeff Hubbard and Chris Burkart. They wanted to establish a premier bodyboard competition on Kaua‘i, and in order to do so they founded the nonprofit Kaikeha.

They dedicated the event to raising the next generation of watermen and waterwomen.

“We’re trying … to mentor them, to teach them how to ride better, to have more respect and reverence for the ocean, to understand what the wave does, what to do, where to be and where not to be,” Burkart said. “Because we make it a pro-am, the kids get to go ahead and come alongside the professionals in the sport … They all get to ride together.”

Friday’s surfing was dedicated to professionals only. But on Saturday and Sunday, amateurs – including children – are slated to get in on the action. That’s pro bodyboarder Sammy “Meerkat” Morretino’s favorite part of the Garden Island Boogie Board Classic.

“The kids really light up the event,” said the 26-year-old Morrentino. “That’s the highlight of the event for me, is watching the little kids get pushed into waves.”

Morrentino also hails from Kōloa and is participating in the IBC Bodyboarding World Tour. He is ranked No. 7 in prone and No. 3 in drop knee styles.

The competition has real stakes for professional participants: its prize purse is $10,000, and the Drop Knee Pro Division winner will earn 1,000 points towards their IBC World Tour rankings.

The final event for the Drop Knee tour is the Sintra Pro in Portugal.

Meanwhile, amateur competitors are buried in prizes from the Classic’s many sponsors, such as fin bags from the Aloha Collection and gift certificates to Duke’s Restaurants.

Hubbard and Burkart celebrate bodyboarding as the most egalitarian of watersports.

“You don’t have to be old, you don’t have to be strong, you can be young, you can be poor, you can be rich, you can be anything – every demographic can go out on a boogie board and have fun in any wave conditions,” Hubbard said. “That’s what’s so great, is that it doesn’t discriminate. That’s, I think, what we love about it so much.”

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Spectacular Conclusion to The 2024 Taghazout Bay Moroccan Pro IBC World Bodyboard Championship

Champions Gabriel Braga, Sari Ohara, Louka Zaninotto. Photos by IBC World Tour

The final day of the 2024 Taghazout Bay World Bodyboard Championship unfolded on February 26th at Anchor Point, boasting the best conditions witnessed throughout the entire competition. The day was marked by remarkable performances from all remaining riders, culminating in an unforgettable showcase of talent and skill.

Women’s Semifinals:

The day commenced with the women’s semifinals, featuring intense matchups between top contenders. In an outstanding display,  Sari Ohara  from Japan and  Luna Hardman  delivered remarkable performances, securing their spots in the final. Sari Ohara impressed judges with a stellar combination wave, earning her the highest score of the semis.

Men’s Division:

In the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the men’s division, standout performances were witnessed, notably by  Armides Solvers  from the Canary Islands, who advanced to the final after defeating Amaury Lavernhe. Local favorite  GHARIB ABDELHAFEID  faced tough competition against Brazilian Uri Valadao but couldn’t secure a spot in the semis.

The semi-finals showcased thrilling battles, with Armides Solvers demonstrating exceptional skills to overcome Uri Valadao and secure a spot in the final. Meanwhile,  Gabriel Braga  from Brazil emerged victorious in a heated match against Jeremy ARNOUX from France.

Final Showdowns:

In the women’s final, Sari Ohara and Luna Hardman delivered a breathtaking performance in challenging conditions. Ultimately, Sari Ohara clinched the victory, solidifying her position at the top of the 2024 IBC World Tour ranking.

The men’s final witnessed an epic showdown, with both riders delivering extraordinary maneuvers and executions. Gabriel Braga’s flawless performance earned him the highest score of the event, securing victory with a remarkable two big backflips.

The Junior division final concluded the day, with  Louka Zaninotto  from France showcasing exceptional talent and securing victory against Alexander Montes from the Canary Islands.

Celebrating New Talent:

The event showcased the emergence of new talent, with Luna Hardman making her mark in the women’s division and Louka Zaninotto’s impressive performance in the Junior division, signaling a bright future for the sport.

Conclusion:

The 2024 Taghazout Bay World Bodyboard Championship concluded with unparalleled excitement and memorable moments, set against the backdrop of Taghazout’s breathtaking landscape and world-class waves.

For more info: https://ibcworldtour.com/

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Joaquin Niemann and LIV Golf are facing an OWGR reckoning

After hitting into the water on his first shot, Bryson DeChambeau slam-dunks it from the same spot on his second attempt. (0:25)

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Inside one of the most crowded hallways at Augusta National Golf Club, there is a picture of a 19-year-old Joaquin Niemann -- his fist punching the air -- for all the patrons walking through the merchandise building to see.

Back in 2018, the young Chilean was the No. 1 amateur in the world and had just won the Latin American Amateur Championship to earn one of the most coveted gifts in the sport: an invitation to the Masters.

Fast-forward six years later: Niemann has now played in four Masters, won 12 tournaments as a professional and been ranked as high as 15th in the world. And yet, as the calendar turned to 2024, Niemann, who plays for the LIV Golf League, found himself in a similar position to the one he faced when he was still a teenager. He didn't have a spot in this year's Masters.

Because the Official World Golf Ranking still does not award points for LIV's 54-hole events, Niemann's ranking had been plummeting well outside the top-50 requirement that the Masters holds as nonexempt criteria for its tournament. Without any exemptions earned by winning or finishing high in other majors, Niemann had no choice. If he wanted to play at Augusta this year, he would have to try to qualify by playing events outside of LIV.

To see whether he could rise up the rankings, Niemann traveled to Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, winning the Australian Open and finishing in fourth place at both the Australian PGA Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic. Niemann's work paid off -- he didn't land inside the top 50, but his efforts were recognized. In early March, he received a special invite to the Masters.

"It was super hard not being in the majors," Niemann told ESPN at LIV Miami last week. "But it's pretty special to see that the Masters saw what I was trying to accomplish."

Niemann's journey is unique but not singular. At 25 years old, he has his entire career still ahead of him. Most players who opted for LIV are veterans with plenty of majors experience and exemptions to the sport's most prestigious tournaments. Even defending champion Jon Rahm , who is 27, said this week that being able to play in all majors for the next five years as a result of winning the Masters solidified his decision to leave the PGA Tour.

But what nearly kept Niemann out of Augusta has affected others who were in the Masters just a year ago. LIV players such as Abraham Ancer , Talor Gooch , Harold Varner III , Mito Pereira and Jason Kokrak , among others, are nowhere near Magnolia Lane this year due to their decline in the world rankings.

"There's gotta be a fair way for everybody on whatever tour to play and compete," Rahm said this week. "There's got to be a way for some players to earn their way in."

Of the 13 LIV golfers in the field this year, seven are here on past champion lifetime exemptions. The rest got in through either a special invite (Niemann) or thanks to their performance at other majors or PGA Tour events before their departure. If the system remains as it is, that number will likely diminish.

"We believe that [OWGR] is a legitimate determiner of who the best players in the game are," Masters chairman Fred Ridley said Wednesday.

As the sport's future ecosystem remains unclear with no deal imminent between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, the chances for LIV's rank and file to find their way to a major are slim to none unless they attempt to go the Niemann route -- and even that isn't a guarantee.

For those who have qualified, the risk they took by going to LIV has now transformed into an added pressure to perform when they tee off at a major. More than ever, major performance is determining major attendance. And the clock is ticking.

WITH THE POST-ECLIPSE sun beginning to dim Monday afternoon and the sun-kissed Augusta crowd starting to thin out, Bryson DeChambeau was still out there, grinding over lag putts on the tricky ninth green.

Soon after wrapping up his practice for the day, DeChambeau stepped up to a microphone and answered six questions -- none of them about Augusta or the state of his game. Instead, they were all a continuation of a conversation DeChambeau has not shied away from of late.

"Everybody has their own prerogatives and wishes and wants," DeChambeau said. "And the only thing I wish is that we can all see eye to eye on some things and that we can come back to some level playing field where we can all have some fun together."

DeChambeau's comments Monday echoed his sentiment from the LIV event in Miami the weekend prior, where he originally called for the sport to be reunited "fast."

"It's not a two-year thing," DeChambeau said. "Like, it needs to happen quicker rather than later just for the good of the sport. Too many people are losing interest."

The irony, of course, is that DeChambeau -- as well as many of the players who left for LIV -- were actors in the sport's split. Nobody is exactly blameless in this ordeal, but DeChambeau is also incentivized, now more than ever, to call for unity. He might be one of only seven LIV players exempt for all four majors this year, but his time at Augusta is running out too -- in two years, coincidentally or not.

It's not just DeChambeau, and it's not just the Masters that hang in the balance for LIV players.

Dustin Johnson will be able to play in the PGA Championship only through 2025, barring him meeting a different set of criteria. The two-time major winner has a U.S. Open exemption as well as an Open Championship exemption, but only through 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Although Brooks Koepka can play the PGA for life after winning it three times, his current exemptions at Augusta and in the U.S. Open run only through 2028, and it's 2027 for the Open Championship. Although Phil Mickelson can play in the PGA and Masters forever, his U.S. Open exemption runs out next year.

For players such as Sergio Garcia , the drop-off has been more immediate. The 2017 Masters winner can play in this year's Masters only and will have to try to get in through local qualifying for the U.S. Open and the Open. Garcia notably failed to do the latter last year. The same can be said for 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed , 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2-time champion Bubba Watson -- all of whom have no eligibility outside of Augusta.

Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer does not have any eligibility at Augusta. As the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst this year -- the site of his 2014 victory -- it also marks when his 10-year U.S. Open champion exemption runs out.

And then there are the young players who bolted for LIV even before they had any success in OWGR-sanctioned events. Players such as 20-year-old Caleb Surratt and 24-year-old Eugenio Chacarra don't currently have any way to get into the majors unless they follow the path now laid out by Niemann. David Puig , 22, did that by traveling all the way to Malaysia, where he won the IRS Prima Malaysian Open to get himself into this year's Open Championship.

"They definitely said that we were going to get [OWGR points]," 32-year-old LIV player Carlos Ortiz said on the Subpar podcast recently of LIV's recruiting pitch. "I just feel that, people have to recognize that there are good players here, and if you want to have a ranking that includes all the golf players, you have to have some [LIV] people included in that ranking."

While that notion has been repeated often by several LIV players, there seems to be no desire by LIV to change its format to comply with the OWGR criteria. Ridley said Wednesday that the OWGR board made some suggestions to LIV "regarding pathways and access to players and concern about some of the aspects of team golf." But instead of budging, LIV CEO Greg Norman withdrew the tour's application for points in March.

Players have had no choice but to either accept their fate or find an alternative route.

WHEN THE SPECIAL invite arrived and the call came through asking whether Niemann would accept it, the Chilean had to resort to comedy.

"Let me think about it," Niemann recalled joking. The moment was not unprecedented, as the Masters has given out special invitations before, but it was certainly notable given Niemann's league affiliation.

Niemann felt vindicated. Unlike some of his fellow LIV competitors who opted to not play in local qualifying for the two open majors, he had put in the work.

In the process, Niemann didn't shy away from taking shots at the current OWGR structure, like when he was told he was one of the favorites for the upcoming majors after winning the LIV event in Jeddah.

"How is that possible if I'm like 100 in the world?" he asked with a grin.

While there is a disconnect between what the world rankings indicate and certain players' performances (for example, Koepka is ranked outside the top 30), the reality of the sport's impasse is that players have nothing but their words to use when criticizing the current system -- even if they don't exactly have a solution or a clear stance on whether they would want to be reinstated onto the PGA Tour.

"Do I want to play a full schedule? You know what, I don't know," DeChambeau said. "We'll see how things shake out. I don't know what the future is going to look like, and I'm not here to decide that."

This week, several players have been asked a similar question: What happens if a LIV player wins the Masters? What will change?

The answer has been a resounding shrug.

"I think the negotiations are going on with or without a [LIV] win," DeChambeau said. "From a negotiation standpoint, I don't think it'll change much, to be honest with you."

"I don't think it would really affect it," Niemann said. "I think there [are] already too many good players on every tour. I believe that if it -- I don't think [a] LIV player has to win the Masters to change things. I think things are changing already, and they are going to come up with a solution, with an agreement or whatever they are trying to do, for the best."

A deal between the PGA Tour and PIF would be only the beginning. Plenty of questions would remain about how exactly to reincorporate LIV players back into the world rankings and provide them eligibility for ongoing majors.

"There's a lot of people a lot smarter than me that could figure this out in a much more efficient way," Rahm said. "They'll need to figure out a way to evaluate how the LIV players are doing and how they can earn their way. That's the best way I can say it. I just don't really know what that looks like."

For now, players have to literally and figuratively hit and hope. As Ridley said in his news conference Wednesday, if the tournament ever felt a player outside Augusta National's outlined qualifications deserved to be in the field, it would simply invite the player. Just as it did with Niemann.

"Historically, and as stated in our qualification criteria, we consider international players for special invitations," Ridley said. "But we do look at those every year, and I will say that if we felt that there were a player or players -- whether they played on the LIV Tour or any other tour -- who were deserving of an invitation to the Masters, that we would exercise that discretion with regard to special invitations."

For players whose decisions have put them in no man's land, they can hold on to two things: their game and their belief that they can stay in majors with the one thing they can control -- their performance. Niemann, for his part, feels ready for his close-up.

"I think my game is the best I've ever seen it," Niemann said. "That's why I was super into getting into the majors because I knew, I can win at the Masters."

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Nelly Korda Off to a Strong Start in Quest for Fifth Straight Win

On a course that got more difficult as the first round went on, the world No. 1 finished with a flourish.

• Author: John Schwarb

Nelly Korda admitted being tired at the start of her first round at the Chevron Championship.

By the end, she looked like the player who has dominated the LPGA for weeks.

The world No. 1, on a four-event winning streak and seeking a fifth at the season’s first major, made four birdies in her last six holes to shoot 4-under 68 and sit in a three-way tie, two shots back of leader Lauren Coughlin. 

“I can definitely still feel maybe a little bit of tiredness, so it took me a while to get going,” Korda said. “I felt the nerves definitely at the start of the round. Once I made the turn, I was just playing free golf.”

That meant taking advantage of her length on the two front-side par-5s (her round began on No. 10), two-putting for birdies, with two more birdies at the par-4 6th and 9th.

Nelly Korda shot 68 in the tougher afternoon wave Thursday.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The 68 left her in a tie with Marina Alex and Minami Katsu, two players who, like Coughlin, are on the early/late draw for the first two rounds. Only nine players broke 70 Thursday at the Club at Carlton Woods and only two of those played late Thursday—Korda and Gabriela Ruffels, who shot 69. 

“I know it's always luck of the draw in a sense, but I've had my fair share of late-early, early-late, and you've just got to make the most of it,” Korda said. “You can't really get too caught up in that … you’ve just got to go out there and perform.

Which is exactly what Korda has done all year. She won the LPGA Drive On Championship in Florida in late January, then after sitting out the Tour’s three-event Asian swing, won three times in three consecutive weeks in California, Arizona and Nevada. She finally got a break last week when the golf world was off except for the Masters. 

“I think those three weeks, I didn't think that it was going to drain me as much as it did maybe mentally,” Korda said. “I was dead when I got home. I just didn't even leave my house for the first two days.”

She turns right around Friday for her second round at 8:10 a.m.

Defending champ withdraws

There will be a new champion at Chevron as 2023 winner Lilia Vu withdrew before her tee time Thursday.

“I have been dealing with a back injury for a while now. Some days are better than others, and today was unfortunately not a good day,” the world No. 2 said in a statement. “During my normal warm-up routine, I had severe discomfort in my back and I felt that I could not compete up to my standards and made the decision to withdraw from the tournament ahead of my tee time. I am planning to return home to see my doctors immediately to determine the best appropriate next steps.”

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Emma Raducanu set for stunning rankings rise after impressive win against Angelique Kerber

Emma Raducanu’s encouraging surge in form continued as she beat three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in the first round of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart – with the win securing her an instant rankings boost.

Fresh from helping Great Britain reach the finals of the Billie Jean Cup at the weekend, Raducanu continued her promising form on clay by breezing past the home favourite.

Both Raducanu and Kerber were playing as wild cards in Stuttgart, with the Briton tumbling down the rankings after time out to undergo three surgeries.

Meanwhile, former world number one Kerber only recently returned from 18 months out on maternity leave.

Raducanu got off to a flying start by breaking Kerber in the opening game and despite an immediate response from the German, the 2021 US Open champion took control and claimed the first set in 41 minutes.

Kerber was broken again at the start of the second set and although she managed to haul back level, Raducanu stepped up a gear and shrugged off a brief visit from the trainer to wrap up an emphatic win.

“It was very difficult to play Angie because she has so much history behind her,” said Raducanu. “You are not just playing Angelique Kerber, you are playing the person who has achieved all those amazing results.

“It wasn’t the prettiest but I just focused on the next point and did not get too bogged down. So I’m happy to have got through that.

“I am playing some really good tennis. I feel like I’m a lot more dominant in my service games. I feel like I’m playing really well. I think everyone that I was practicing with can attest to that too.

READ MORE:   Legendary coach makes huge Emma Raducanu rankings prediction

“Yeah, it is, I think it’s a combination of doing actual good practice weeks, doing the right things. I’m really enjoying working with Nick, my coach.

“It’s great to have a familiar face, but I also think we’re just working really well together as a team.

“I think my serve is more of a weapon now. I think the last weekend I played some great tennis. Obviously it wasn’t a lot of much time to turn over since last weekend.

“Yeah, going back up again tomorrow, it’s more just a challenge of the body, but I think I’m mentally in a good place.

“I’m taking a lot of confidence from the training I’m doing.”

Perfect Start 👍👍 @EmmaRaducanu looking very sharp, defeating Kerber to set up a R2 encounter against Noskova! #PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/avIcmN55qG — wta (@WTA) April 17, 2024

Raducanu was always likely to take time to find her feet on the WTA Tour after her 2023 season ended after this event in Stuttgart a year ago.

Her ranking dropped outside of the top 300 as virtually all the points she had collected dropped off her record, but she is finding form heading into a hectic few weeks of the season.

Many critics have suggested Raducanu should be playing lower-level events in a bid to get match wins and build some momentum after her time away from the game.

Yet her determination to compete with the biggest names in the game ensures she has a chance to make a quick leap back up the WTA Rankings and this single win in Stuttgart saw her climb a stunning 51 places in the live rankings.

If she was playing WTA 250 events or even tournaments on the second tier ITF World Tennis Tour, Raducanu would make a much slower rise up the rankings.

Now she has a chance to get back into the top 100 of the rankings in double quick time, with a win against Czech teenager Linda Nodkova in her next match likely to fire her up to around No 220 in the live rankings.

Raducanu’s current form would challenge players at the top end of the women’s game and if she can avoid injury setbacks, her impressive form on clay could allow her to enjoy rapid rises up the rankings as she has no points to defend for the rest of 2024.

Iquique Bodyboard Pro, the first stage of the IBC World Tour in Chile.

• April 19, 2024
• News , 2024 World Tour , 2024 , IQUIQUE PRO

The Iquique Bodyboard Pro 2024, organized by the Municipal Sports Corporation of Iquique (CORMUDEPI), is a landmark event that has been part of the professional Bodyboard world tour since 2019. Driven by the Mayor of Iquique, Don Mauricio Soria Macchiavello, this event has become an opportunity to develop tourism and the small industry related to one of the city’s most important sports due to its large number of practitioners and the perfect waves of Iquique that seem to have been created for Bodyboarding.

Since its inclusion in the IBC World Tour, this competition has established itself as one of the most important events on the world Bodyboard circuit. The Iquique Bodyboard Pro 2024 will take place from May 1st to 10th at Playa Bellavista, Ola Punta 2, and will feature exciting categories such as Pro Men Division, Pro Women Division, and Pro Junior Men Division. The prizes at stake amount to $70,000 USD + taxes, with an estimated participation of around 160 athletes from over 16 countries, including: Portugal, Japan, France, Spain, Australia, Hawaii, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, and many more.

This event is distinguished by offering equal prizes for men and women, being one of the few to do so. Among the prominent sponsors are ZOFRI S.A., ERIZOS BRAND, HOTEL IBIS, AGUAS CIELO, and SANTO TOMAS. In addition, the Group of Traditional Companies of IQUIQUE (G.E.T.I.) joins as a direct collaborator, showing its support and commitment to this exciting event.

The Iquique Bodyboard Pro 2024, organized by the Municipal Sports Corporation of Iquique (CORMUDEPI) in conjunction with the IBC World Tour, promises to be a celebration of sports and beach culture, bringing together athletes, spectators, and sponsors in a unique event of its kind.

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A view of the 11th green during the first round of the Masters Tournament. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

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The remaining players will receive cash prizes ranging downward from $49,200 depending on the scores.