There was quite a bit going on during the course of Bodyboarding 101's "Winter Recess" so let's get to it...
IBA CONDUCTING STRATEGIC REVIEW, APB TO RUN REVAMPED 2014 WORLD TOUR
AUSTRALIA- In December, International Bodyboarding Association Pty Ltd announced the Top 24 ranked competitors for the 2014 IBA Grand Slam Series world tour. This was followed, in January, by the announcement that IBA Pty Ltd would be cancelling the 2014 world tour to conduct a strategic review. Quite literally the next day, the newly-formed Association of Bodyboarding Professionals announced their plans to run a revamped, star-rated APB World Tour for 2014. All of the details can be found at the links for the official press releases below.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES:
IBA GSS Top 24 press release
IBA Strategic Review press release
APB 2014 World Tour press release
For more information, please be sure to visit:
www.ibaworldtour.com
APB on Facebook
2014 PIPE CHALLENGE SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH-28TH
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| Mike Stewart at Pipeline. Science Bodyboards, Gyroll Wetsuits and Leashes, and MS Viper Fins are presenting sponsors for the 2014 Pipe Challenge. Photo: APB |
HAWAII- The 2014 Pipe Challenge is set to get underway next week, running February 18th-28th. Trials will be held at Kea'au's before moving to Pipeline for the main event. Pipeline will serve as the first event on the revamped 2014 APB World Tour as well as the first event for the 2014 IBA Hawaii Regional Tour. Kicking things off for this year's Pipe event will be the annual "Go Big!" promo at Ala Moana Center Stage on Sunday, February 16th from 3-5pm.
For more information, please be sure to visit:
www.ibahawaiitour.com
IBA Hawaii Tour on Facebook
IBA HAWAII 2013 FINAL RANKINGS
HAWAII- Here are the final rankings for the 2013 IBA Hawaii Regional Pro Tour. Congratulations to Men's Pro Champion Matt Holzman, Jr. Pro Champion Tanner McDaniel, DK Pro Champion Dayton Wago, and Women's Pro Champion Melanie Bartels.
For complete 2013 final rankings, please click here:
http://www.ibahawaiitour.com/rankings-2013/
For more information about IBA Hawaii, please be sure to visit:
www.ibahawaiitour.com
IBA Hawaii Tour on Facebook
MIGUEL MACIAS WINS FRONTON KING 2013
GRAN CANARIA, CANARY ISLANDS- Fronton King 2013 was run in early December (1st-7th), with Miguel Macias coming away as the winner. For all of the details, please be sure to visit:
www.frontonking.com
Fronton King on Facebook
R.I.P. ROBERTO GUTIERREZ
GRAN CANARIA, CANARY ISLANDS- Spanish bodyboarding promoter Roberto Gutierrez, from Maldito Rodriguez Productions, passed away on December 23rd, 2013. Roberto helped make world tour events like the Confital Pro and Fronton Challenge a reality. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and the bodyboarding community as a whole.
GT BOARDS SIGNS URI VALADAO
BAHIA, BRAZIL- 2008 World Champion Uri Valadao has signed with GT Boards, the new bodyboard company owned and operated by 6x World Champion Guilherme Tamega. GT Boards plans to release an Uri Valadao signature series. Stay tuned for details.
For more information, be sure to visit:
www.gtboards.com
Uri Valadao Athlete Page on Facebook
Guilherme Tamega Athlete Page on Facebook
RYAN HARDY SIGNS WITH FUNKSHEN BODYBOARDS
AUSTRALIA- Bodyboarding legend Ryan Hardy has signed on with Funkshen Bodyboards. Stay tuned as more information becomes available.
For more information, please be sure to visit:
www.funkshenbodyboards.com
Funkshen Bodyboards on Facebook
Ryan Hardy Athlete Page on Facebook
NATASHA SAGARDIA AND JARED HOUSTON BECOME PARENTS
PUERTO RICO- Professional bodyboarders Natasha Sagardia (Puerto Rico) and Jared Houston (South Africa) are now the proud parents of a baby girl name Poeiti. Congratulations, Jerry and Natasha...and welcome to the world, Poeiti!
That's all for now. Until the next time, I'm Steve "Action" Jackson. I'll see you out in the water...YEEEWWW!!!
