Location: Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Date: September 4th-6th, 2015
The 2015 Tahara Pro in Japan was a dual-sanctioned event, serving as an APB (Association of Professional Bodyboarders) Women's World Tour event as well as a JPBA (Japan Professional Bodyboarding Association) national tour event. Here are the results:
ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE- Organized by local bodyboarder/promoter Arturo Soto, the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival first appeared on the world tour schedule as part of the 2012 IBA (International Bodyboarding Association) Men's GQS. The Global Qualification Series was part of a two-tier system which fed up-and-coming competitors into the ranks of the top-tier GSS (Grand Slam Series). In 2013, the ABF added the Women's division to the field of competition and has been on the Women's world tour schedule ever since. 2014 saw the transition of the world tour from IBA Party Ltd. to the APB (Association of Professional Bodyboarders), with Antofagasta remaining on the new world tour's schedule of events. For the first three years of this event, competition was held at Playa La Cúpula before being relocated to Nilda Point with Budeo as a secondary mobile location in 2015. Another change that came with the 2015 edition of the ABF was the addition of the Pro Junior division. In the inaugural season of the PJWT, Antofagasta was one of four events to help crown the APB's first Pro Junior champion. In its first four years, the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival has become a key stop on the world tour. Here is a look at the history of ABF Champions:
2012 IBA GQS Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival:
2012 RESULTS:
Semifinal One:
1st- Alan Muñoz (Chile)
2nd- Uri Valadão (Brasil)
BEHIND THE SCENES: Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2015
ABF 2015 at Nilda Point in Antofagasta, Chile (July 28th-August 2nd).
Here is a gallery of behind-the-scenes photos from the APB's Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2015...enjoy...YEEEWWW!!!
Front page coverage with El Mercúrio!
More newspaper coverage in La Estrella!
"Yoyo" took Teza and me to grab breakfast on our way to the secondary contest site at Budeo.
Beach Announcer "Mono" at Budeo.
The lifeguards at Budeo.
Brazilian David Barbosa about to hit the water for one of his Pro Junior heats at Budeo.
Chilean judge, Jano Sanchez.
Japanese competitors Ayaka Suzuki and Sari Ohhara.
Portuguese competitors Antonio Cardoso and Miguel Adão.
Brazilian Pro Junior competitors Socrates Santana and Matheus Bastos...Familia P5!
Hawaiian supergrom Tanner McDaniel getting ready to hit the water at Budeo.
Miguel Adão photobombing Teresa Almeida (Portugal).
Welcome to the "Fish Bowl"...my "office" at Nilda Point.
The APB's Alex Leon answering questions from Women's competitor Alexandra Rinder (Canary Islands) and Tanner McDaniel.
#FavelaStorm ...Brazilians David Barbosa, Socrates Santana, and Matheus Bastos.
The man, the myth, the beard, J-Rom! Hawaiian Jacob Romero enjoying some refreshments courtesy of event sponsor Gatorade.
Nilda Point bleacher creatures.
The competitor's board locker.
Following Socrates Santana's win at ABF 2015 in the Pro Junior final, I jumped out of the commentary booth to help chair him up the beach and conduct the post-win interview. I always try to conduct myself in a professional manor but, in this situation, raw human emotion took over. This kid is like family to me. I've been bodyboarding with him since he was 11 years old. He's my English student. I was so completely overwhelmed by emotion and pride, watching him win his first world tour event! This was one of the most powerful moments I have ever experienced working on the world tour!
Clare McGowan (England) and Natsuki Yokote (Japan) at Nilda Point.
The APB's Teza McKenna with Australian Lewy Finnegan and South African Jared Houston.
Alexandra Rinder crashed the commentary booth follwing her Women's Final win at ABF 2015!
Steve "Action" Jackson in the commentary booth. That's a wrap...YEEEWWW!!!
NEWS SPECIAL: 2015 APB Tour Heads to Puerto Rico For Season Finale
MIDDLES, ISABELA, PUERTO RICO- After wrapping up it's European leg and crowning Dave Hubbard (Hawaii) as the Drop Knee World Tour Champion and Alexandra Rinder (Canary Islands) as the Women's World Tour Champion for 2015, the APB (Association of Professional Bodyboarders) sets it's sites on the season finale. The Encanto Pro Cultura 2015 (November 4th-15th) will set the stage for the world tour's top competitors to battle it out and crown world champions for both the Men's World Tour and the Pro Junior World Tour.
MWT: Jared Houston (South África) scored his second win of the 2015 season at the Nazaré Pro in Portugal (September 29th- October 4th), and has the hot hand going into the season finale...not to mention the points lead.
South African Jared Houston after his second win of the year at the Nazaré Pro in Portugal.
Photo: APB Media
Jerry's path to a world title, though, is by no means going to be a cake walk. He still has to contend with 2x Defending World Champion Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island), who currently sits in 2nd place, only 36 points behind in the standings. If by some strange occurrence Jerry and Moz should both falter at Middles, 2011 World Champion Pierre Louis Costes (France) is sitting in 3rd waiting to strike. No matter how things play out, the chase for the Men's world title is going to be interesting. We've seen epic battles between these competitors time and time again. The Finale in Puerto Rico should prove to be no different, only this time it will be for a world title!
The 2015 APB MWT Points Standings going into Puerto Rico.
PJWT: The first full season of the APB Pro Junior World Tour has been an absolute revelation for the sport of bodyboarding. Prior to the start of the season, many people in the world of bodyboarding unofficially crowned Hawaiian Supergrom Tanner McDaniel as heir-apparent to the Pro Junior world title. He has, without a doubt, lived up to the billing. Winning the first PJWT event of the year, the Itacoatiara Pro Brazil, Tanner has held the #1 ranking all season long. What many people might not have expected is the level of competition Tanner would face, and the overall level of performance from this field of young riders. Going into the season finale, McDaniel is in the driver's seat but he has a pack of hungry Brazilians trying to chase him down. Sócrates Santana, Matheus Bastos, and David Barbosa are all still in the hunt for the Pro Junior title. Don't be surprised if this title chase goes down to the very last second. None of these kids are going to concede until the very end! Here are the points standings, after the first 3 events, for the PJWT contenders going into Puerto Rico:
Tanner McDaniel won the first stop on the 2015 PJWT, and holds the lead with one contest to go.
Photo: APB Media
Stay tuned to www.apbtour.com for all of the latest news, updates, official press releases, photo galleries, vídeo highlights, and LIVE WEBCAST COVERAGE. Also, stay right here with Bodyboarding 101 for continuing bodyboard coverage and special "Behind The Scenes" photos from Puerto Rico!
