BEHIND THE SCENES: 2014 APB Tour South America
Here's a look at the South American leg of the 2014 APB World Tour...The Itacoatiara Pro, The Arica Chilean Challenge, and Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2014.
EVENT #2: The Itacoatiara Pro
Praia de Itacoatiara, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
July 25th- August 3rd
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| I was impressed with the use of recycled shipping containers for the event structure. It was clean looking, functional, and more environmentally friendly! |
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| ...the competitor's tents and lounge area. |
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| In the commentary booth with Itacoatiara charger Dudu Pedra. |
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| Enjoying the view from the commentator's chair...live video feed, live scores, and checking the comments on the APB website all day every day during competition. |
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| Out to lunch with 9x World Champion Mike Stewart and Supergrom Tanner McDaniel. |
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| 6x World Champion Guilherme Tamega and 3x World Champion Ben Player checking the surf. |
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| Diego Cabrera (Canary Islands), Alex Uranga (Basque), 2010 World Champion Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island), Tanner McDaniel (Hawaii), and 3x World Champion Ben Player (Australia). |
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| 5:30am...time to go to work! |
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| In the broadcast booth with Fabio Aquino during live webcast coverage...and filming for Canal Off at the same time! |
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| For all the bodyboarders in Brasil, stay tuned for footage from Itacoatiara on Canal Off and be sure to wacth 'Prancha e Pe de Pato' every Tuesday night at 22h! |
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| Guest "grommentator" Tanner McDaniel in the broadcast booth. |
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| It's moments like this that make me feel like a kid on Christmas! I've got Mike Stewart in the commentary booth and I have the Itacoatiara Champion's trophy in my hands...completely stoked but very humbled at the same time! |
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| During the awards ceremony, I signed off in the commentary booth and worked my way through the crowd to get a pic of Jared Houston (South Africa) claiming the trophy for his first career world tour victory! |
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| Jared worked his way through a lot of interviews after taking the win at Itacoatiara! |
EVENT #3: The Arica Chilean Challenge
El Gringo, Isla Ex-Alacran, Arica, Chile
August 15th-24th
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| WE ARE WARRIORS BORN FROM THE SEA. |
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| THE SEA IS THE BLOOD THAT UNITES US. |
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| 2010 World Champion Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island), Alex Uranga (Basque), Nicholas Bastos (Brasil), and Diego Roberto (Brasil) in the bleachers watching regional competition at El Gringo, prior to the start of the Arica Chilean Challenge. |
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| The infamous "keyhole" at El Gringo. This is where you enter and exit the line-up...sketchy! |
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| Diego Roberto watches a wave being ridden as he prepares to jump into the keyhole and make his way out at El Gringo. |
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| Jacob Romero (Hawaii) signing an autograph at El Gringo. |
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| The contest site for the 2014 Arica Chilean Challenge. |
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| ACC press release, complete with local officials, the mayor of Arica (sitting in the center with suit and tie), event organizer Tomate, and others. |
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| Group photo with some of the competitors after the press conference. |
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| Alex Uranga (Basque), Diego Cabrera (Canary Islands), and Jacob Romero (Hawaii). |
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| Brazilians Hermano Castro, Sergio Luiz, David Barbosa, and Nivholas Bastos. |
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| Alan Munoz (Chile) and 6x World Champion Guilherme Tamega (Brasil). |
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| Tribal dancers performed at the contest site...very cool to watch! |
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| J-Rom and his new-found friend checking the surf. |
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| APB judges Chico Garritano (Brasil), Kike Rolden (Peru), and Craig Hadden (Australia) with pro riders Keahi Parker (Hawaii), Jared Houston and Iain Campbell (South Africa) at El Morro. |
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| Tanner McDaniel, Keahi Parker, and Iain Campbell. |
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| Yoan Florentin (Reunion Island), Lewy Finnegan (Australia), 2010 World Champion Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island), and 2011 World Champion Pierre Louis Costes (France). |
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| Airam Cabrera (Canary Islands), 2008 World Champion Uri Valadao and Roberto Bruno (Brasil). |
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| 2010 World Champion and now 2014 Arica Chilean Challenge Champion Amaury Lavernhe during live webcast coverage from El Gringo. |
EVENT #4: The Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival
La Cupula, Antofagasta, Chile
August 26th-31st
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| The contest site at La Cupula for the 2014 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival. |
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| Part of ABF 2014 was the La Choza Bless cultural fair. School students were bused in each day to learn about the environment, art, and physical fitness. |
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| Yoga classes were part of ABF 2014 every day. |
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| Mike Stewart checking out the cultural fair after a morning bodyboard session. |
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| ISA announcer Philip "The Belgian" Muller and Steve "Action" Jackson getting down to work in the broadcast booth...complete with hard hats! It is mining territory, after all! |
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| ABF 2014 Champions Uri Valadao (Brasil) and Alexandra Rinder (Canary Islands). |
For More information, official press releases, and video highlights about these events please be sure to visit:
www,apbtour.com
APB Tour on Facebook
APB Tour on YouTube
Arica Chilean Challenge on Facebook
Arica Chilean Challenge on YouTube
Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival official website
Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2014 on Facebook
Budeo Bodyboard Club on Facebook
Budeo Bodyboard on YouTube
That's all for now. Until the next time, I'm Steve "Action" Jackson. I'll see you out in the water...YEEEWWW!!!
