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!!!
