Thank You for Another Year

Thank You for Another Year

The Escola Guilherme Tâmega social project on the beach at Posto 5 (Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), September 2017. Working as a commentator for pro bodyboarding and pro surfing, blogging on Bodyboarding 101, and working for Canal Woohoo in Rio were all highlights for me in 2017, but my most enjoyable and rewarding work was being an instructor with the EGT bodyboard school!

At the start of this year, I had two objectives for BODYBOARDING 101:

1) Reach 200 blogs posted.

2) Surpass 200,000 page views.

Well, as of this post, I have managed to work my way from 187 blogs to 248.  That was due, largely to September's "30 Blogs in 30 Days" and all of your positive feedback.  So, Goal #1, done.

As for Goal #2, I was hoping to reach 200,000 page views by the end of this year. This was going to be the more difficult task because I really have no control over who or how many people are reading the BODYBOARDING 101 blogs I post up.  Well, mission accomplished...and then some! Yesterday I received a very nice Christmas gift courtesy of all of you. This blog broke 225,000 page views!!! THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!!

BODYBOARDING 101 will resume with new blogs on Monday, January 15th, 2018 (Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday). Until then, I hope you all have a Happy New Year and wish you all a healthy, prosperous, adventurous, wave-filled 2018!  See you in the water...YEEEWWW!!!

CBRASB Crowns Brazilian Champions for 2017

2017 CBRASB Troféu Brasil de Bodyboarding

Location: Praia do Estaleirinho, Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Date: November 23rd-26th, 2017

  CBRASB (Confederação Brasileira de Bodyboarding) crowned its 2017 Brazilian National Champions on Saturday, November 25th.  Here are the results.

SUB-18:

1st- Luan Tavares (RJ)
2nd- Vinicius Bueno (ES)
3rd- Igor Almeida (RJ)
4th- Felipe Custódio (PR)

SUB-18 NATIONAL CHAMPION: LUAN TAVARES (RJ)


OPEN WOMEN'S:

1st- Isa Nunes (PR)
2nd- Naiara Stringhini (RS)
3rd- Cristiane Bianco (SC)
4th- Marina Sobral (SC)

OPEN WOMEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPION: ISA NUNES (PR)


OPEN MEN'S:

1st- Luan Tavares (RJ)
2nd- Leandro Gonçalves (PR)
3rd- Igor Almeida (RJ)
4th- Jailton de Camargo (PR)

OPEN MEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPION: LUAN TAVARES (RJ)


MASTERS:

1st- Leonardo Moreira (ES)
2nd- Douglas Junior (SC)
3rd- Ronaldo Figueiredo (SC)
4th- Marco Marciel (SC)

MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPION: LEONARDO MOREIRA (ES)


WOMEN'S PRO:

1st- Maylla Venturin (ES)
2nd- Guta Borges (PR)

WOMEN'S PRO NATIONAL CHAMPION: MAYLLA VENTURIN (ES)


MEN'S PRO:

1st- Lucas Rodrigues (ES)
2nd- Marcos Boeno (PR)

MEN'S PRO NATIONAL CHAMPION: LUCAS RODRIGUES (ES)

For more information, please be sure to visit:

CBRASB on Facebook

CBRASB YouTube Channel

CBRASB Official Website

Isabela Sousa Relocating to Portugal

Isabela Sousa Relocating to Portugal

4x Women's World Champion Isabela Sousa. Photo: Lima Jr.

4x Women's World Champion Isabela Sousa has announced plans to move from her home in Ceará (Northeastern Brazil) to Carcavelos (near Lisbon, Portugal), where she plans to live for at least the next year.  Boa sorte e boa viagem, Bela!

For more information, please be sure to click the link below:

Surfer Today Press Release

2017 APB Awards

2017 APB Awards

  The 2017 APB Awards for Rookie of the Year, Move of the Year, and Athlete's Choice were voted on by the Top 24 on the APB Men's World Tour.

Alan Muñoz (Chile) received the Move of the Year award for this massive invert during the 2017 Arica Chilean Challenge!

MOVE OF THE YEAR: Alan Muñoz (Chile)

AM bringing a couple of souvenirs from the 2017 APB season back home to Chile.

ATHLETE'S CHOICE AWARD: Alan Muñoz (Chile)

Hawaii's Patrick Orr.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Patrick Orr (Hawaii)


Official APB Press Release


For more information, please be sure to visit:

www.apbtour.com

RECAP: Jared Houston Wins Fronton King 2017

Jared Houston Claims the Crown at Fronton King 2017

Date: October 14th-28th, 2017

Location: El Fronton, Galdar, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands


FINAL:
1st- Jared Houston (South Africa)
2nd- Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island)


VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES:

APB Tour Press Release

Surfer Today Press Release


For more information, updates, and highlights please be sure to visit:

www.apbtour.com

APB Tour on Facebook

APB Tour YouTube Channel

INTERNATIONAL BODYBOARD DAY

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL BODYBOARD DAY!

Go bodyboarding and share the stoke...YEEEWWW!!!

Surfer Today press release

Movement Magazine is Back!

Movement Magazine is back in print...

...and has returned with "The Legacy Issue" which is available NOW!!!

To purchase a copy in the US, go to:

ebodyboarding.com/products/the-return-of-movement-magazine

For more information about Movement Magazine, please be sure to visit:

Movement Magazine website

HISTORY: ISA Bodyboarding World Champions

HISTORY: ISA Bodyboarding World Champions

A 1988 promotional photo of Chris Cunningham from Morey Boogie Bodyboards.

Here's a quick look at the History of ISA Bodyboarding World Champions.

1988 World Surfing Titles: Chris Cunningham (USA)

1990 World Surfing Championship: Jackie Buder (Hawaii)

1992 World Amateur Titles: Nicolas Capdeville (France)

1994 World Amateur Titles: Jefferson Anute (Brazil)


1996 World Surfing Games:
Guilherme Tâmega (Brazil)
Daniela Freitas (Brazil)

1998 World Surfing Games:
Gonçalo Farias (Portugal)
Dora Gomes (Portugal)

2000 World Surfing Games:
Guilherme Tâmega (Brazil)
Karla Costa (Brazil)

2002 World Surfing Games:
Nicolas Capdeville (France)
Neymara Carvalho (Brazil)

2004 World Surfing Games:
Andrew Lester (Australia)
Kira Llewellyn (Australia)

2006 World Surfing Games:
Manuel Centeno (Portugal)
Kira Llewellyn (Australia)

2008 World Surfing Games:
Marcus Lima (Brazil)
Natasha Sagardia (Puerto Rico)

2009: No Event

2010: No Event

2011 World Bodyboard Championship:
Junior: Eduardo Rodriguez (Spain)
Drop Knee: Ardiel Jimenez (Spain)
Women's: Isabela Sousa (Brazil)
Men's: Pierre Louis Costes (France)
Team: France

2012 World Bodyboard Championship:
U18 Girls: Shiori Okazawa (Japan)
U18 Boys: Maxime Castillo (France)
Drop Knee: Iain Campbell (South Africa)
Women's: Sari Ohhara (Japan)
Men's: Eder Luciano (Brazil)
Team: Brazil

2013 World Bodyboard Championship:
U18 Girls: Glorielys Oropeza (Venezuela)
U18 Boys: Jefferson Bustos (Costa Rica)
Drop Knee: Luis Rodriguez (Venezuela)
Women's: Neymara Carvalho (Brazil)
Men's: Eder Luciano (Brazil)
Aloha Cup: Venezuela
Team: Brazil

2014 World Bodyboard Championship:
U18 Girls: Carolina Botteri (Peru)
U18 Boys: Yoshua Toledo (Chile)
Drop Knee: Amaury Lavernhe (France)
Women's: Teresa Almeida (Portugal)
Men's: Tristan Roberts (South Africa)
Aloha Cup: France
Team: Chile

2015 World Bodyboard Championship:
U18 Girls: Shiori Okazawa (Japan)
U18 Boys: Yoshua Toledo (Chile)
Drop Knee: Luis Rodriguez (Venezuela)
Women's: Anne Cecile Lacoste (France)
Men's: Eder Luciano (Brazil)
Aloha Cup: France
Team: Brazil

2016: No World Bodyboard Championship held

2017: No World Bodyboard Championship held

2018: No World Bodyboard Championship held

2019: No World Bodyboard Championship held

2020: No World Bodyboard Championship held

2021: ???

For more information, please be sure to visit:

www.isasurf.org

ISA on Facebook

www.isaworlds.com

Pat Caldwell Still Charging in His 50's

Pat Caldwell is still charging heavy Sandy's in his 50's...

Pat Caldwell at Sandy Beach on the south side of Oahu! Photo: JJ Caldwell.

...and it has me STOKED!!! Bodyboarding pioneer Pat Caldwell, the creator of the el rollo, was one of my bodyboarding heroes back when I was a grom, and he's someone I still look up to and hold in high regard.  Having met Pat several years ago (at Sandy's, no less) and having the good fortune of being able to touch base with him, occasionally, when I have bodyboard history-related questions is just one more example of how lucky I feel to be able to have met and befriended some of my childhood idols.  With that said, guys like Pat and Jay Reale and Mike Stewart continue to inspire me as a bodyboarder.  These guys, all in their 50's now, continue to redefine what is possible.  They're still charging, still ripping, and I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE THEM!!!  I have joked, for many years, that I plan on bodyboarding until the day I die.  It's really not a joke, though.  I want to continue to push myself so that I'm still chasing waves in my 50's and 60's...maybe even my 70's if I'm lucky!  For now, I'm doing my best to keep pushing myself forward through my 40's and, regardless of my age, as long as I'm still breathing you'll find me out in the water!  Thanks, Pat, for continuing to be an ageless inspiration!  Keep charging...YEEEWWW!!!

Still charging after all these years! Photo: JJ Caldwell

Ben Severson Announces Return of the BEN Board

1986 World Champion Ben Severson Announces Return of the Legendary BEN Board!

The Legendary BEN Board will be re-released through BSD Bodyboards!

  Yesterday (Sunday, October 15th), 1986 Bodyboarding World Champion Ben Severson announced through his Facebook page that BSD Bodyboards (Ben Severson Designs), will be returning to the worldwide market, and that he will be bringing back the legendary BEN Board model!

"The BEN boards are coming.  BSD is back into the retail market worldwide.  I would love to hear your comments!" - Ben Severson

Ben Severson Designs

Stay tuned to BODYBOARDING 101 for more news as this story develops.

For more information, please be sure to visit:

Ben Severson on Facebook

Mike Stewart Designs Bodyboard for Nazaré

Mike Stewart Creates Science Bodyboards Praia do Norte Model!

Mike Stewart presenting the Praia do Norte model from Science Bodyboards to Walter Chicharro, President of the Chamber of Nazaré.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with the city of Nazaré, to create boards specifically designed to suit this apex beach break.  The city has supported bodyboarding and myself over the years, so I am stoked to support Nazaré."  -9x World Champion Mike Stewart

The Science Bodyboards Praia do Norte model.

Limited Edition. Only 2 units on Planet Earth!

If there is any one bodyboarder on the planet, above all others, that has the wave riding knowledge and experience to design a bodyboard for use at Nazaré, Mike Stewart is most certainly that guy!

At 53 years old, during the 2016 APB Nazaré Pro, 9x Bodyboarding World Champion Mike Stewart paddled out at Praia do Norte and kicked into a few bombs like this...with no jet ski assistance!

Mike Stewart is the first and only bodyboarder on the Nazaré Wall of Fame.

For more information about Nazaré and the Praia do Norte model from Science Bodyboards, please be sure to visit:

Praia do Norte on Facebook

Praia do Norte Nazaré website

Nelson Flores Has Won the 2017 APB Pro Junior World Title

Nelson Flores (Chile) is the 2017 APB Pro Junior World Champion!

"Nacho" Flores with Manny Vargas after claiming the 2017 APB Pro Junior world title!

  Nelson "Nacho" Flores, from Chile, has clinched the 2017 APB Pro Junior world title at Fronton King (Galdar, Canary Islands), the final event of the 2017 world tour season.  In doing so, Nelson has become the first Chilean to win a bodyboarding world tour championship! Felicitaciones, Nacho!!!

"Action" Jackson with Chileans "Nacho" Flores and Alex Castillo at the 2017 APB Itacoatiara Pro in Brazil.

For more information, be sure to visit:

APB Tour website

APB Tour on Facebook

Fronton King on Facebook

Stay tuned to Bodyboarding 101 for a full RECAP of the 2017 APB Fronton King Festival!

RECAP: 2017 APB Nazaré Pro

RECAP: 2017 APB Nazaré Pro

An APB MWT/ WWT/PJWT Event

DATE: October 3rd-12th

LOCATION: Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal

Praia do Norte local Antonio Cardoso claimed his first world tour win at his home break! Photo: APB

MEN'S PODIUM FINAL:

3rd- Alan Muñoz (Chile)
4th- Diego Cabrera (Canary Islands)


MEN'S GRAND FINAL:

1st- Antonio Cardoso (Portugal)
2nd- Iain Campbell (South Africa)

Japanese competitors Ayaka Suzuki and Sari Ohhara swept the top two spots in the Women's Pro. Photo: APB

WOMEN'S PODIUM FINAL:

3rd- Isabela Sousa (Brazil)
4th- Alexandra Rinder (Canary Islands)

WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL:

1st- Ayaka Suzuki (Japan)
2nd- Sari Ohhara (Japan)

The Nazaré Pro Junior finalists. Photo: APB

PRO JUNIOR FINAL:

1st- Txomin Lopes (Basque)
2nd- Menelik Nazir (Canary Islands)
3rd- Eddy Mangenot (France)
4th- Miguel Ferreira (Portugal)

Joana Schenker (Portugal) clinched the 2017 Women's world title at Nazaré. Photo: APB

Iain Campbell (South Africa) secured the 2017 Men's world title at Nazaré. Photo: APB

Press Releases:

APB: All Hail Queen Joana of Portugal

Surfer Today: Joana Schenker Wins Maiden APB Women's World Tour Title

APB: Antonio Cardoso is the New King of Nazaré

Surfer Today: Iain Campbell is the 2017 APB World Tour Champion


For more information, photos, and video highlights please be sure to visit:

APB Tour website

APB Tour on Facebook

Iain Campbell Wins 2017 APB Men's World Title

South African Iain Campbell is the 2017 APB Men's World Champion!

Iain Campbell getting chaired up the beach at Praia do Norte after clinching the 2017 Men's title.

  At the 2017 APB Nazaré Pro in Portugal (October 3rd-12th), Iain Campbell has claimed the 2017 Men's World Tour title.  He is only the third South African bodyboarder in history to become world champion, following in the footsteps of 2x World Champion Andre Botha (1998, 1999) and Jared Houston (2015).  Congrats, bru!!!

Surfer Today press release

Stay tuned to Bodyboarding 101 for a full RECAP of the 2017 Nazaré Pro.

For more information, please be sure to visit:

www.apbtour.com

APB Tour on Facebook

Joana Schenker Wins 2017 APB Women's World Title

Joana Schenker Wins 2017 APB Women's World Title

2017 Women's Bodyboarding World Champion Joana Schenker. Photo: APB

  At the 2017 APB Nazaré Pro in Portugal (October 3rd-12th)), Joana Schenker claimed the 2017 Women's world title on home turf.  In capturing the title at Praia do Norte, the 4x European Champion from Sagres became the first bodyboarder from Portugal to ever become a world tour champion.  Parabens, Joana!

APB Press Release

Surfer Today Press Release

For more information, please be sure to visit:

www.apbtour.com

APB Tour on Facebook

Mark McCarthy Wins 2017 SA Champs Men's Pro Title

Mark McCarthy is the 2017 South African Men's Bodyboarding Pro Champion!

LOCATION: Durban, South Africa

DATE: October 1st- 7th

"Bowtie" taking home some hardware as 2017 South African Men's Pro Champion!

Stay tuned for a full recap of the 2017 South African Bodyboarding Championships here at Bodyboarding 101!

Also, be sure to visit these sites for more information:

South African Bodyboarding Champs on Facebook

SA Champs 2017 website

October Sessions

#TBT #OctoberSessions

Manasquan, New Jersey, USA

October 1998

Photos by Louis Brzozowski.

  Having grown up bodyboarding in New Jersey, I'v developed a fondness for Fall in the northeastern United States.  The early Autumn months of September and October are my favorite time of year.  It's October, specifically, though that is truly magical for me!

The water is, generally, still warm to the point that there are days when the water temps are warmer than the air first thing in the morning.  The waves are pretty consistent this time of year, with the occasional late-season hurricane buzzing by to pump in some additional swell.

The sunsets paint the sky in an explosion of brilliant colors that shimmer across the surface of the ocean while your out in the line-up during a late day session.  It almost feels like you've gotten absorbed into a Bob Ross painting.  It's just beautiful.

Plus, there's just something extremely cozy about finishing up a good session, going back to your car, peeling out of your wetsuit, and slipping into you favorite hoodie and pair of jeans.  If I could find a way to be back home in New Jersey every October, trust me I would go for it!

RECAP: Viana World Bodyboard Championship

RECAP: Viana World Bodyboard Championship

An APB Men's World Tour and Pro Junior World Tour event

DATE: September 26th- October 1st, 2017

LOCATION: Viana do Castelo, Portugal

PRO JUNIOR FINAL:

1st- Lionel Medina (Canary Islands)
2nd- Noah Capdeville (France)

Iain Campbell getting chaired up the beach by fellow South Africans Tristan Roberts and Luke Kitchin after winning the Men's Final at Viana.  Photo: APB.

MEN'S FINAL:

1st- Iain Campbell (South Africa)
2nd- Pierre Louis Costes (France)

(Left to Right) Uri Valadão (Brazil), Lewy Finnegan (Australia), Iain Campbell (S. Africa), and Pierre Louis Costes (France) indulge in a Champagne shower on the Men's Podium. Photo: APB;

FINAL DAY HIGHLIGHTS:

Official APB Press Release

For more information, please be sure to visit:

Official APB Website

APB on Facebook

RECAP: 2017 Madeira Bodyboard Girls Experience

RECAP: 2017 Madeira Bodyboard Girls Experience

Contest Window: September 19th- 24th, 2017

Location: Madeira Island, Portugal

FINAL:
1.  Sari Ohhara (Japan)
2.  Neymara Carvalho (Brazil)

Rider: Sari Ohhara. Photo: APB

Official APB Press Release: Sari Ohhara Wins Madeira

Video Highlights:

For more information, please be sure to visit:

Official APB Tour Website

APB Tour on Facebook

Bodyboard Girls Experience on Facebook

Projeto Escola Guilherme Tâmega

Projeto Escola Guilherme Tâmega

The Guilherme Tâmega Bodyboard School Social Project

A Blog A Day 2017: Blog # 26

Tuesday, September 26th

  The Guilherme Tâmega School was founded by 6x World Champion Guilherme Tâmega in 2002.  This social project works with up to 40 kids from the favelas of Pavão-Pavãozinho, Cantagalo, Chapeu Mangueira in Leme, and Morro Azul in Flamengo.  Classes take place at the world famous Copacabana Beach.

EGT students being coached on proper hand and body positioning.

  The school has built a reputation for developing world class competitors, such as Socrates Santana and Matheus Bastos.  Socrates Santana began with the social project at 10 years old, and went on to become 2x Pro Junior World Champion.  Both Socrates and Matheus now compete on the APB Men's World Tour.

Former star EGT student and 2x Pro Junior World Champion Socrates Santana visiting the school along with Women's World Tour competitor Ayaka Suzuki (Japan).

  The Escola Guilherme Tâmega meets every Tuesday and Thursday morning, on the beach in Copacabana (across the street from the Rio Othon Palace Hotel), 8:30-10:30am.  Students go through a series of warm-up exercises and stretching at the start of each class, before embarking on a short 2km beach run.  They receive instruction about equipment maintenance, environmental awareness, water safety, and wave riding technique.

After the conclusion of the APB Itacoatiara Pro world tour event, bodyboarding legend Manny Vargas (California, USA) paid a visit to the EGT.

For more information about the EGT, please be sure to visit:

Escola Guilherme Tâmega on Facebook

Baja Daydreaming

Baja Daydreaming

A Blog A Day 2017: Blog #23

Saturday, September 23rd

Enjoying a frosty margarita and grilled lobster tails in Puerto Nuevo!

  Okay, so it's late in the afternoon on a September Saturday.  I've been in my home office organizing paperwork, jotting down some random notes for a project I'm working on, filing bills, and prepping for a busy week to come.  This entire day, pretty much since my feet first hit the floor, I've had thoughts of Mexico running through my brain.  To be more specific, I've had thoughts of Northern Baja stuck in my head.  Fun waves. Uncrowded line-ups. Delicious food.  Cold Pacificos.  Good times!  Then, on a completely unrelated note, I thought to myself, "That should be today's blog!"  So, here it is...a little "Baja Daydreaming" to share with all of you!  All photos were taken by Manny Vargas on our Baja Weekender in 2011.  If you feel inspired to organize your own Baja Weekender, be sure to check out the official website below, and get in touch with Manny to make arrangements.  All the important details are listed on the website.  MV can help you dial in the rest of the details.

Mmmmm, lobster tails!

Gotta have chips n salsa!

You can't go wrong with this meal...a frosty margarita and grilled lobster tails with all-you-can-eat chips, salsa, guacamole, refried beans, Spanish rice, and warm flour tortillas.

Paying to have a mariachi play for us while we ate?  Totally worth it!

The Mariachi guitarist played a couple of songs for us.

Stoked to score some fun little waves and an empty line-up!

Scored a fun little solo session!

The only others I had to share the line-up with were a pod of dolphins and a flock of seagulls.

All smiles after that session!

A quick shower, throw on some clothes, and time to go eat!

PORK TACOS!!!  I love these!!!

Mmmmm, sooo gooood!!!

I could never go to Northern Baja and not dive face first into a Pork Carnitas Torta!!!

I love making new friends in Baja.  Hola, Señor Caballo!

Always stoked to cruise Northern Baja with Manny V!

For more information about Baja Weekender, and to book your trip with Manny Vargas, be sure to visit the official Baja Weekender website!