CURRENT EVENTS: December-January Recap & More

CURRENT EVENTS: December-January Recap & More

  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

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!!!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Circuito Carioca Event #4

BEHIND THE SCENES: Circuito Carioca Event #4
Sao Conrado, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
December 7th-8th, 2013

Helliton Loureiro at Sao Conrado.  Photo: CariocaBB

Event #4 at Sao Conrado.

Competitors and spectators were greeted by a solid swell in the morning!

Competition jerseys.

Israel Eduardo at Sao Conrado. Photo: CariocaBB

5x Women's World Champion Neymara Carvalho and her daughter were in attendance for the season finale of the 2013 Circuito Carioca at Sao Conrado.

The therapists from Fisio Sports Center hard at work, as always, making sure all of the competitors are ready to hit the water!

Nicholas Bastos at Sao Conrado.

Paola Simao at Sao Conrado.

Kadinho showing his support for the Salvemos Sao Conrado campaign!

Brazilian Magno Passos, Australian Glen Thurston, and American Steve Jackson at Sao Conrado.

Head Judge Chico Garritano.

Fabio Aquino checking the surf on day two of competition at Sao Conrado.

Helliton Loureiro and Lucas Nogueira at Sao Conrado.

The "gringo" Beach Marshal, Steve Jackson (USA), at Sao Conrado.  Photo: Flavio Brito.

FINAL RESULTS:

Men's Pro finalists.

(Men's Pro)
1st- Nicholas Bastos (RJ)
2nd- Lucas Nogueira (ES)
3rd- Helliton Loureiro (ES)
4th- Magno Possos (ES)

Women's Pro finalists.  Photo: CariocaBB

(Women's Pro)
1st- Cris Kale (ES)
2nd- Rafaela Alves (RJ)
3rd- Neymara Carvalho (ES)
4th- Paola Simao (RJ)

(Open Men's)
1st- David Barbosa (RJ)
2nd- Gabriel Popo (RJ)
3rd- Everton de Sousa (RJ)
4th- Igor Santana (RJ)

(Open Women's)
1st- Aline Oliveira (RJ)
2nd- Mariana Motta (RJ)
3rd- Carolina Paiva (RJ)
4th- samantha Sampaio (RJ)

(Sub 16)
1st- Kauque Thomaz (RJ)
2nd- Iago Davi (RJ)
3rd- Guilherme Faria (RJ)
4th- Socrates Santana (RJ)

Circuito Carioca staff photo for Sao Conrado.  Photo: CariocaBB

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

2013 CIRCUITO CARIOCA FINAL RANKINGS:

MEN'S PRO CHAMPION: Helliton Loureiro (Espirito Santos)

WOMEN'S PRO CHAMPION: Jessica Becker (Macae)

OPEN MEN'S CHAMPION: Adejaldo da Silva (Sao Joao de Barra)

OPEN WOMEN'S CHAMPION: Yumi Vasconcellos (Rio das Ostras)

SUB 16 CHAMPION: Kayque Thomaz (Recreio)

For more information, be sure to visit:

Circuito Carioca on Facebook

FEBBRJ on Facebook

www.FEBBRJ.com.br

  That's all for now.  Until the next time, I'm Steve "Action" Jackson.  I'll see you out in the water...YEEEWWW!!!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Circuito Carioca Event #3

BEHIND THE SCENES: Circuito Carioca Event #3
(dual-sanctioned as FEBBRJ state tour event #5)
Secreto, Praia da Macumba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
November 16th-17th, 2013

DAY ONE OF COMPETITION:

The Secreto mural.

Competitors gathered on a perfect beach day at Praia da Macumba for day one of competition.

Another great contest set-up for the Circuito Carioca!

Venezuelan Alejandra Altuve was in attendance for Event #3.

"Action" Jackson ready to get to work for the day...YEEEWWW!!! Photo: Sandro Barros.

The EBC bodyboard school took the Surf Bus from Copacabana to Macumba to watch day one of competition.

Mmmmm, acai with granola for breakfast...bom dia!

The guys from Fisio Sport were on hand and hard at work as always.

Up in the Judge's Booth, all eyes were on the action out in the water.

Helliton Loureiro.  Photo: CariocaBB

"Action" Jackson waiting to put the yellow flag up at the five-minute mark.

Mmmmm, cuscuz de coco...so good!

Paramedics were on stand-by to tend to everything from rock cuts to sprained ankles during the event.

DAY TWO OF COMPETITION:

A bunch of the competitors decided to camp out overnight.  The contest site resembled a refugee camp on Sunday morning!

Time to get the rescue ski out in the water and place the contest bouys.

Day two of competition resembled something out of Jurassic Park complete with fog, gusting winds and torrential rain squalls passing through all day.

Competition Jerseys.

Jessica Becker. Photo: CariocaBB

Pedro Valim and Joao Zik hanging out in the competitor's tent.

Paraiso do Surf...surfing paradise.

Felipe Lima, Leo Costa, and Helliton Loureiro.

Competitors continued to charge through heats, despite the nasty weather conditions!  Photo: CariocaBB

I can honestly say that this is the first time I have ever seen vultures on the beach during a competition...kind of creepy!

Beach Marshals Steve Jackson and Sandro Barros at the end of day two.  Our job is done here!

The trophies.

RESULTS:

MEN'S PRO FINAL:
1st- Helliton Loureiro (Espirito Santo)
2nd- israel Eduardo (Rio dos Ostras)
3rd- Roneiris Viana (Espirito Santo)
4th- Joao Zik (Niteroi)

WOMEN'S PRO FINAL:
1st- Jessica Becker (Macae)
2nd- Maria Helena (Niteroi)
3rd- Maira Viana (Espirito Santo)
4th- Marilene Fernandez (Espirito Santo)

OPEN MEN'S FINAL:
1st- Lucio Santana (Sao Joao da Barra)
2nd- Adejaldo Silva (Sao Joao da Barra)
3rd- everton de Souza (Sao Joao da Barra)
4th- Jonas Silva (Sao Joao da Barra)

OPEN WOMEN'S FINAL:
1st- Yumi Vasconcellos (Rio dos Ostras)
2nd- Hengy Santos (Pernambuco)
3rd- Paula Alonso (Niteroi)
4th- Maria Motta (Niteroi)...not pictured

SUB 16 FINAL:
1st- Kayque Thomaz (Recreio)
2nd- Jerson Luiz (Rio dos Ostras)
3rd- Ruben Matheus (Posto 5)
4th- Guilherme Faria (Rio de Janeiro)


UPDATED RANKINGS AFTER CIRCUITO CARIOCA EVENT #3:

2013 FEBBRJ STATE CHAMPIONS:

2013 FEBBRJ Men's Pro State Champion Helliton Loureiro.

2013 FEBBRJ Women's Pro State Champion Jessica Becker.

2013 FEBBRJ Open Men's State Champion Adejaldo Silva.

2013 FEBBRJ Open Women's State Champion Yumi Vasconcellos.

2013 FEBBRJ Sub 16 State Champion Kayque Thomaz.

UP NEXT ON THE 2013 CIRCUITO CARIOCA DE BODYBOARD:

Event #4 (Season Finale) @ Sao Conrado
December 7th-8th

The swell forecast is looking pretty good for the final event at Sao Conrado...2-2.5 meters/ 6-8 ft!

For more information, please be sure to visit:

Circuito Carioca on Facebook

FEBBRJ on Facebook

www.FEBBRJ.com.br


  That's all for now.  Until the next time, I'm Steve "Action" Jackson.  I'll see you out in the water...YEEEWWW!!!