This year the tour opened with the WAHINE Bodyboarding Pro in Espirito Santo, Brazil. The event, open exclusively to the women’s divisions, was marked by the remarkable win of our Japanese athlete, Sari Ohhara.
The South American leg then continued with the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival, a remarkable event including every division of the world tour (men, women, juniors and dropknee). Worth noting: this event offered the biggest prize purse, 75,000 dollars. Our South African rider Tristan Roberts came out on top, winning the final against Tanner McDaniel. That victory adds to Tristan’s impressive record as the reigning two-time world champion. The spotlight was not only on Tristan, though: Sari Ohhara, showing exceptional consistency, took a second win after her success in Brazil. Congratulations to both our riders!
After Antofagasta, on to one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year: the Arica Cultura Bodyboard Presented by Pride Bodyboards. Known as one of the most prestigious events in the world, this competition delivered phenomenal conditions on every day of competition on the famous wave of "El Flopos". Despite extreme conditions, the event lived up to all its promises. Among the competitors, our riders Tristan Roberts, Matias Diaz and Pierre-Louis Costes reached the quarter-finals. Local hero Moises Silva put in an impressive performance, but was unfortunately eliminated in the 7th round.
While Tristan and Matias could not get past the quarter-final stage, Pierre-Louis Costes showed unshakeable determination. He came out on top of the final against Tanner McDaniel, taking the Arica Cultura Bodyboard Presented by Pride title for the third time. He is now the first athlete to win three times at the most prestigious event of the world tour. Congratulations to the legend!
Now let us set sail for Itacoatiara, Brazil, for the third event of the men’s division. Moises Silva, our young and talented rider, whom we have sponsored and supported since he was 15, came out triumphant at the Itacoatiara Pro 2023. Held on Itacoatiara beach, in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro in Niterói, this stop of the Bodyboard World Championship was the stage for an incredible run by the young Chilean, leading him to his first world tour win. In the final, with more than half the time gone and no significant score to his name, Moises seized an opportunity and hit a big ramp that earned him the best score of the heat: 8.5 points. That performance, combined with a second wave, put him ahead of Hawaiian Tanner McDaniel and onto the top step of the podium of the Brazilian stop.
Even though the event was not part of the IBC world tour, we also have to acknowledge the incredible performance of Matias Diaz, who won the Iquique Bodyboard Pro 2023 at home! Matias’ determination and talent carried him to victory in the final, fulfilling his dream of winning the title at home in Iquique. Congratulations to Matias on an exceptional run!
