Up to now decade, skilled aggressive bodyboarding went from thriving to suffering.

Skilled bodyboarding hasn’t ever been a sustainable, career-long task. It had is ups, downs, ups, and downs.

However at this second in time, issues don’t seem to be having a look just right.

Mockingly, the one few bodyboard stars that constructed a profession round boogie-boarding are the sports activities’ early champions.

Let’s check out the timeline of occasions that resulted in the awkward silence and darkish moments surrounding the game created by way of Tom Morey.

The primary to drag the plug was once the World Surfing Affiliation (ISA).

From a bureaucratic viewpoint, the ISA is the arena governing frame for the game of browsing and bodyboarding.

Why? As a result of it’s been formally validated and identified by way of the World Olympic Committee (IOC).

From 2012 to 2015, the ISA ran the International Bodyboard Championship (WBC), an match that featured dozens of athletes representing nations from around the globe.

The contest topped open males, open ladies, under-18 girls and boys, and drop-knee global champions.

Then again, after 4 consecutive editions, the group led by way of Fernando Aguerre stopped operating WBC with out offering explanations.

In October 2019, Alex León stepped down as CEO of the Affiliation of Skilled Bodyboarders (APB).

The pro bodyboarding circuit was once left afloat within the fingers of the riders and one of the most few skilled bodyboard contest organizers – Terry McKenna.

Then again, quickly after, in February 2020, McKenna additionally introduced his time in skilled bodyboarding was once over.

The Australian was once drained and having a look after a profession transfer. Truthful sufficient.

However a brand new team of “rebels” had already taken over the arena excursion.

The World Bodyboarding Company (IBC), led by way of Danny Hernandez, promoter of the Frontón King, was once introduced throughout the reside webcast of the 2020 Lurin Professional, held in Peru.

Whilst on-line audience had been gazing the printed, the APB emblem was once changed by way of the IBC insignia.

The take-over was once unorthodox, however their intentions and keenness for the game had been just right, easy, and natural.

“The Affiliation of Skilled Bodyboarders (APB) will transform a riders’ union to constitute the perspectives and pursuits of the bodyboarders competing at the global excursion,” Hernandez mentioned in February 2020.

In his ultimate interview as APB operations supervisor, Terry McKenna informed SurferToday.com that “the very last thing bodyboarding wishes is a transformation within the governing frame’s identify.”

The IBC International Excursion Revolution

In early March 2020, the main points in the back of the newly-created IBC International Excursion had been in the end published.

The non-profit group was once created beneath Chilean legislation, with the professional designation being Corporación Internacional de Bodyboard.

The stakes had been prime.

The Latin-led group sought after to make a couple of adjustments, together with giving extra folks get entry to to the enjoyment of using a wave and certainly influencing native communities the place global excursion occasions happen.

The IBC was once intended to be the 5th aggressive generation in skilled bodyboarding after the APB, IBA, GOB, and the World Morey Boogie Bodyboard Professional Championships.

They arrange an intervening time committee to oversee the transition length from the APB to the brand new entity.

The IBC founders additionally promised that the group can be led by way of skilled bodyboarders, promoters, technical workforce, judges, and different stakeholders.

Once more, the intentions had been just right, and there have been 9 levels able to welcome the IBC.

Hernandez published that the 2020 IBC International Excursion can be a transitional circuit, with the primary cast International Excursion operating in 2021.

A Pandemic Moves

In mid-March 2020, the planet confronted a brand new truth, and the radical coronavirus Covid-19 grew to become everybody’s global the wrong way up.

Public occasions had been suspended, bodily distancing was once imposed, seashores had been closed, and flights had been canceled.

Existence as we knew it turned into a shadow of ourselves.

4 weeks after making its first public look, the IBC International Excursion began canceling one of the most 9 occasions that had already been scheduled and showed.

Then, in Might, the IBC launched its ultimate professional remark – two extra levels were canceled. Issues were not having a look just right.

In July 2020, the Sintra Professional organizers published that this yr’s version was once no longer going to occur.

By way of August, it was once transparent that the IBC International Excursion would no longer experience a wonderful debut.

However in reality that enthusiasts and athletes did by no means get all of the data they deserved to regulate their expectancies and plan their lives.

Loss of Communique

Communique has been the Achilles’ heel of the IBC International Excursion.

From the get-go, enthusiasts and media by no means in reality knew what was once happening and the way the brand new excursion would adapt to pandemic instances.

Seven months have handed for the reason that new skilled bodyboarding circuit was once publicly introduced.

Then again, the professional web page – ibcworldtour.com – remains to be beneath development.

“The IBC web page might be to be had quickly. Thanks in your persistence!” it reads.

We despatched an electronic mail to the IBC press/media officer, asking whether or not the 2020 IBC International Excursion can be canceled.

No answer.

IBC’s social media channels do not let us know a lot both.

So, what may enthusiasts be expecting from skilled aggressive bodyboarding?

What is the long-term imaginative and prescient? How does the marketing strategy appear to be? How will the excursion adapt to the brand new truth? Are there any occasions already locked in and showed for 2021?

The loss of comments and updates isn’t a just right check in any business, and if the purpose is to construct consciousness for one thing new, there is gotta be a roadmap.

Bodyboarding For a Residing

Existence is not simple if you are a certified bodyboarder in 2020.

And not using a competitions, no promotional occasions, no media publicity, and less sponsoring alternatives, it is time to to find different income-generating actions.

A former global bodyboarding champion informed us that competing on this planet circuit isn’t on his/her quick and medium-term priorities.

Prize cash slightly will pay a transatlantic flight price ticket, and there is meals to be put at the desk.

The vast majority of skilled riders are nonetheless ready to peer what occurs, however the game is set to lose a complete technology of more-talented-than-ever bodyboarders.

Bodyboarding competitions are scarce and uncommon.

There is a one-off match right here and there in Hawaii and California, and a few nationwide bodyboarding championships nonetheless up and operating.

Bodyboard Producers: Time to Step Ahead

The function and strengthen of bodyboard manufacturers and producers in preserving the business and competitions alive is an previous taboo that hasn’t ever been addressed.

When round a dozen labels keep watch over over 90 p.c of the marketplace, and a part of that cash isn’t channeled towards prize cash, contest constructions, on-line streaming, and sponsoring athletes, there is something flawed.

Make no mistake – athletes are those who lend a hand promote bodyboards.

Bodyboard enthusiasts and leisure riders will purchase a board that works – a board that has been examined within the hardest prerequisites, or a board that can lend a hand them spice up airs and get barreled.

If there aren’t any global champions getting spat out of a blue cylinder at Pipeline, El Frontón, or Nazaré, the bodyboard business will slowly fade out.

You must say that the worldwide financial system entered a post-pandemic recession, that individuals are spending much less cash, and that sports activities aren’t on best in their priorities.

However in reality that browsing and bodyboarding gross sales are going in the course of the roof in 2020.

The reason is discreet: individuals are bored to death with being confined at house, and what they in reality want and search is out of doors and seashore lifestyles.

However those certain indicators are fragile and won’t ultimate eternally.

Bodyboard producers will quickly be faced with the absence of sports activities references and the fast decline of the game.

So, perhaps it is time for them to step ahead and think their obligations.

Want a just right instance? The Skilled Windsurfers Affiliation (PWA) International Excursion is the longest-running skilled water sports activities circuit.

And have you learnt why skilled windsurfing remains to be up and operating in spite of being a fairly low-key game?

As a result of it’s run by way of windsurfers, however sponsored by way of just about all business gamers.

The start is the top is the start. And the top is the start is the top.

In 2021, we will be able to know which one of the most above paradigms will be successful.

Time is operating out, and the loss of life {of professional} aggressive bodyboarding is at the horizon.

Do your section.

If you are operating bodyboard competitions – be ingenious, adapt, and make it occur. If you are operating a logo – take motion and strengthen skilled bodyboarding. If you are a fan – ask and insist.

Do just it. There may be an excessive amount of at stake.

Phrases by way of Luís MP | Founding father of SurferToday.com