Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Saturday, 26th May 2012 - Day 4 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Grand Slam presented by BSC commenced with the man-on-man format of Round 5 in 3-4 foot (1-1.5 meter) glassy waves. With and early start in a golden sunrise and pristine conditions, today was looking to be a full day of action packed man-on-man heat showdowns. Unfortunately the early onset of unfavorable wind forced event organizers to halt competition after the final heat of Round 5, leaving only 11 heats of competition for the final day tomorrow.

Round 4 heat winners were Australians Dallas Singer, Andrew Lester and Ben Player and the French powerhouse from Reunion, Amaury Lavernhe. Singer posting the highest heat score of the Round (14.57) for a combination of deep, long barrels and lofty backflips over the shallow end section of El Gringo’s infamous left-handers.

Tomorrows competition will continue with heat 1 of Round 6.

Event organizers have asked all GSS competitors to arrive a little earlier so check in will be at 6:30 am tomorrow morning with a possible 6:45 am start.

Below are todays results and tomorrow’s draw. For the full draw and results, go to  http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 3

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 4

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 1

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 2

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 3

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Friday, 25th May 2012 - Day 3 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Grand Slam presented by BSC commenced with the completion of Round 3 and the highly anticipated “Showdown” format in Round 4. The pristine conditions and powerful 4-6 foot (2meter) waves at El Gringo provided the full capacity crowd of spectators and judges with explosive riding in each and every heat of the day.

Round 4 featured the final 16 competitors taking advantage of the “Showdown” format where first place is catapulted directly into the quarter finals, second skips Round 5 directly into Round 6 whereas 3rd and 4th are renegaded to battle it out in Round 5.

The high-flying Hubbard brothers from Hawaii stole the show today. Older brother, Jeff Hubbard won his Round 4 heat with a 16.9 out of a possible 20 points, the highest heat score of the day and in arguably one of the most action packed heats of the event so far. His Round 4 win pushes him straight into the quarterfinals. Younger brother, Dave Hubbard took to the sky with big inverts and backflips, managing to post two impressive heat scores of 14.7 and 14.6 in his Round 3 and 4 heats respectively.

Other Round 4 winners included Australians, Dave Winchester and Mitch Rawlins who posted heat scores of 15.8 and 15.27 respectively, earning themselves slots directly into Round 6.

Mike Stewart (HAW) featured in the last heat of Round 4. No stranger to the heavy barrels at El Gringo, Stewart picked off the best set waves, driving through long barrels exiting with clean rolls and even finished one of his rides on the exposed rocks, narrowly escaping injury by shielding his body with his board. Stewart is the fourth and final rider to reap the rewards of a Round 4 win.

Tomorrows competition will start with heat 1 of Round 5, the first of the event’s man-on-man match-ups.

Event organizers have asked all GSS competitors to arrive a little earlier so check in will be at 6:45 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:15 am start.

Below are todays results and tomorrow’s draw. For the full draw and results, go to  http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 3

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 4

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 1

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 2

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Wednesday, 23 May 2012 - Day 2 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Grand Slam presented by BSC commenced with the non elimination Round 2 and the first three heats of Round 3 in clean 4-6 foot (2 meter) surf today. Event organizers opted to halt competition after heat 3 of Round 3 to ensure that competitors only get to compete in the best possible conditions.

Today’s standouts were Australia’s Dallas Singer and 2010 World Champion, Amuary Lavernhe (REU). Although Singer was relegated to Round 2, he managed to post the two highest heat scores of the day with 15.74 in Round 2 and 15.67 in Round 3, securing himself a spot in Round 4. Lavernhe once again impressed the judges and spectators with his flawless and powerful riding, stringing together long barrels with big backflips and even managed to complete two clean backflips on one of his last rides in Round 3 to take out his heat.

The completion of Round 2 saw an unexpected elimination of GSS number 10 seed, Jared Houston (ZAF) along with trials winner Brahim Iddouch (MAR). In Round 3 surprise eliminations were GQS number 1 seed, Damian King (Port Mac/AUS) and local favourite Alan Munoz (CHL) who looked unstoppable throughout the event thus far.

If the swell is consistent and favorable conditions prevail for tomorrow, heat one of the day will see three past World Champions, Jeff Hubbard (HAW), Uri Valadao (BRA) and Guilherme Tamega (BRA) battle it out to stay alive. Both Hubbard and Tamega are past event winners here in Arica and know what it takes to win at El Gringo.

Event organizers have asked all GSS competitors to arrive a little earlier so check in will be at 6:45 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:15 am start.

Below are todays results and the remaining Round 3 draw. For the full draw and results, go to  http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 3

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 4

2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Main Event Day 1

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

The GEC (Global economic crisis) has hit Spain & Portugal very hard and as a result funding has been cut all together for the Ferrol GQS 6 Star in Spain.

IBA World tour manager Terry McKenna explains.

” This 6 Star GQS was a vital part of the qualifying series, particularly for the GSS re-qualifiers so we will look at all other options to fill the gap including a potential new event in Peniche” he said.

” Toni Obenza has been a great suporter of the IBA for the last 5 years and he is sad to make this announcement”

The Sintra Portugal Pro has also suffered massive funding cuts and has cancelled the DK & at this point the WWT Grand Slam is not yet confirmed.

Competitors making plans for Europe need to note these changes to the calendar.

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

S: You’re the first bodyboarder I’ve met from Morocco. What are the waves like there?

B: There are good waves, good slabs and lots of rights. Not a lot of lefts though.

S: Don’t you think it’s ironic to have won the Trials going left?

B: Yeah. (laughs)

S: Where do you get waves in Morocco?

B: I live in the best place for waves in Morocco. I live near the beach and there are a lot of spots. I live like three minutes from the beach and I live really close to the waves. I can drive like thirty or forty kilometers to all spots in the north and in the south.

S: I was reading on Facebook that you just recently got a sponsor?

B: Yeah, I normally have Rip Curl and the Moroccan Federation, they help me out, I have a contract too. And for this trip, it is the Moroccan Federation and Sprite.

S: Sprite, like the drink?

B: Yeah.

S: No way.

B: Sprite and the Federation paid for the trip here, yeah.

S: So, this is your first time in Arica?

B: Yeah, this is my first time in Chile.

S: Do you have a wave like this [el Gringo] at home?

B: We have a wave like el Gringo but it’s a right. It’s about like 20-25 kilometers from where I live. I surf there a lot, even though it’s a right, it has the same power and is as shallow [as el Gringo].

Brahim earlier this year at Pipe

S: Where do you practice for lefts? I remember your waves you got at Pipeline, they were big. Where do you train for left-handers?

B:  In the south, there are some beachbreaks, so I go left there. In the contest in Hawaii, I just said to myself, “I have to go, it’s a contest”.

S: How did you go in your heat today?

B: Yeah, yesterday I was hurt, I hit the rocks, so I didn’t feel really good in my shoulder.

S: What happened yesterday?

B: I was paddling and I was in the lineup and the wave broke like one meter in front of me and took me directly into the rocks, a big one here [points to the back of his head], it was very hard. But yesterday I did not feel it because of the stress of the contest. I only felt it yesterday when I got to the hotel, when I was taking a shower.

S: What heat was that?

B: It was in the quarterfinals.

S: So you surfed two more heats without even knowing you were injured because of all the adrenaline?

B: Yeah.

S: And now today, what was it like competing against the top 24?

B: I was with Amaury [Lavernhe] and Mike [Stewart], but I did not get any good waves, because it was my first time in the IBA with the top ones, so I didn’t relax and I have a lot of stress in the lineup, so I didn’t get any good waves.

S: It is a bit different when you are surfing against two world champions, eh?

B: Of course. And tomorrow, I am in Round 2 with Jeff Hubbard, Sacha Specker, and an Australian, I don’t know his name.

S: Doug Smith.

B: Yeah, Doug Smith. I hope tomorrow the waves will be a bit smaller than today and I hope it will be good.

S: So, are you going to be doing the rest of the tour this year? Are you going to come to Brazil and all of the rest of the places?

B: No, because I have to go to Morocco, because I already got my ticket and when I go I must go see my sponsors. I’ll not be going to Brazil and Mexico, but I will go to all of the other contests.

Idouchh's backflip in the quarterfinals of the Trials

S: So the next time we will see you is at a trials will be in Portugal?

B: Yeah, at the Grand Slam.

S: Perfect. Well, congratulations once again for winning the Trials. Is there anybody you’d like to thank who has helped you to get to where you’ve gotten?

B: Thank you for all the Moroccans who’ve supported of me and to all my family and all of my sponsors. And the King of Morocco too, because helped me.

S: Wow, not many people can say that, huh?

B: I can say that because he helped me, he found my sponsor now.

S: Thanks Brahim.

B: Bye Shaggy.

I asked Brahim to write a little something in French, his second language, (Arabic is his first and English is his third) to his supporters out there.

Je tiens à remercier tous mes amis à travers le monde, ma famille, ainsi que mes sponsors qui m’ont permis de réaliser mes rêves et vivre ma passion (Rip Curl, Fédération Royale Marocaine de Surf et Bodyboard ainsi que Sprite) sans votre aide, rien n’aurait été possible…Merci à toutes et à tous pour le support!

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - Day 1 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge Grand Slam presented by BSC kicked off in solid 6-8 foot (2-3 meter) surf today. A slight bump in swell and offshore winds provided the GSS riders with heaving barrels and massive ramps. Standout of the day was local wildcard, Danton Correa who posted the highest heat score of 17.5 out of a possible 20 points. Correa managed to scoop into what seemed like a 10 foot close-out, which he somehow navigated through and exited the barrel only meters from the treacherous El Gringo rocks.

Correa commented, “Us chileans have been waiting all year for this event. This is our chance to compete against the worlds best at our very own world class wave. I am so happy I won my heat today”.

Other standouts of Round 1 included, Amaury Lavernhe (REU) and Pierre-Louis Costes (FRA) who both found big set waves that barreled across the entire El Gringo reef providing them with near perfect scores. Australians, Nick Gornall and Dave Winchester and Chilean powerhouse Alan Munoz took to the air in their Round 1 heats with high flying inverts. Gornall landing possibly the biggest air of the event so far, for which the judges rewarded him with an 8.25 out of a possible 10.

Event organizers have asked all GSS competitors to check in at 7:00 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:30 am start.

Since Round 1 is a non elimination round, all competitors who finished in 3rd or 4th place today will have a chance to redeem themselves in Round 2 tomorrow.

Below are todays results and Round 2 draw. For the full draw go to  http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 3

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 4

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Monday, May 21, 2012 - Morocco’s Brahim Iddouch has taken out the Trials of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge presented by BSC. The high-flying Moroccan was unstoppable thoughout all his heats, linking up incredibly deep tube rides with huge backflips over the infamous El Gringo reef.

“I am so happy to win these trials. Just one day before coming here I secured a financial sponsorship and today I won. So many good things have happened”, Iddouch elated. “I am really excited for the main event.”

In the final, Iddouch finished ahead of Damian King (Port Mac/AUS) in second, Alan Munoz (CHL) in third and Doug Smith (Port Mac/AUS) in fourth.

The top six trialists have secured themselves a spot in the main event which is scheduled to kick off with an increase in swell tomorrow.

The top six and reserves are:

1. Brahim Iddouch – Morroco

2. Damian King – Australia

3. Alan Munoz – Chile

4. Doug Smith – Australia

5. Sacha Specker – South Africa

6. Adam Morley – South Africa

7. Pierre Barthelier – Reunion (1st Reserve)

8. Airam Cabrera – Canary Island (2nd Reserve)

Below are todays results. For full results and the GSS draw go to  http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html

Event organizers have asked all GSS competitors to check in at 7:00 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:30 am start.

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer 

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener 

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1 

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2 

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 3 

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

The global economic crisis (GEC) has hit Portugal harder then anywhere in Europe and as a result funding for the worlds longest running event has been cut substantially but the Sintra council.

Its a sad moment for event organizer Roman Alverez who has supported the DK crew for so long.

” We will shorten the event by 2 days and cancel the DK in an attempt to keep the event alive” said Roman.

IBA welcome potential sponsors for the DK event at Sintra to contact IBA Tour manager Terry McKenna at terry@ibaworldtour.com

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Sunday, May 20, 2012 - Trials Day 3 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge presented by BSC commenced with Round 4 of the trials in glassy 4-6 feet (2 meter) surf today. The level of riding has stepped up a notch today as the final 22 riders of the draw remain.

Stand-out of the day was Australia’s Nick Ormerod, earning himself an impressive heat score of 16.67 out of a possible 20 points. In slightly smaller swell than yesterday, but near perfect conditions, Ormerod scooped into a flurry of long tubes, finishing them off with solid rolls, scoring a excellent 9.1 for the best of them.

Tomorrows competition will kick off with the final three heats of Round 6 then moving into the quarter finals, semi finals and finals. The top six placing trialists will guarantee themselves a slot in the GSS event which is expected to run in big and clean conditions next week.

Event organizers have asked trialists to check in at 7:00 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:30 am start.

Below are todays results.

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 2

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour

Event 3 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series

El Gringo, Arica, Chile

May 18 – 27, 2012

ibaworldtour.com

Arica, Chile – Saturday May 19, 2012 - Trials Day 2 of the 2012 IBA Stealth Arica Chilean Challenge presented by BSC commenced with Round 2 of the trials in flawless 6-8 feet (2-3 meters) of surf this morning. A slight drop in swell and shorter period between waves improved the quality of waves and provided the competitors with high performance waves like never before seen in any Grand Slam trials to date.

Portuguese rider, Joao Neiva delivered a show-stopping performance in his Round 4 heat today, posting the highest heat score of 18.17 out of a possible 20. Both of Neiva’s scoring rides were right handers, the first, a long and deep barrel for which he was rewarded a near excellent 9.67 and his second, a lofty invert over the shallow reef.

As the final buzzer of the day marked the end of competition, a parade of traditional dance and song entertained the international and local competitors and spectators alike.

Event organizers have asked competitors to check in at 7:00 am tomorrow morning with a possible 7:30 am start.

Below are todays results.

Check into the (IBA) International Bodyboarding Association website  and IBA Facebook or follow IBA on Twitter for all the updates as the action unfolds

Find all the daily clips and video updates below or visit the IBA YouTube Channel for all past episodes.

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trailer

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Opener

2012 IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials Day 1

Order your 2012 IBA World Tour calendar and merchandise on the IBA online store.

Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Pro, give the new IV YouRiding BODYBOARDING online game a go.

This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com

Sacha Specker

IBA Media 

www.ibaworldtour.com 

Copyright 2011 IBA World Tour