The representatives of the different communities of bodysurfers, and members of the International BodySurfing Association (IBSA) have decided to launch the inaugural IBSA Bodysurfing World Tour in 2023. The newly formed tour will include a qualification series with events in five general regions: North America, Latin America (South and Central America), Polynesia (Hawaii and Tahiti), Europe/Africa, and Australia/Asia.
Bodysurfers will participate in open qualifying contests in these five regions. Each of these contests will have a uniform judging system. This consistency will allow for a true global ranking system. After the World Tour completes its qualifying series in each of the five regional areas, the top-ranking men and women in each region will represent their region in the IBSA Bodysurfing World Tour Finals. The Finals are tentatively planned to be held during a holding period in 2024 on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
The members of the Board of Directors of IBSA have pioneered a dialogue and a concertation framework between the different communities of bodysurfers.
"Our goal is to promote bodysurfing, unify bodysurfers, and create consistency in competition," said IBSA Board President Patrice Grieumard. "Standardizing the contest's formats and judging will enable the IBSA to establish a viable global format for bodysurfing contests. Ultimately, we want to elevate the profile of competitive bodysurfing and recognize the athletes from around the world."
About the International BodySurfing Association:
Founded in 2018 to unify the global bodysurfing community, the International BodySurfing Association (IBSA) strives to promote the sport, standardize judging criteria, create a main body for all bodysurfing events and contests, and assist local and regional bodysurfing organizations around the world.