The Bodysurfing World Tour (BWT) was established by the International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA). All contests in the regional Qualifying Series (QS) worldwide operated under IBSA rules and guidelines.
The final BWT QS bodysurfing contest of 2023 for North America was held in Ventura on November 25 under sunny skies and execeptional surf conditions. The “Ventura BodySurfing Classic” was operated by the South Jetty Swells Bodysurfing Association. The first two BWT-QS contests were operated by USA BodySurfing in San Clemente (April 12) and Huntington Beach (November 12). The competitors earned valuable points to gain a spot on the North American squad that will compete in the BWT Finals next April 2024 in Hawaii, where the top ranked international competitors from five regions will vie for top honors.
The top two scores of the three BWT QS contests in California determined the final rankings for each competitor. More info on the BWT can be found on this web site.
The 2023 BWT QS season in California featured fierce competition among seasoned veterans and several newcomers to the competitive circuit.
The four women that will represent N.A. include two Southern Californian youths that have burst onto the scene - Miko Baron (17, from Oceanside) and Michelle Urkov (16, from Huntington Beach), Veterans Scotti Shafer (1st) from San Clemente and Meredith Rose (4th) from Del Mar round out the N.A. Women's team.
The men also found some newcomers to the podium in several contests this year. The eight men earning the right to represent North America include Bryan Knowles (1st, San Clemente), Ed Sweeney (2nd, Goleta), Greg Wilkinson (3rd, Del Mar), Ian Moore (4th, Venice Beach), Frank Musso (5th, Los Alamitos), David Curry (6th, Manhattan Beach), John Black (7th, Oceanside), and Pat Malo (8th, Santa Cruz).
MEN
Rank. Name - T-Street, Huntington, Ventura - IBSA Points
1. Bryan Knowles - 500, 1000, 860 - 1860
2. Edward Sweeney - 860, 860, 610 - 1720
3. Greg Wilkinson - 1000, 500, 555 - 1555
4. Ian Moore - 730, 670, 0 - 1400
5. Frank Musso - 670, 555, 380 - 1225
6. David Curry - 450, 730, 0 - 1180
7. John Black - 555, 610, 0 - 1165
8. Pat Malo - 380, 0, 730 - 1110
WOMEN
Rank. Name - T-Street, Huntington, Ventura - IBSA Points
1. Scotti Shafer - 860, 860, 1000 - 1860
1. Miko Baron - 1000, 610, 860 - 1860
3. Michelle Urkov - 555, 1000, 610 - 1610
4. Meredith Rose - 500, 670, 730 - 1400
