The International Bodyboarding Association has debuted a new website.

In www.ibaworldtour.com you will be able to check the 2009 news, pictures, videos and live webcasts.

The old site will remain live for a week, but you should bookmark this one as the future official IBA place.

2009 IBA World Tour Grand Slam events

Event 1. IBA America presents the 2009 Pipeline Pro

February 2009 – Pipeline - Hawaii

Pipeline has always been the Holy Grail of the sport. With an 11 day waiting period for Men only the 2009 Pipeline Pro will provide the perfect launching pad for the Grand Slam concept.

Event 2. IBA Brazil presents the 2009 Brazil Pro

April - Brazil

Brazil has proven to be an enormous supporter of the IBA World Tour and have delivered a great series of events in 2008. Copacabana will be the gem in the triple crown of Brazilian Bodyboarding

Event 3. IBA Australasia presents the 2009 Shark Island Pro

July 2009 - Shark Island - Australia

Shark Island is one of the most challenging waves on the planet and highlights the technical aspect of the sport and adds credibility to the IBA World Tour. With a new management team now steering the event, the future looks bright for this amazing event.

Event 4. IBA Europe presents the 2009 Sintra Pro

August 2009 – Praia Grande’ - Portugal

Sintra has a long rich history as one of the favourite stops for professional bodyboarders on the IBA World Tour. The carnival like atmosphere combined with solid prize money and slick presentation makes this a definite Grand Slam contender.

Event 5. IBA Europe / Africa presents the 2009 Confital Pro

December – El Confital – Canary Islands

El Confital is a World-class wave and with a promoter like Maldito Rodriguez suppling the great infrastructure, is always a fitting end to a great season

Remember – The 2009 IBA Championship will be decided by the best four (4) Grand Slam results and best two (2) other results.

Reserve Grand Slam

IBA Latin America presents the 2009 Arica Chilean Challenge

El Gringo is a powerful wave and with awesome support from the local community this event will make a great “Reserve” for the Grand Slam concept should for some reason one of the events not happen.

Proposed 2009 IBA WWT (Women’s World Tour) Grand Slams

IBA America presents the Pipeline Women’s Pro

April/May 2009 – Oahu - Hawaii

IBA Brazil presents the 2009 Brazil Pro

April 2009 – Rio - Brazil

IBA Europe presents the 2009 Sintra Pro

August 2009 – Praia Grande’ – Portugal

IBA Europe / Africa presents the 2009 Confital Pro

December – El Confital – Los Palmas – Grand Canaria.

Competitive bodyboarding is going through a massive growth support worldwide.

The IBA’s well-structured base has now become a valid product to invest in and requests are being received for new events from the four corners of the Globe.

To help to manage the influx, IBA International proposes a “Grand Slam” model taken from several high profile sports including Tennis and Golf. Below you will see how we propose to roll out this new IBA Grand Slam in 2009 and the advantages that it has towards stimulating the growth of the sport whilst maintaining a realistic pace for competitors chasing World Titles.

Each major continent will stage an “IBA Grand Slam” and these events will be worth 2000 points.

All other events will be given a 1000-point base
(us$20,000 Men & us$15,000 Women)

$20,000 - $40,000 gets 50 points per $5000 1400 points max

$45,000 - $80,000 gets 100 points per $5000 2000 points max

Wave Quality incentive will award 500 points for “Other events” but must be IBA Riders board approved

****The World Championship will be decided by the best four (4) Grand Slam results and best two (2) other results.****

The 5 Grand Slams selected will represent a 60/40 combination of Extreme wave locations and big prize-money events.

Event 1. IBA America presents the 2009 Pipeline Pro

February 2009 – Pipeline - Hawaii

Pipeline has always been the Holy Grail of the sport. With an 11 day waiting period for Men only the 2009 Pipeline Pro will provide the perfect launching pad for the Grand Slam concept.

Event 2. IBA Brazil presents the 2009 Brazil Pro

April - Brazil

Brazil has proven to be an enormous supporter of the IBA World Tour and have delivered a great series of events in 2008. Copacabana will be the gem in the triple crown of Brazilian Bodyboarding

Event 3. IBA Australasia presents the 2009 Shark Island Pro

July 2009 - Shark Island - Australia

Shark Island is one of the most challenging waves on the planet and highlights the technical aspect of the sport and adds credibility to the IBA World Tour. With a new management team now steering the event, the future looks bright for this amazing event.

Event 4. IBA Europe presents the 2009 Sintra Pro

August 2009 – Praia Grande’ - Portugal

Sintra has a long rich history as one of the favourite stops for professional bodyboarders on the IBA World Tour. The carnival like atmosphere combined with solid prize money and slick presentation makes this a definite Grand Slam contender.

Event 5. IBA Europe / Africa presents the 2009 Confital Pro

December – El Confital – Canary Islands

El Confital is a World-class wave and with a promoter like Maldito Rodriguez suppling the great infrastructure, is always a fitting end to a great season

Remember – The 2009 IBA Championship will be decided by the best four (4) Grand Slam results and best two (2) other results.