The Association of Professional Bodyboarders (APB) has released the provisional calendar for the 2017 APB World Tour.
According to the tentative schedule, the world's best professional male bodyboarders will compete 11 events spread through seven countries.
The APB is planning contests that will deliver between 1,000 (1 Star) and 6,000 points (Silver Grand Slam), which correspond to prize-money purses of between $5,000 and $35,000.
The Men's World Tour will distribute a total of $250,000 in prize money throughout the season and, hopefully, attract new riders to the competitive scene.
The organization notes that the overall season rankings will be based on the best three results in Grand Slam events, plus the best two results in Star contests.
The Women's World Tour and the Pro Junior World Tour continue strong with a total of nine events each. The APB is expecting to crown the Drop-Knee world champion in a single event held in Sintra, Portugal.
The first event of the 2017 APB World Tour will be the Pipeline Invitational, and it is expected to run between February 25th and March 10th. The Shark Island Challenge will run as a specialty event sanctioned by the APB.
2017 APB World Tour | Schedule (Last Update: December 28th, 2016)
Men
Mike Stewart Pipeline Invitational | Pipeline, Hawaii | February 25th - March 10th | 2-Star
Sparkgreen Tahiti Challenge | Teahupoo, Tahiti | April 22nd - May 4th | Bronze Grand Slam
SIC / South Coast Mobile | Kiama, NSW, Australia | May 7th-21st | 1-Star
Itacoatiara Pro | Itacoatiara, Brazil | June 14th-25th | Silver Grand Slam
Arica Chilean Challenge | El Gringo | June 29th - July 9th | Silver Grand Slam
Antofagasta Pro | Antofagasta, Chile | July | 4-Star
Sintra Pro | Praia Grande, Portugal | September 12th-17th | 4-Star
Viana Pro | Viana do Castelo, Portugal | September 26th - October 1st | 4-Star
Nazaré Pro | Praia do Norte, Portugal | October 3rd-12th | Bronze Grand Slam
Alcala Open | Tenerife, Canary Islands | October-November | 3-Star
El Fronton Showdown | Galdar, Canary Islands | October 14th-29th | 3-Star
Women
Pipeline Pro | Pipeline, Hawaii | February 25th - March 10th | 1-Star
Itacoatiara Pro | Itacoatiara, Brazil | June 14th-25th | 3-Star
Arica Chilean Challenge | El Gringo | June 29th - July 9th | 3-Star
Antofagasta Pro | Antofagasta, Chile | July | 3-Star
Sintra Pro | Praia Grande, Portugal | September 12th - 18th | 4-Star
Viana Pro | Viana do Castelo, Portugal | September 26th - October 1st | 2-Star
Nazaré Pro | Praia do Norte, Portugal | October 3rd-12th | 2-Star
Alcala Open | Tenerife, Canary Islands | October | 2-Star
La Guancha Pro | Galdar, Canary Islands | October | 3-Star
Pro Junior
Pipeline Pro | Pipeline, Hawaii | February 25th - March 10th | 1-Star
Itacoatiara Pro | Itacoatiara, Brazil | June 14th-25th | 2-Star
Arica Chilean Challenge | El Gringo | June 29th - July 9th | 2-Star
Antofagasta Pro | Antofagasta, Chile | July | 2-Star
Sintra Pro | Praia Grande, Portugal | September 12th - 18th | 2-Star
Viana Pro | Viana do Castelo, Portugal | September 26th - October 1st | 2-Star
Nazaré Pro | Praia do Norte, Portugal | October 3rd-12th | 2-Star
Alcala Open | Tenerife, Canary Islands | October | 2-Star
La Guancha Pro | Galdar, Canary Islands | October | 2-Star
Drop-Knee
Sintra Pro | Praia Grande, Portugal | September 12th-17th | 2-Star
Specialty Events
Shark Island Invitational | Cronulla, Australia | March - October