The Australian Bodyboarding Association (ABA) announced the suspension of the ABA Tour.
The non-profit bodyboarding organization decided to take a step back "recharge, restructure and renegotiate for a better competitive platform in 2021."
The cancellation of the 2020 ABA Tour is the result of the lack of financial support from sponsors, local authorities, and other major stakeholders.
"The financial viability of running a tour across such a large country has always been a challenge for our business," ABA notes.
"We have always had the goal to break-even, with all - if any - surplus revenue going directly back into improving the sport through a number of coaching and development concepts."
The Australian bodyboarding organization says it will continue focusing on the mission statement, which is to create pathways for success through competitive bodyboarding and develop relationships through the grassroots sector.
High Standards
The ABA Tour had been running nonstop since 2014 and is an affiliate member of Surfing Australia.
ABA was responsible for the creation of and development of one of the most successful national bodyboarding circuits in the world.
Some of the world's best riders competed in some of Australia's best surf breaks in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The ABA Tour crowned champions across five divisions - men, women, masters, junior, and drop-knee - and ran Big Wave and Bodyboarder Of The Year Awards.
It also delivered live streaming for several events and made sure to employ bodyboarders as judges, officials, work crew, filmmakers, photographers, producers, and designers to keep money within the industry.
The good news is that the board of directors is already working on a new system and competitive structure to make a viable comeback in 2021.
ABA Tour | List of Champions
2019: Lachlan Cramsie
2018: Lachlan Cramsie
2017: Lachlan Cramsie
2016: Joe Clarke
2015: Jake Stone
2014: Jake Stone