APB World Tour 2018
April 11th, Sydney Australia
The APB World Tour is set to continue in Chile in mid May and the APB team has been working on different changes for the structure in 2018 including a new format for the Mens Tour, a Pro Junior & DK World Championships, a returning location and a split 2 tier system and we cant wait to deliver these exciting new additions to the global fans of Bodyboarding. There has already been a 1 Star QEST in South Africa which was a small event but a success with Tristan Roberts winning on home turf and a great development event for the sport in South Africa. Read more here: https://apbtour.com/2018/04/roberts-kicks-start-the-year/
Structure
The Mens World Tour in 2018 will see a 2 tier structure that being the WGS (World Grand Slam Series) and the QEST (Qualifying event series tour). The WGS will be the top 32 field of competitors (Top 24 + 4 Wildcards + 4 trialists) and the QEST will be a qualifying tour for all mens athletes to participate in. At the end of the 2018 season, the top 8 athletes of the QEST will replace the bottom 8 WGS athletes. The World Title will be decided by the best 3 WGS results. The QEST Tour top qualifiers will be decided by the best 2 QEST events and best WGS trials event.
Format
The WGS will undertake a new format that will include a Shark Island style format mixed with a competitive man-on-man format which will push the level of riding high and become more and exciting for spectators. The WGS format will see a field of 32 riders all surf 3 rounds non-elimination (competing against alternate athletes) and the best 3 waves from each rider will count to make the top 16 cut to enter the man-on-man round 4, from there it will remain MxM to the final. This new format is designed to give ample opportunity to all athletes and also allow fans to watch their favourite athletes compete multiple times as they strive for the biggest scores possible and to eliminate the “safe surf” concept to win heats which is sometimes not exciting for viewers.
Tour returns to Australia
Along with a new format for the World Grand Slam series (WGS) there is also the return of the Australian South Coast event – The Kiama Bodyboard Slam which will also include the WWS (Womens World Series), a Pro Junior specialty event and a tow-out air show along with local community projects and festivities.
JNR/DK World Championships
The DK and Pro Junior categories have struggled to maintain a high number of competitors and this is predominately due to high travel costs and small sponsorship support. The APB recognises this and has decided to make in 2018 a one world championships for these 2 categories. The World DK Championships will be held in Sintra Portugal this year and the Pro Junior World Championships will be held in Viana Portugal both in September.
Schedule
https://apbtour.com/draft-2018-calendar/
| Event | MENS WORLD TOURS (WGS & QEST) | |||||||
| Date | Event Name | Rating | Seeds | Points | Location | Prizemoney | Event Status | |
| 1 | March 31 – April 3 | West Beach Warfare | 1 Star | Open | 1,000 | Port Alfred South Africa | $ 5,000 | Tristan Roberts |
| 2 | May 20 – 27 | Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival | 5 Star | Open | 5000 | Ola La Cupula, Antofagasta | $ 25,000 | Confirmed |
| 3 | June 4 -13 | Arica Bodyboard Culture | WGS | Top 24 | 10,000 | Isla Ex Alcaran, Arica, Chile | $ 30,000 | Confirmed |
| 4 | June 16 -27 | Itacoatiara Pro | WGS | Top 24 | 10,000 | Itacoatiara, Niteroi, Brasil | $ 30,000 | Confirmed |
| 5 | July 30 – August 9 | NSW Kiama Bodyboard Slam | WGS | Top 24 | 10,000 | Kiama, NSW, Australia | $ 30,000 | Confirmed |
| 6 | September 11 – 16 | Sintra Pro | 6 Star | Open | 6000 | Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal | $ 30,000 | Tentative |
| 7 | September 24 – 30 | World Bodyboard Championship | 4 Star | Open | 4000 | Arda Beach, Viana, Portugal | $ 20,000 | Tentative |
| 8 | October 3 – 11 | Nazare Pro | WGS | Top 24 | 10,000 | Praia de Norte, Nazare, Portugal | $ 30,000 | Tentative |
| 9 | October 14 – 28 | Gran Canaria Frontón King Pro | WGS | Top 24 | 10,000 | El Fronton, Galdar, Canary Is | $ 30,000 | Tentative |
| WOMENS WORLD SERIES (WWS) | ||||||||
| Date | Event Name | Rating | Points | Event Site | Prizemoney | Event Status | ||
| 1 | May 20 – 27 | Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival | WWS | Open | 5,000 | Ola La Cupula, Antofagasta | $ 15,000 | Confirmed |
| 2 | July 30 – August 9 | NSW Kiama Bodyboard Slam | WWS | Open | 5,000 | Kiama NSW Australia | $ 10,000 | Confirmed |
| 3 | September 11 – 16 | Sintra Pro | WWS | Open | 5,000 | Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal | $ 10,000 | Tentative |
| 4 | October 3 – 11 | Nazare Pro | WWS | Open | 5,000 | Praia de Norte, Nazare, Portugal | $ 10,000 | Tentative |
| Best 3 out of 4 WWS count for world title | ||||||||
| PRO JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||||||||
| Date | Event Name | Rating | Points | Event Site | Prizemoney | Event Status | ||
| 1 | September 24 – 30 | World Bodyboard Championship | Grand Slam | Arda Beach, Viana, Portugal | $ 10,000 | Tentative | ||
| DROP-KNEE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||||||||
| Date | Event Name | Rating | Points | Event Site | Prizemoney | Event Status | ||
| 1 | September 11 – 16 | Sintra Pro | Grand Slam | Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal | $ 15,000 | Tentative | ||
| SPECIALTY EVENTS | ||||||||
| Date | Event Name | Event Site | Prizemoney | Event Status | ||||
| April – October | Shark Island Challenge | Shark Island | TBC | Confirmed | ||||
| July 30 – August 9 | NSW Kiama Bodyboard Slam | Pro Jnr Event | Open | Kiama NSW Australia | TBC | Confirmed | ||
| September 11 – 16 | Sintra Pro Junior | Pro Jnr Event | Open | Praia Grande, Sintra, Portugal | TBC | Confirmed | ||
Image by: Richard Aleman / FK17
No Hawaii or US events. Shame.
They are adding U.S. , Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Mexico!!
When is Hawai’i?
Like most of us who can’t attend tour events, while I enjoy seeing standings, scores etc., I rely on web presence and notifications primarily for info on venues, dates and WEBCAST info. That’s where my main connection to apbtour is. Please post liberally on those topics. Curious to see how the changes (QS) will play out. Carry on. Thanks for doing what you guys do.