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