|
|
|
Itacoatiara Bodyboard Pro 2023
EVENT TYPEMen
EVENT STATUS:Completed

Itacoatiara Bodyboard Pro 2023

June 9, 2023 to
June 18, 2023
Venue: Itacoatiara, Niteroi, Brazil

Men – $30 000 – 3000pts

IN JUNE, NITERÓI WILL HOST THE ITACOATIARA PRO 2023, FEATURING THE IBC WORLD TOUR, BRAZILIAN DOWNHILL, AND STATE SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP

The event will span 17 days in June, starting with the renowned stage of the IBC World Tour—held in the remarkable and hollow waves of Itacoatiara. This will be succeeded by a stage of the Brazilian Bodyboarding Championship, the Brazilian Downhill Championship, the State Sailing Championship, as well as Surfing and Bodysurfing competitions, making their debut as part of this festival.

Starting from June 9th, the city of Niterói will host the 11th edition of the Itacoatiara Pro—an electrifying sports festival that kicks off with the Grand Slam stage of the IBC World Tour, followed by a stage of the Brazilian championship in the sport. Alongside these events, there will be thrilling competitions in Downhill, Sailing, Surfing, and the debut of Bodysurfing in this edition. Prepare for 17 days packed with action and adrenaline, showcasing the skills of top athletes and stars in these exhilarating sports.

The highlight of the festival is the Itacoatiara Pro World Contest (IBC World Tour)—an invigorating event that draws a diverse group of athletes from over 20 countries, all vying for ranking points and a prize pool of over R$ 150,000. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Itacoatiara Beach, renowned for its formidable and barreling waves, the festival also features awe-inspiring Surfing and Bodysurfing competitions, followed by the Brazilian Bodyboarding circuit.

In addition, unprecedented competitions from the national and state circuits of Downhill and Sailing will take place at various locations across the city—further enhancing the excitement and adding to the diverse range of sporting events throughout the festival.

“The World Championship will once again gather the sport’s elite in Niterói—a city with a rich bodyboarding tradition. As for the surfing events, we will be honored to host esteemed guests from the realm of big wave surfing, including Lucas Chumbo, Pedro Calado, Gabriel Sampaio, Kalani Latanzi, and other renowned athletes known for conquering massive waves,” reveals Giuliano Lara, the visionary behind Itacoatiara Pro. Additionally, he excitedly announces the debut competition in Bodysurfing, adding another thrilling dimension to this year’s event.

“Following that, we have the Brazilian Downhill Championship and the State Sailing Championship lined up. In the second half of the year, our sports agenda will continue with exciting events, including Skateboarding, Paragliding, Hawaiian Canoeing, alongside the highly anticipated shows and cultural attractions of Itacoatiara Pro, which always garner immense popularity among the local population,” adds Giuliano Lara.

TV series host Henrique Pistilli, renowned for his show “Homem Peixe” (Fish Man), is among the confirmed participants in the Bodysurf competition—making its debut in this year’s sports festival. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, born in Tijuca, Henrique expresses his deep affection and respect for Itacoatiara, a place he has been visiting since his teenage years, although currently residing in Fernando de Noronha. He expresses his excitement upon receiving the invitation from Kalani Latanzi to take part in the sport’s debut at the event, emphasizing that it will be a moment of both competition and celebration.

“Not only my expectations, but also those of most athletes participating in the world bodyboarding circuit are high for this year’s Itacoatiara Pro,” says professional big wave rider and Itacoatiara local, Dudu Pedra. “The beach has just received a new southeast swell—which is a very good direction to get the Itacoatiara break ready for the competitions. All signs are indicating that we will have another year of big waves during the world and Brazilian bodyboarding events, and this is generating a lot of excitement among us competitors and sports enthusiasts,” Dudu notes.

“The conditions are excellent, we’ve already had some big waves, it has the potential to be amazing. We will be welcoming friends from various parts of the world for a lot of surfing, bodyboarding, and other sports. It’s going to be a complete event,” says professional big wave surfer Gabriel Sampaio—who is participating in the competition for the second consecutive year.

Coming from a family with a strong connection to water sports, Mayor Axel Grael emphasizes the significance of the festival and highlights Niterói’s partnership with Nazaré—a Portuguese city well-known for its large waves. He expresses his satisfaction in hosting major competitions in a city that already has a deep appreciation for outdoor sports. Niterói boasts a breathtaking natural environment, favorable topography, and robust infrastructure that are well-suited for an event of this magnitude. The Itacoatiara Pro not only enhances our sports tradition but also plays a vital role in creating employment opportunities, boosting income, and promoting tourism. Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Mayor of Nazaré—with whom we have established partnerships across various domains, including sports—to further enhance our planning for hosting these remarkable competitions.

Praia de Itacoatiara – “Nazaré is here”

Recently, Itacoatiara has garnered significant attention in both television and digital media. Videos showcasing towering 10-meter waves have gone viral on social networks and been featured on major news programs across the country. The sheer size and power of the waves have led to comparisons between Itacoatiara and Nazaré Beach in Portugal—renowned for its massive waves and status as one of the world’s top surfing destinations.

“The autumn-winter season in Rio de Janeiro is typically characterized by the arrival of the largest swells of the year. Considering that we have already witnessed two significant swells along the Rio coast this year, it is entirely possible for another one to occur during the event period. Waves reaching 10 meters or more are not uncommon in Itacoatiara—a beach that continues to gain recognition in the realm of big wave surfing. It is not only the size of the waves that draws attention but also the immense power and volume of water they carry,” highlights Giuliano Lara, the founder of the Itacoatiara Pro and a former professional athlete.

He also elaborates that the significant south and southwest swells that impact Itacoatiara Beach during this season are channeled through a unique funnel-like formation created by the surrounding mountains (Morros do Costão and Andorinhas)—not only does this geological configuration amplify the wave size, but it also generates an extraordinary concentration of energy and force, Giuliano further explains.

The Secretary of Sports and Leisure of Niterói, Luiz Carlos Gallo, highlights the city’s stunning outdoor sports environment, which serves as an excellent platform for both amateur and professional athletes. The inclusion of the Downhill and Sailing competitions in Niterói as part of the Itacoatiara Pro in 2022 was highly successful, elevating their significance within national and state championships and circuits—this is a great advantage for the sport, emphasizes the Secretary of Sports.

The Bodyboarding World Championship (IBC), taking place from June 9 to 18, and the Brazilian championship, from June 23 to 25, will gather top athletes from around the world in Itacoá. From June 19 to 22, there will be exciting surfing and bodysurfing contests with renowned big wave specialists—this is an opportunity for spectators to witness thrilling performances in these exhilarating water sports. On the weekends of June 24 and 25, the traditional Sailing competitions will be held in Guanabara Bay, and the Bike Downhill competition will take place at the Parque da Cidade (City Park).

World Bodyboarding Circuit (Itacoatiara Pro World Contest)

The highly anticipated Itacoatiara Pro World Contest, organized in collaboration with the International Bodyboarding Corporation (IBC), is a prestigious Grand Slam (5-star) stage of the world circuit—an event that will attract over a hundred athletes from at least 20 countries. The competition kicks off on June 9th with a preliminary round, determining the top 16 athletes who will join the 16 highest-ranked riders in the main event. The competition will culminate on June 18th. The roster includes an impressive lineup of renowned riders, such as Tristan Roberts (South Africa), Tanner McDaniel (Hawai’i), Amaury Lavernhe (France), Jeff Hubbard (Hawai’i), Pierre Louis Costes (France), Iain Campbell (South Africa), Dave Hubbard (Hawai’i), and Alan Munoz (Chile), the reigning champion of the Itacoatiara Pro 2022. Representing the Brazilian team in the quest for the world title are esteemed athletes including local talent Dudu Pedra, Uri Valadão (2008 World Champion), Éder Luciano (Three-Time ISA Games Champion), Gabriel Braga (highest-ranked Brazilian in the 2022 world circuit), as well as two-time JUNIOR MEN World Champion Sócrates Santana and Sérgio Luiz from Rio de Janeiro, who secured 3rd place in the Itacoatiara Pro 2022.

Brazilian Bodyboarding Championship (Itacoatiara Pro Bodyboard Brazil Series)

Right after the exhilarating world circuit competitions at Itacoatiara Beach, the traditional stage of the Brazilian Bodyboarding Championship will also take place—an event that showcases the best of Brazilian bodyboarding talent. This year, the spotlight shines exclusively on the Professional MEN and WOMEN divisions. In collaboration with the esteemed Brazilian Bodyboarding Confederation, innovative competition formats have been crafted for the sport’s premier divisions—ensuring extended time slots and enhanced conditions that will enable the athletes to unleash their unparalleled expertise and deliver a display of excellence.

Itacoatiara Pro Surf

The Itacoatiara Pro Surf event takes place on a day with big waves—featuring 32 invited surfers curated by the Niterói Surf Association. The biggest names in Brazilian surfing will be invited, including Raoni Monteiro and Marcelo Trekinho (champion and runner-up of the 2022

Itacoatiara is a heavy beach break located at Niterói city, at Rio de Janeiro.

Surrounded by mountains and atlantic forest, the beach is situated in a environmental protected area. This tropical paradise is the homebreak of the craziests bodyboarders in Brazil and the location has held many successful bodyboard world tour events since 2012.

In this 11th year anniversary, Itacoatiara Pro has turned into an international open air sport festival.

RECENT NEWS