New IBC Structure Developed for the Growth of the Sport.

IBC Bodyboarding World Tour 2025 / 2026

IBC Bodyboarding World Tour

New IBC Structure Developed for the Growth of the Sport.

1. Introduction

Starting in 2025, several structural changes and a new scoring system will be implemented to increase accessibility for both athletes and event promoters. This document outlines the changes in event structure, the categories involved, and the new scoring system for the 2025-2026 seasons.

2. Collaboration Strategy with Federations and Associations

As part of the tour’s structural changes, the IBC World Tour aims to strengthen cooperation with various bodyboarding federations and associations worldwide to promote and develop the sport at all levels.

2.1 Strategy Objectives

  • Comprehensive Sport Development: The collaboration aims to professionalize bodyboarding both athletically and technically.
  • Collaboration Agreements: The IBC will work closely with local and regional federations, establishing agreements that foster the sport’s growth from grassroots to professional levels.

2.2 Role of the Technical Staff

IBC’s technical staff has over 30 years of experience at the highest standards of the sport, having contributed to the development of the technical and sporting foundations used today. Many of these standards have been adopted by other associations worldwide.

3. Junior Category Separation: Junior Rising Series

3.1 Introduction to the Junior Rising Series

The IBC World Tour is launching the Junior Rising Series, a new initiative to separate Junior events from the main category. This change creates more opportunities for young athletes through partnerships with federations and associations worldwide.

3.2 Junior Rising Series Objectives

  • Local, Regional, and National Ranking
  • Promote Equal Participation in More Accessible Competitions
  • Reduce International Travel Costs and Educational Disruptions

3.3 Benefits for Athletes

The Junior Rising Series makes it easier for young athletes to participate in local and regional events, enhancing competition structures and providing opportunities without compromising their education or incurring high costs.

3.4 Benefits of the Waiting Period Structure

One of the key advantages of separating the Junior category is optimizing the waiting period structure for the Prime Series. This separation allows for a longer waiting period for Men’s and Women’s divisions, ensuring better wave conditions and allowing juniors to compete in separate events without affecting the progression of the main categories.

3.5 Points Distribution in Junior Rising Series Events

The new scoring and ranking system reflects the importance of local, regional, and national events, considering factors such as prize money, production quality, competition days, and media coverage.

4. Event Structure: Prime Series and Rising Series

4.1 Prime Series – Men’s and Women’s Divisions

The Prime Series features the most prestigious events of the IBC World Tour for both Men’s and Women’s divisions. These events require higher production investments and a mandatory waiting period to ensure optimal wave conditions.

  • DropKnee, Master Women, and Master Men categories require a minimum 2-day waiting period (with 32 registered competitors per category) and cannot be combined with Prime Men and Women categories.
  • If three or more events are held in the DropKnee, Master Women, or Master Men categories, a circuit will be established. If fewer than three events occur in a year, the division title will be determined in a single world championship event.

4.2 Rising Series (RS) – Low-Cost Events

The Rising Series is designed to be more accessible, allowing promoters with fewer resources to participate in the IBC World Tour. These events provide qualification opportunities at local, regional, and national levels, in addition to official IBC events.

Rising Series Objectives:

  • Qualify athletes at local, regional, and national levels.
  • Increase federation participation and foster sport development from the grassroots level.
  • Generate sporting and technical talent across all regions worldwide.

Benefits for Athletes:

The Rising Series makes it easier for athletes to participate in local and regional events, increasing the number of competitors, enhancing competitive structures, and ensuring a standardized scoring system under the IBC World Tour.

These events are designed to accommodate new promoters, allowing them to integrate into the World Tour through different competition models. The flexible structure of these events includes:

  • Invitational Events: Only selected athletes participate.
  • Short-Duration Events: Held over two competition days with no waiting period.

This approach allows events to gradually adapt to the new World Tour structure.

  • Schedule Confirmation: Rising Series events must be confirmed at least 90 days before the competition starts.

RECENT NEWS