Bodyboarding Goes Mutant

The ledging left at El Fronton© 2010 - IBA - Seamus Makim

EVER since it became part of the global bodyboarding consciousness after appearing in Mickey Smith's 2004 DVD Against the Grain, Gran Canaria's mutant wave El Fronton has born witness to some of the most progressive, death defying wave riding ever recorded.

It's fitting then that in 2010 it pays host to an all-star invitational contest which looks set to launch bodyboarding into the main-stream action sports arena.

The right offers tubes and ramps© 2010 - IBA - Seamus Makim

The event will be held on the best single day in the 10 day waiting period and you'll be able to watch the event unfold live on RedBull.com/tv

The heats have been drawn and read like a who's who of bodyboarding with 8 past and present world champions pitted against locals and legends, you can see why this is going to be the most exciting event for years.

Heat 1
Damien King (AUS)
Uri Valado (BRZ)
Pierre Louse Costes (FRN)
Alejandro Reyes (CNR)

Heat 2
Jeff Hubbard (HAW)
Mike Stewart (HAW)
Jared Houston (SAF)
Diego Cabrera (CNR)

Heat 3
Guilherme Tamega (BRZ)
Amaury Laverhne (REU)
Ryan Hardy (AUS)
Genesis Reyes (CNR)

Heat 4
Ben Player (AUS)
Andre Botha (SAF)
Dave Winchester (AUS)
Yeray Martinez (CNR)

Whilst this type of event may be the norm in the Surfing world where large contest sponsorship packages are part and parcel of the ASP world tour, it's only recently that big events on the Bodyboarding calendar have received wider attention.

With the notable exception of the Arica Challenge in Chile, unless you're a keen bodyboarder you're unlikely to be aware of the kind of show the elite athletes of the sport are putting on in the world's heaviest waves, but with the International Bodyboarding Association's (IBA) plans for next season that could be set to change.

If you've never watched bodyboarding in the past, or if you've ever been tempted to write it off as easy or more boring or than any other form of wave-riding make an exception for this event, if the conditions come together you will see one of the most intense waves on the planet being ridden by the best bodyboarders in a way that no other surfer, whatever the vehicle, could (including Mr. Slater).

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