Official Launch: ABF 2026 - La Nilda Challenge During the morning, in Antofagasta, the official launch of the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2026 took place, scheduled to run from April 29 to May 10, marking the beginning of a key stop on the world tour. The announcement also confirmed the long-awaited return of La Nilda as the main venue, reinforcing its status as a world-class wave. Gustavo Neira and Amaury Lavernhe at the ABF 2026 press conference The event brought togethe

Mike Stewart with Science bodyboard models - Science Bodyboard via Instagram Born in Hawaii in 1963, Stewart grew up in an environment where the ocean is part of everyday life, developing a natural connection with the sea from a very young age. Unlike many riders of his generation, however, he did not follow the traditional path. At just five years old, at a time when bodyboarding did not yet exist as a formal discipline, Mike was already riding waves on pieces of foam. In th

Gustavo Neira performing a Barrel - Ayelet Fuentes via Instagram First, you should know that bodyboarding was born in the early 1970s, when Tom Morey created the first modern board known as the “Boogie Board.” Designed to be ridden lying down, this innovation allowed more people to enter the ocean in a more accessible and safer way. Over the years, the sport began to expand rapidly across different beaches around the world. As a result, it has evolved by incorporating increas

Iquique 2027 South American Beach Games - Municipality of Iquique Bodyboard has officially been added to the program of the Iquique 2027 South American Beach Games, marking a major milestone for one of the most representative sports of the city’s coastal identity. What just days ago was still in progress has now become a reality for Iquique. The decision was made on April 11 in Panama City, where the ODESUR Executive Committee approved its inclusion following a presentation l

Valeria Suárez celebrates her title in Portofino with her teammates. Photo: Club Budeo Just two weeks ago, Valeria Suárez made history in bodyboarding. At only 13 years old, she was crowned champion in the U13 category at the Bodyboard Camp Portofino 2026, held in the Atacama Region. Born in Bolivia, she first discovered the ocean in 2017 when she moved with her family to Antofagasta, a region in northern Chile known for being part of the bodyboarding circuit promoted by Artu