APB

19/10/2026

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release |
APB and Bodyboarding International Officials agree MOU to advance and unify bodyboarding
The Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding (APB) is pleased to officially announce its partnership with Bodyboarding International Officials Limited (BIO). This relationship will promote the adoption and implementation of standardized judging and officiating globally across APB regions, with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.
BIO established its roots in 2002 with the inception of the group by a handful of key international judges, as an independent union for bodyboarding judges. The idea was to form an organization where judges could come together, under a recognizable banner.
From the outset, BIO sought to formulate a standard approach to judging and officiating internationally, to drive professionalism, integrity, impartiality and respect, and to offer education and accreditation to judges. It also acted as a hub where judges could come together in a safe space to share ideas about improving judging outcomes and implementing best practice.
BIO started developing bodyboarding judging standards and course material in the late 1990s. In 2015, when it became a company limited by guarantee in Australia, the International Bodyboarding Judging and Officiating Course was developed in partnership between BIO and Surfing Australia and offered overseas by the International Surfing Association (ISA). Through Karl Gol and Craig Hadden, BIO was behind the large-scale rewrite of the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) Rulebook which formed the basis for the Association of Professional Bodyboarders (APB) Rulebook from 2014 and those used by the International Bodyboarding Corporation (IBC) from 2019 onwards.
The APB and BIO have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out how the two organisations will work together to grow the sport of bodyboarding worldwide.
Under the MOU, BIO recognises the APB as the organisation leading the progression of bodyboarding and working to unify the sport's riders, clubs and national bodies under a single coordinating platform.
The agreement commits both organisations to collaborate on [e.g. judging and officiating standards, officials' training and certification, and officiating at APB-sanctioned events]. It supports the APB's work to bring national and regional federations together, with long-term goals that include formal recognition by the International Surfing Association and a pathway to the Olympics.
"Fair, consistent and well-trained officials are the foundation of any credible sport. BIO's recognition of the APB is an important step in bringing bodyboarding together, and we look forward to working with BIO to give riders and federations the standards and outcomes they deserve," said Jamie McCall, CEO, APB.
The APB and BIO will announce joint initiatives as they are confirmed.

06/10/2026

Veteran International Head Judge Craig Hadden joins the APB

Sydney Australia

The APB is proud to welcome Craig Hadden, one of the most experienced judges and rules officials in world bodyboarding, as Technical Director.

Hadden’s career as a bodyboard judge started in 1988 in Australia and on the international stage spans more than three decades. He served as International Head Judge for the Global Organisation of Bodyboarding from 1993 to 2002, then as International Judge for the International Bodyboarding Association from 2003 to 2010. In 2015 he was appointed as an international judge at the last ISA World Bodyboard Championship in Iquique, Chile. When the world tour was relaunched in 2011, he was appointed Head Judge, and he went on to serve as the tour’s Technical Director, responsible for rules and seeding all international events worldwide along with keeping the tours rankings. He spent eight years with the APB World Tour as senior International Judge and Technical Director. Craig has continued to head judge at events such as the Shark Island Challenge and the Australia tours and national titles, all the while continuing his role as a BIO International Official and maintaining rules and judging training for bodyboarding worldwide.
Hadden has judged at the highest levels consistently and earned high respect at every level for his mentorship, leadership, fairness and for being stoically dispassionate. While remaining exclusively a bodyboarder his experience has extended to his judging in other disciplines including shortboards where he has worked with the WSL specialising as a priority judge.

“Judging and the rule books are the foundation of any competitive bodyboarding event. Riders need to know that every wave is scored fairly and consistently, and that’s exactly what Craig brings,” said Jamie McCall, CEO of the APB. “Few people know the rulebook, the riders and the history of this sport like he does. He has overseen some of our sport’s most iconic events such as the 1997 Pipeline event, 2001 Tahiti Skins, the 2011-12 World Tours and the 2025 SIC. Having him back gives our athletes, sponsors and fans complete confidence in the integrity of every result.”
In his new role, Hadden will assist with the design and implementation of APB’s central ratings system and will oversee the selection and operation of judging panels for APB international level events. He will also work closely with Karl Gol to redevelop and roll out the 2027 APB Rule Book, to update BIO’s judge training programs to be endorsed by the APB and will work to unify our judges, officials and judging and officiating standards across our international regions.

08/09/2026

Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding Appoints Karl Gol as Director of Judging & Policy.

The Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding (APB) today announced the appointment of Karl Gol as Director of Judging & Policy. This newly created role is responsible for developing and maintaining the organisation's competition and international policy, rulebook, and judging standards. Gol entered his first bodyboard contest in 1984 and was introduced to judging in 1993 after being tapped on the shoulder by Craig Hadden. He then started taking on administrative roles in judging and bodyboarding from the late 90s onwards. As a judge and head judge, Gol has earned a high respect at nearly every level of the sport for his ability, focus, leadership and above all, impartiality. While remaining exclusively a bodyboarder, this has extended to his judging in other disciplines including shortboards, longboards and SUPs (Gol was the head judge of Surfing Tasmania across all forms of surfing for a number of years) and even bodysurfing.

A founding Director and Secretary of Bodyboarding International Officials Limited (BIO), he has a long and distinguished career as a professional bodyboarding judge. Gol was a director of and head judge on the Australian Bodyboard Association (ABA) domestic tour and holds Level 3 Head Judge and Judge accreditation with Surfing Australia. Gol has judged at the highest international level both domestically in Australia and overseas. He has also worked at the highest amateur level internationally, having officiated the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Bodyboarding Championships in Venezuela in 2012.

Through his work with BIO, Gol authored the judge training manuals and rulebooks currently used by bodyboarding globally (working closely with Craig Hadden and other BIO Directors), and assisted Surfing Australia in developing rulebook and course material that went on to form part of the ISA's international Judging and Officiating Program. In his new role, Gol will write and maintain the APB's official bodyboarding policy and judging course material, working to align standards across the association's events worldwide.

"Karl's contribution to bodyboarding judging standards over more than thirty years speaks for itself. Having him write our policy and judging framework directly into the APB is exactly the kind of investment our sport needs as it grows internationally." — Jamie McCall CEO, APB.

"I've spent a significant part of my bodyboarding related career trying to make the sport's policy and judging fairer, more consistent, and easier to trust — for athletes and fans alike. With the support of my BIO colleagues, I'm looking forward to bringing that work to the APB on a global stage." — Karl Gol, Director of Judging & Policy, APB.

25/08/2026

APB Names Gene Paul Blaney D'Zamba as Director of Operations Latin America.

The Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding (APB), founded by bodyboarding legend Mike Stewart, today announced that Gene Paul Blaney D'Zamba is joining the organization.

Born and raised in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, Blaney D'Zamba has spent over a decade building the sport at the grassroots level, founding Club Perla Negra in 2015 to bring young athletes into competitive bodyboarding. He returned to competition in 2017 to win the Mexican nationals, took 2nd place at the 2023 Mexican Nationals, and became an ISA-certified judge officiating events including the 2026 Antofagasta IBC World Tour.

A longtime promoter, he has organized more than 40 events since 2018, including this year's Pascuales Bodyboard Pro 2026, and has a long track record of sponsoring young athletes to compete internationally. He has built relationships with bodyboarding leaders across Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia.

"I am thrilled to announce Gene's appointment," said APB CEO Jamie McCall. "His history and passion for bodyboarding are amazing, and having someone like Gene join us is an exceptional fit for the APB."

As Head of APB Central and South America, Blaney D'Zamba will lead the organization's efforts to build national associations and athlete support systems throughout the region.

07/08/2026

APB received some devastating news overnight that Portuguese bodyborder and legendary commentator Juan Santos has passed away.

Juan was a huge part of both the IBA and the APB, working as a beach commentator at some of the biggest events in the world. He also commentated for the ISA and many other associations and federations.

Juan was a passionate Bodyboarder, he loved the sport and was recently in discussions with APB to develop new events throughout South America.

APB would like to honour this amazing individual and recognise his contribution to the sport that he loved so dearly.

RIP Juan Santos🙏
𝒢𝑜𝓃𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑜𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓃💔

01/08/2026

Was 2011 one of the greatest years of professional bodyboarding?

As Pipeline nears we first take a look back at the epic moments and...

26/07/2026

APB has always had a great relationship with Arica, Chile 🇨🇱
Not only with the wave but also with the promoters Club FLOPOS. This relationship is still stronger than ever and we look forward to upcoming projects in 2027. Let take a look back at PLC winning this amazing event in 2019!

24/07/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding (APB) Appoints Five-Time World Champion Isabela Sousa to the Board of Directors

SYDNEY, NSW – July 24, 2026 – The Association for the Progression of Bodyboarding (APB) today announced the appointment of five-time World Champion Isabela Sousa as the latest addition to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Sousa, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the sport won titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022 on the IBC/APB/IBA World Tours and is a pioneering force for women's bodyboarding globally.

Born in Caucaia, Brazil, Sousa has been at the forefront of progressive women's riding for nearly two decades and recently claimed victory at the 2026 Shark Island Challenge.

As a board member, Sousa will play a central role in shaping the APB’s global strategy for gender equity, athlete welfare, tour development, judging criteria, and grassroots participation for women and girls in bodyboarding.

"For everyone who truly loves bodyboarding, seeing our sport on the Olympic stage has always been a dream. It means giving athletes the recognition they deserve, creating new opportunities for future generations, and helping our sport grow stronger across the world. I'm proud to be part of the journey with the APB." said Isabela.

Isabela’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the APB, which officially launched as a new global, athlete-focused organization with the mission to unify the sport and secure its future on the world’s biggest sporting stages.

"Throughout my career as a professional bodyboarder, the Olympic dream has always been part of the conversation among athletes, organizations and fans. But this is the first time I've truly felt that a real path is being built to make that dream possible, through unity within our sport, respect for its athletes, and a genuine passion for the future of bodyboarding." she added.

APB CEO Jamie McCall welcomed Sousa’s appointment, stating:

“We are incredibly proud to have Isabela join us for this global movement within the sport. There is no one more respected, more accomplished, or more passionate about the future of bodyboarding. As a multiple world champion, she has lived the journey of women in this sport at the highest level, and she understands what needs to change and what needs to be protected. Her voice on our Board of Directors ensures that women are not just included in the future of bodyboarding, they are leading it.” Said McCall.

For more info on APB go to www.apbglobal.org

20/07/2026

MEET THE FOUNDERS · Part 3

Ricardo Estupinan

Bodyboarding is a global sport — and its global voices have too often gone unheard.

Ricardo Estupinan brings a European perspective and a long record of leadership within bodyboarding’s organizational structures on that continent: a voice, and a constituency, that has been underrepresented in decisions about the sport’s direction.

APB is built so that every region of bodyboarding has a seat at the table — not just the loudest ones.

Add your voice, wherever you ride.

www.apbglobal.org

Sign up at www.apbglobal.org

16/07/2026

MEET THE FOUNDERS · Part 2

Running a global tour is hard.

Teza McKenna has done it.
As former manager of the IBA and APB World Tours, Teza brings deep institutional knowledge of how competitive bodyboarding is actually organized — and what it takes to run it well.

That experience is now in service of something bigger: a unified, transparent, bodyboarding-first platform for the whole sport.

Be part of building it.
www.apbglobal.org


Sign up at www.apbglobal.org