This Photo: Some of the world’s best bodyboarders in the Canary Island’s awaiting the start of the Wild Wild Wave El Fronton Invitational – Left to right standing: Genesis Reyes (Canary Is), Ryan Hardy (Aus), Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii), Yeray Martinez (Canary Is), Guilherme Tamega (Brazil), Ben Player (Aus), Damian King (Aus), Alejandro Reyes (Canary Is); squatting – Dave Winchester (Aus), Pierre Louis Costes (France) & Jared Houston (South Africa) – photo also attached and complimentary to use, credit IBA. Press Release Below -

Wild Wild Wave El Fronton Invitational

International Bodyboard Association Sanctioned

Canary Islands Atlantic Ocean.

Waiting Period: Sunday December 12 to Tuesday December 21

Check this Red Bull link now: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/El-Fronton–Looking-for-a-break-021242936528731?refmod=ContentFeed&refmodpos=A3

Heat Draw Stacked and Ready to Go for World’s Most Anticipated Bodyboard Event – Wild Wild Wave El Fronton Invitational.

Saturday December 11 20010 Gran Canary Island: On this bright sunny morning on the northern coast of Gran Canaria, names of the competitors were drawn from three separate swimfins.

One fin held the names of seven former world champions plus current world champ, Amaury Laverne (REU).

In another, four talented international riders’ names rest inside the foot pocket and in the third swimfin, the names of the four invited locals who will represent the Canary Islands.

Every four names called set the stage for essentially a super quarterfinal heat. Each of the 4-quarter final heats will see two world champs, one international rider and one local representative competitor. One by one, names were plucked out the fins and called out by event host and commentator, Manny Vargas. The names cut through the crisp morning air and echoed off the stone walls…

Heat 1

Red Damien King (AUS)

White Uri Valado (BRZ)

Yellow Pierre Louis Costes (FRN)

Blue Alejandro Reyes (CNR)

Heat 2

Red Jeff Hubbard (HAW)

White Mike Stewart (HAW)

Yellow Jared Houston (SAF)

Blue Diego Cabrera (CNR)

Heat 3

Red Guilherme Tamega (BRZ)

White Amaury Laverhne (REU)

Yellow Ryan Hardy (AUS)

Blue Genesis Reyes (CNR)

Heat 4

Red Ben Player (AUS)

White Andre Botha (SAF)

Yellow Dave Winchester (AUS)

Blue Yeray Martinez (CNR)

According to Australian legend, Ryan Hardy (AUS), “this is one of the most anticipated events of all time. It’s similar to the Tahiti Skins event in 2000 – It’s going to be a spectacle.”

Now that the stage is set, it’s only matter of time before one of the greatest bodyboarding events goes down as organizers await a serious swell.

Competitors continue to stay focused and stay fit and contest organizers are watching the swell maps and wind charts to ensure the optimum conditions for the greatest one-day event of the year… The Wild Wild Wave El Fronton Invitational.

Check this Red Bull link now: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/El-Fronton–Looking-for-a-break-021242936528731?refmod=ContentFeed&refmodpos=A3

***Get your daily dosage of updates on www.redbull.com and www.redbull.com/tv.

An alert will be emailed out when the call is made to go.

This event will be live broadcast on www.redbull.com/tv

Current Conditions

Swell: Northwest 4 to 5 feet

Contest Start: Not Yet

Winds: Light offshores

Texture: Glassy

Weather: Clear Skies

The IBA has set up a dedicated facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Bodyboard-Association-IBA-El-Fronton-Invitational/107133989354869 where you will be updated on a daily basis on the lead up to the event with surf forecasts, rider interviews and footage as the world best prepare for the most anticipated event in Bodyboarding worldwide. You will be alerted when the event is scheduled to be held to ensure you don’t miss any of the action.

Media Distribution

Steve Robertson