With the Iba’s World Tour thriving, the Australian Tour could have receded into a preparatory tour for the main event, somewhere the next generation refine their comp act before taking on the world, but they’re somehow attracting top internationals to a tour with little to gain other than experience.

We interviewed some riders – Hardy, Rawlins and Stone – as well as a BBA spokesperson.

<Tim Doman is the Events and Business Development Manager for Bodyboarding Australasia>

The lack of prize money at events, seemingly a lack of incentives from sponsors to get riders to the events, clashes in timetables between Australian and World Tour events and lack of solid coverage from bodyboarding’s traditional media.

We (IBAA) have for the past three years hosted an industry forum to gain feedback and support from the bodyboarding industry in Australia.  Essentially there is general support from the industry, however, like most people, they'd like to see bigger events and more prize money. 

At this stage there are no big bucks being thrown on the table.  We have developed an "industry member" strategy that for a small fee allows bodyboarding companies to support IBAA, so far this strategy has proved effective.

The tour at this stage is by no means as lucrative as it will potentially become. I think that the bodyboarding industry, community and IBAA all support the notion of a solid regional tour and it's definitely getting there. 

Many people might not realise that IBAA is run by volunteers that donate their time to develop the sport.  This is definitely one of the most important things that need to change... and getting money into the sport is the only way this is going to happen. The lack of funds has held back competitive bodyboarding for years. The money that it will take to run the sport will not come from the bodyboarding industry rather from corporate sponsors and government.   

More money being put into the sport is the only way that the industry as a whole will grow, it's all quite relative.  Think some of the biggest sports in the world -  tennis, cricket, soccer, cycling and, to a lesser extent, surfing - they all have millions of dollars being pumped into them annually by corporations. These sports are made popular because they have mega bucks being thrown at them.

Bodyboarding is lacking the pathway to the top, an avenue the young bodyboarders can take that can help their careers.  Mike Stewart has won as many world titles as Kelly Slater, yet Stewart remains relatively unknown outside surfing circles and Slater is a household name.

In my personal opinion bodyboarding, like competitive surfing, is not a grandstand sport.  This doesn’t mean that we haven't got an incredibly marketable sport, quite the opposite. My personal goals for the IBAA are to help increase the profile and creditability of bodyboarding in the region.  I think that the sport has no option if it wants to sustain and develop sponsorship but to get to wave locations that market the extreme nature of the sport.

I am also really keen to see the disparity between competitive surfing and competitive bodyboarding lessen.  Whilst there have been some improvements on the world scene, I don’t think anyone is going suggest that it has reached its peak.  With this in mind I think that it's time for less talk and more action... let’s surf the biggest and most hardcore waves in the world with the best bodyboarders.

<Mitch Rawlins, Ryan Hardy and Jake Stone are three of the best riders, biggest names and most avid fans on the Australian Tour>

Jake - Well I’ve always wanted to be successful at comps. When I was younger I was winning a lot of QABs and it seemed fairly easy, or so I thought at the time, but once I moved into the opens I found myself getting knocked in the first rounds and that brought my confidence down to a near zero. It appeals to me because I want to prove to myself that I can be up there with the best Australian riders.

Mitch - The appeal is that it brings me back to when I was competing in the state rounds in Queensland, being a grommet at the beach all day with your mates and you also get that little competitive buzz, which is not quite as intense as the World Tour but enough to get your blood pumping.

Ryan - The appeal for me in doing the Australian Tour is travelling to cool places with fun waves, like the Gold Coast, Sydney and WA, and doing it with some of my best mates and having a real fun time.  I also like competing at the highest level in Aus and pushing myself against the best guys, it’s really competitive due to the riding level and yet also super fun because everyone is really cool and laid-back - a good change from the dog-eat-dog World Tour scenario.

Jake - They definitely take notice, but I don’t think it matters too much to them. At the end of the day they are going to want a double page spread over a win at an Australian Tour event, I’d love to see the Australian Tour grow, more sponsors, more kids entering and trophies for the four finalists – ha.

Mitch - Yes and no; the companies that sponsor the events see the importance of taking notice of the Tour and I as a rider would like to extend my thanks to all of the companies that have supported the Tour in the past and will in the future. On the other hand, I think there are a lot of companies that should support the Tour but don't and somehow we need to change this.

Ryan - Internationally it doesn't count for much, it’s more your name as a rider than an Australian Tour ranking.  In Australia it does count, for sure, especially amongst the competitive community. If you're constantly reaching the semi-finals or final you're recognised as one of the best in the country and your name WILL be remembered by competitors, sponsors and the industry alike.

Jake - I think it’s good because all the big names are there which gives us groms something to aspire to, it’s always good to see your idols in real life and watching them surf or being up against them in a heat is an insane feeling. I had Winny and Hardy in my first heat on the Gold Coast - Hardy just had a shocker and only caught one wave, so I dodged a bullet there, but just being in that heat was one of the better feelings I’ve had in bodyboarding.

Mitch - Well it gives the Tour support and that’s what it needs. I can also understand that the prize money is minimal and even if you do win at the moment you barely cover the costs of getting to the event, so for some they don't see it as a worthwhile cause. I would love to see prize money at a minimum of $2500 for first, $2000 for second, $1500 for third and $1000 for fourth. That would be a contest series worth doing.

Ryan - It makes a huge difference...I remember turning up to Pro-Am events when I was younger and seeing guys like Bullet, Wingnut, Eppo and Nugget and thinking 'was there anything else in the world going on that day that was as cool or massive as this?!' It effects everyone involved: the grommets watching, the amateurs competing in their state events, the fellow pro competitors having to step it up so the competition level continues to rise with each big name present.  It raises the hype around the competition and attracts sponsor interest and generally increases interest around the event in from all aspects of the industry.