Jeff & Neymara 2009 IBA World Champions
Monday, 07 December 2009 01:07
Saturday December 5th 2009

Confital Pro

Tuesday December 1st through to Saturday December 5th

El Confital,Los Palmas. Gran Canaria.

Jeff Hubbard & Neymara Carvalho win World titles…

What a nail biting finish to another amazing year.
The swell had dropped overnight but Confital was still serving up some perfect right-hander’s for the showdown of the year.

Both Neymara and Jeff had been eliminated prior to the final and the cards would have to fall in a perfect combination if they were to be crowned again.

First GT, then Hardy, then Winny then it was just the two Hawaiian’s that could become the 2009 IBA world Champion.

Jeff watched on as Mike Stewart entered the water to create history as a 10-time world champion, one of the greatest achievements in modern sporting history, but he had a formidable opponent to get past in Hugo Pinheiro.

Hugo had been on a roll and the crowd was pumped for the battle.

Mike opened up with an amazing wave that barreled almost the entire length of the point before emerging cleanly and rolling off the end.

A solid 7-point ride from all the judges was the call.
From this point on Hugo clawed his was back into contention as Stewart used his knowledge of the ocean to wait for a bomb set, but time was the enemy for the seasoned campaigner.Pinheiro took the inside waves and held the lead for almost 12 minutes but with 4 minutes on the clock Mike was forced into a 4 point ride needing a 3.75. He took a slender lead but handed the priority to Hugo with just a few minutes remaining and the rest is history.

Hugo got a set, the score needed to advance, and in that instance, Jeff was lifted high into the sky as the 2009 IBA World Champion

“ I can’t believe it, I really can’t” said Jeff.

“ I was so down yesterday after being eliminated that I didn’t even know if I should come to the beach and watch”

“ But I said to myself, hey just be positive, wish the best for everyone and be here to congratulate however wins”

“ That positive thinking must have worked in my favor and the gods smiled upon me for it, it’s a dream come true” said the champ.

Mike Stewart ran from the water and embraced his Hawaiian mate in an emotional scene. It was pretty cool to watch.

Ok, so that one was in the bag for Jeff but the focus now turned to Neymara for her race with Eunate and Jessica.

In the semi’s Jess disposed of Eunate and Isabella defeated Neymara.

For a moment there was confusion regarding the equation but it soon became clear that Jessica would have to win the event to win the world title.

The crowd was pumped for the face-off.

For the second year in a row Brazils Jessica Becker would have to win a final at Confital to win a world title.

Sadly for Jessica, Isabella Sousa had her own agenda and was unstoppable.

As the countdown began they started the lift and when the hotter sounded we had our 2009 IBA WWT Champion Neymara Carvalho from Brazil.

She has now claimed a history making 5th World title making her undoubtedly the greatest female bodyboarder of all time.

Once the dust settled the focus returned to the Men’s final between Diego Cabrera and Hugo Pinheiro.

Cabrera is the local guy and the massive crowd that assembled rallied behind him, and he did not disappoint.

He chose the winning waves and surfed a perfect heat to be crowned the 2009 Confital Pro Champion.

That night the IBA Staged a Gala Banquet awards dinner to crown the top 16 Men and women as well as the rookies of the year with over 180 people attending.

The Men’s Rookie of the year was Guillermo Cobo from Canary Islands and the Women’s rookie was French rider Roxanne Bonet.

2009 was a landmark year for the IBA and for the sport. A strong world tour with some great locations, a Grand Slam concept that is working perfectly and the ideal start and finish to the year in Hawaii & Canary Islands.

The future is looking bright and there are some big plans to take the IBA to a whole new level that will be revealed soon.

The 2010 IBA Men tour will get underway at Pipeline in Hawaii from February 16th – 26th so pencil that into your diary and standby for another awesome webcast featuring the worlds best.

On behalf of the IBA thanks to all of our riders, all of our sponsors and promoters and most importantly, YOU, the fan’s for making this a year that no one will ever forget.

Merry X’Mas and Happy New Year everyone!!!

Terry McKenna

IBA General Manager

PS: Sorry for the late posting…been in transit back to Oz