IBA Managing Director, Gregg Taylor stated “Alex comes to the role with the right mix of experience and genuine passion for the sport of bodyboarding. With over 14 years in the industry, Alex will bring a fresh perspective and valuable insight to the IBA Tour. “

Alex Leon had the following comments relating to his appointment. “I look forward to working with the event promoters, officials and riders to continue the development of the IBA World Tour for the benefit of the industry and its fans. 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year with new venues and some fresh faces on the tour. For now all eyes are on the Fronton event and the crowning of the 2012 IBA Mens World Champion.”

After 7 years behind the wheel, firstly as General Manager, then more recently as the IBA World Tour manager, Terry McKenna is resigning from IBA Pty Ltd.

Terry insists that it’s only a move from his current employer Gregg Taylor (IBA Pty Ltd) and not an exit from the sport.

“I wont be going far.

I love what I do and I am proud of what I achieved during my time with IBA, said Teza.

It’s been an amazing ride and I met some incredible people along the way. It’s these passionate people, the fans, the promoters and of course the riders that kept me going for so long.

But I think that its time for a change as I believe that the World Tour in its current form has possibly reached its natural pinnacle.

It’s just not sustainable with so many events and so little prize-money. Just ask the riders themselves.

I think the concept of 8-hour webcasts with 120 people battling over 10 days in mediocre surf just isn’t cutting it in the action sports market and I will now use my contacts and experience to create something more exciting.

I think that my rein at the top of the sport lasted as long as it did because I didn’t have any ulterior motives. I don’t own a label or I am not a major stakeholder in the industry and it’s been purely a desire to create something special that drove me this far.”

In September of 2010 Terry pitched the concept of an equity partnership with Gregg Taylor (owner of Turbo Bodyboards) to the Top 16 in a meeting at the Sintra Portugal Pro.

It was at this meeting that Terry hatched his new concept of the leaderboard format, and sold the model of leasing the tour to a corporate entity in the form of IBA Pty Ltd.

“It took a bit of salesmanship but in the end the decision was made to sign a contract that would lease the tour rights to a company formed by Gregg Taylor”

Gregg represented a group of investors and a finely worded contract was drawn up and signed by both parties, effectively handing the reins to IBA Pty Ltd.

During the next two years Terry worked meticulously with the promoters that he had developed close relationships with to deliver a legitimate world tour.

“Craig Hadden is also an inspiration for me,” said Mckenna.

“His hard work and professionalism is amazing and he is the best head judge in the world, hands down”

With the investors dropping over 1.5 million dollars into the tour the increased profile of bodyboarding came at a cost.

“Put the cheese out and the rats will come,” he laughed.

“I think that one of the downfalls of getting money into the sport is that it brings out the worst in people. Money can drive people to do things that they normally wouldn’t do.”

“I saw some great people get burned and it hurt, a lot.”

It’s a shame that none of this money, not 1 cent, went to raising prize money for the guys that put on the show, the riders themselves”