Bodyboarders are the plastic men of modern wave riding. In less than a month, two competitions boosted the image of the sport founded by Tom Morey. The Zicatela Pro, in Puerto Escondido (Mexico) and the Shark Island Challenge, in Cronulla (Australia) have shown why pro bodyboarding is a very serious venture. While surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing have found their solid base of loyal sponsors, bodyboarding is still struggling to consolidate its industry and, at the same time, a group of world sponsors for the major competitions.

The truth is that pro bodyboarding has evolved a lot, in the last years. From the athlete's point of view, bodyboarding has presented tricks and maneuvers than cannot be seen in any other wave sport. These men are made of plastic. And that's why Terry McKenna and his IBA team are doing an excellent job promoting bodyboarding in many coastal towns and cities. Bodyboarding has conquered all the respect it deserves from fellow surfers, kitesurfers and windsurfers. Let's hope plastic men like Ben Player keep us entertained.