Saturday we’ve received the official statement from the International Bodyboarding Corporation (IBC) regarding Mike Stewart’s topic of the week (read here). Or Mr. Stewart as the IBC call it now.
Funny, it was the first IBC press release or email in our inbox since the Maldives stop. And it was a long one with five pages explaining the friction including the 9x world champion. It’s something like they really don’t need the bodyboard media for nothing, but… okay, now that they want and seek to clean up their image, well they do.
Without further ado, we’ve already heard the complaints from Mike, now you can read the IBC justifications, here:
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Or here if you prefer.
Please take note we are not taking any side here, but after reading the 5 pages statement it seems the physical presence of Mr. Stewart was not relevant for the athletes check in as the rules mentioned in the rule book clearly do permit confirmations of attendance to be given from afar (please see rule 1.6.02.).
The comment boxes on social media exploded in the last few days, as expected. Messages of support and indignation for Mike multiplied. One or two, not too many really, say he is acting like a child. Ale Barbosa, from Canary Islands, said “Cry less and be professional. If you did not assist to mandatory check ins and briefings with no justification, you must be santioned.” In return he received more than 200 responses from Mike’s fans.
Guilherme Tâmega, 6x world champ and long-time rival, finally wrote what many thought:
“This is unacceptable in any shape or form. The organizers just disrespect the greatest of our sport and should be accountability for this dirty decision. I told this to the Brazilians and I will say it again since I heard there was also an incident with some Chileans included real fist fight between them. For the sake and health of the sport all the athletes back off and don’t pick up the competition jerseys. Strike holding plaques in front of the mayor office asking for entry refund with media involved and all. This is how you will impose respect for now and future. Without the riders there is no show and always remember that and if this happen to Mike Stewart now can happen easily to anybody else. I also said that guys like Mike and Kelly Slater should have a lifetime wildcard red carpet entry in any event. Period.”
If you have spare time, you can search and dig up some more interesting comments and inputs on social media. However, the one that really caught our attention said: “I suspect this has nothing to do with the presencial check in!”
Investigate yourself.
