The fourth edition of the Championships, due to take place between December 8 and 15, will see more than 170 of the world's top bodyboarders from 24 countries taking part in competition at Punta 1 in the northern Chilean city that borders the Pacific Ocean.

Each team at this year's Championship will consist of a maximum of seven athletes with three competing in the open men competition and one each in the women's open, junior boys, junior girls and open dropknee competitions.

"Punta 1 will be the perfect venue for the best bodyboarders in the world," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

"We are thankful for the dedication and hard work of the President of the Chilean Surfing Federation, Juan Agustin Echeverria and his Board of Directors.

"We must also acknowledge the generosity of the people and Government authorities of Iquique, especially Mayor Jorge Soria, for welcoming the ISA and hosting this year's Championship and for developing the sport of surfing in one of the most gorgeous locations in all of Chile.

"We are certain it will be a fantastic competition and we look forward to a long term relationship between Chile and the ISA."

This will be the third year in-a-row that the Championships will be held in South America following Playa Parguito in Margarita Island, Venezuela, which has hosted the last two editions.

The inaugural event in 2012 took place in Galdar on the Canary Islands.

Brazil are the defending 2013 world team champions, with Venezuela having taken the silver medal, Chile the bronze medal, and Costa Rica the copper medal, last year.

Isabelle Sousa could be part of the Brazilian team looking to defend its title at the World Championships in December ©AFP/Getty Images



The 2014 Championships had been in doubt after world governing body International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) announced in January that the annual World Tour had been cancelled due to administrative and funding issues.

However, a new body called the Association of Professional Bodyboarders (APB) was immediately set up by leading riders, industry professionals and event organisers who launched the World Bodyboarding Tour which began in Hawaii in February and will see a further nine events taking place, ending in the Canary Islands in November.

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