Special coverage presented by PROMTur Panama, Panama Tropical Dream, Pandeportes, Panama Tourism Authority y Visit Panama - Photo: @Locobluffcrew

Between July 20 and 26, the Bluff, that powerful beach break that has been the protagonist of so many surf photos and films, will host the Bocas International for the fifth year.

An event that used to be by invitation only, but grew so much that it was decided to open it up so that everyone could compete for the prestigious title.

Its prestige comes from its athletes; Mike Stewart, Pierre Louis Costes, Amaury Lavernhe, Isabela Sousa, Jeffrey Hubbard, Tanner McDaniel are some of those who have competed there, and this year we will have to see how the story begins in the shortboard, which will debut in the tournament.

Ruben Villegas, a respected bodyboarder on those waves, is the Creative Director and Co-founder of Bocas International and is the one who updates us on everything there is to know about the event, in the following paragraphs, in an interview.

How did this event come about?
The event was born five years ago as a dream among friends and local riders who wanted to show the world the potential of Bocas del Toro and specifically Bluff as an international level wave.

From the beginning we wanted to do something different: Not just a competition, but a complete experience centered around surfing, bodyboarding, Caribbean culture and island life.

"From the beginning we wanted to do something different: Not just a competition, but a complete experience centered around surfing, bodyboarding, Caribbean culture and island life"

Over time, it began to grow organically. The international athletes who came spread the word, and that led to more renowned riders and larger audiences arriving each year. Today, we can say that it has become one of the most special events in the Caribbean and Central America.

How would you present the event in general terms?
Bocas International reaches its fifth edition this year and takes place in Bluff Beach, in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Bluff is a fairly heavy and very consistent left and right beach break that can work perfectly from 3 to 12 feet.

It's a powerful, fast wave that breaks very close to shore, making it a truly front-row experience. For the spectators, it's breathtaking because you feel all the speed, the barrels, and the aerials up close.

Since the first edition, some of the best riders in the world have come. We've had athletes like Mike Stewart, Pierre Louis Costes, Amaury Lavernhe, Isabela Sousa, Jeffrey Hubbard, Tanner McDaniel, among many other international figures in bodyboarding and now also in surfing.

In addition to the sporting level, the event has a very special atmosphere because of everything that happens around it: Music, culture, gastronomy, parties, activities in hotels and a lot of connection between athletes and visitors from different parts of the world.

What happened that caused the table to be added this year?
The inclusion of surfing came about quite naturally due to the growth of the event and the number of international surfers who began to request a surfing category.

Last year we held a trial with the "Best Barrel" category and it was a huge success. The winner was James McMahon, a rider from the United States, and that confirmed that Bluff also has enormous potential for high-level surfing.

From there we felt it was the right time to officially open the surf category and continue evolving the event into a more complete festival of waves and Caribbean culture.

What other new things do you have planned for this year?
This year is very special because it's the first official year we've had the support of the ATP, the Panama Tourism Authority, thanks to the backing of the Honorable Minister Gloria "Tuti" De León. For us, this is a huge and very important step for the growth of the event and sports tourism in Bocas del Toro.

"This year is very special because it is the first official year in which we have the support of the ATP, the Panama Tourism Authority."

The minister will be present at the official opening of the championship, which marks a historic moment for us after five years of building this project independently.

We'll also have many more activities outside the water:
-Opening and closing ceremonies
-Calypso and local music bands
-National and international DJs
-Brand activations in hotels and partner locations
-CPR and aquatic rescue workshops
-Judging clinics and workshops
-Gastronomic and cultural experiences throughout the week

We want people to experience much more than just a competition.

In the four previous editions, what was the best thing you saw?
Too many incredible stories have happened.

People who came for a few days and ended up moving to Bocas. Athletes who met the love of their lives here. People who return every year because they feel a very strong connection to the island and the community.

There have also been difficult moments, injuries, heavy waves, extreme days… But that's also part of the essence of Bluff and the event.

I think the most beautiful thing has been seeing how something that started small ended up creating an international community around surfing and bodyboarding in Panama.

Does the tournament have a special format or is it a normal bracket and single elimination tournament?
The format is the international standard used in ISA, ALAS, and Pan American events. It uses elimination rounds and a progressive advancement system, so it's quite familiar to international athletes.

That helps maintain a serious and professional competitive level within the championship.

Even though it's in Bluff, is it a tube event or not necessarily?
Bluff is a pretty complete wave. It does have very heavy and fast barrels, especially for bodyboarding, where we look for speed, explosiveness, and deep sections for maneuvers and aerials.

But it's not just a wave of tubes.

It's also a very interesting wave for surfing because it has sections for powerful maneuvers, cutbacks, snaps, and aerials. It's a short but intense wave, very technical and quite challenging.

Furthermore, because the waves break so close to shore, each heat feels like a live show. The audience is literally watching the action from the front row.

Why the name change from Bocas Invitational to Bocas International?
The event originally began under the name “Bocas Invitational.” For the first few years, it operated under this name because it was initially a much smaller championship, primarily focused on invited athletes and riders closely associated with the international bodyboarding circuit.

But over time the event began to grow tremendously and athletes from all over the world started to arrive: New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, California, Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Spain, France, Reunion Island, Aruba and many other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Then we realized two things: First, that the event had completely outgrown the idea of ​​being "invitation only," because it was truly open to athletes from all over the world; and second, that the international level it was reaching deserved a clearer and more representative identity.

That's why we decided to evolve the name to "Bocas International".

Today, the event is organized by Panama Tropical Dream, the platform and organization behind this entire vision of sporting, cultural, and tourism events in Panama. We could say that Bocas International is one of Panama Tropical Dream's flagship projects, or "the baby."

Our vision for the future is to continue growing with more events throughout the year in different areas of the country such as Santa Catalina, Morrillo and the Pacific area near Chame, always organizing ourselves strategically with other Latin American countries and circuits to respect schedules and generate a true regional synergy for athletes, teams and organizations.

We also want to continue getting closer to official structures and working hand in hand with organizations such as the Pan American Association, ISA and ALAS, with the goal of Panama continuing to grow as an important venue for international surfing and bodyboarding events in Latin America.

"Our vision for the future is to continue growing with more events throughout the year in different areas of the country such as Santa Catalina, Morrillo and the Pacific area near Chame, always organizing ourselves strategically with other Latin American countries and circuits to respect calendars and generate a true regional synergy for athletes, teams and organizations."