More than 100 amateur and professional bodyboarders hit the surf at the two-day National Bodyboarding Festival held from Nov. 23 to 24 at Ocean Beach in San Diego, California.

The 2019 National Bodyboarding Festival, organized by the Association of Professional Bodyboarders North America and Bodyboarding U.S., was an inaugural event designed to jumpstart the sport. Popular in the 1980s and ‘90s, bodyboarding, for the past two decades, has taken a back seat to surfing.

Hoping to ride the waves of a resurgence, Guam’s Jon Leon Guerrero and John Barber shredded it up in San Diego.

Barber, fresh off a first-place finish at last month’s Monster Surf the Basin event in Hagåtña, advanced to the 32-man Pro Open Division semifinals. Leon Guerrero, who placed third in Hagåtña, narrowly missed the 24-man Men’s Amateur Drop-Knee Division semifinals.

For Barber, it was his first time competing as a pro, and he was excited for the opportunity to compete against some of the country’s best bodyboarders.

“The waves were really good … and it was a good, level performance,” Barber said. “The vibe of all the people was really good.”

Barber, adding the experience heightened his sensitivity to high-level competition, said, “Getting out there and seeing how the event worked and seeing the competition … was a learning experience.”

Learning to rip it up in chilly November waters also was something Barber will never forget.

“The cold was something to deal with, and it definitely took some adjusting to get used to,” he said.

In recent years, due to the painstaking effort of Guahan Napu Inc. the Guam National Olympic Committee’s surfing federation – bodyboarding’s popularity is on the rise.

The obvious challenge for bodyboarders and surfers alike on Guam is finding consistent waves, Barber said.

Some days they can be found at Talofofo Bay, University of Guam Marine Lab or at Agana Boat Basin, he said.

However, Guam’s lack of consistently challenging waves presents an obstacle for those trying to make it to the next level and for attracting new athletes.

Barber said, “We surf when we can,” and “whenever opportunities arise.”

With Barber’s recent success, the all-around waterman is already looking forward to international competitions in 2020.

“With the help of Guahan Napu, hopefully, we can continue to grow it and get more athletes to compete,” Barber said.