The Boogie Chicks competition in Cascais is buzzing with excitement, and Portuguese athlete Luana Dourado is ready to defend her title. The 16-year-old is a national champion and the reigning European junior champion, and she’s looking to make it two in a row. In fact, she’s one of the top contenders for the European junior title as well as the first stop on both the National Circuit and the European Circuit.
Luana is no stranger to success, having beaten out some tough competition, including Brazilian athlete Luna Hardman, who took the top spot at the World Pro Junior Championships in Chile last October. Luana came close, taking second place, and she’s hoping her momentum will carry her through to victory. At a recent press conference, Luana said she’s focused on giving it her all. “I always go into a competition with the goal of doing my best and getting the best result,” she said. Notably, her competitor Joana Schenker, the 2017 world champion, was eliminated by Luana earlier that day.
Joana Schenker may not be competing anymore, but she’s still involved in the bodyboarding community. In fact, she’s cited as an inspiration by many young athletes.
20 Years of Empowering Women in Bodyboarding
Catarina Sousa is the godmother of the Boogie Chicks project, and she’s seen it grow from a small initiative into a global movement. “This project has become a part of who I am,” she said proudly. “We’ve had a huge impact, not just in Portugal but also abroad.” One example is a female bodyboarding school that opened in Brazil a couple of years ago, inspired by the Boogie Chicks project.
The project’s influence extends beyond Europe, with athletes from Chile and other countries getting involved. “We’ve been supporting girls from Chile, and we’ve even had virtual meetings with them,” Catarina said. “It’s amazing to see how many women are taking up bodyboarding around the world.”
Teresa Padrela, the 2024 European champion, is also part of the organization. “This year’s going better than last year,” she said, highlighting the progress they’ve made. With its 20th anniversary, the Boogie Chicks competition is more than just a sporting event – it’s a celebration of women’s bodyboarding and a testament to the power of community and perseverance.
Capixaba Luna Hardman é bicampeã mundial Pro Junior de Bodyboarding [ https://t.co/hxGUsA65Vz ]
Brasileira derrotou a portuguesa Luana Dourado na bateria de desempate nesta quinta-feira (23), em Antofagasta, no Chile pic.twitter.com/XlQ9KhBrgv
— A Gazeta ES (@AGazetaES) May 23, 2024
A portuguesa Joana Schenker sagrou-se campeã mundial de bodyboard! Orgulho! 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/IruES2i4M5
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 8, 2017