What began as a regional passion project on the island of Sardinia has, in just a few short years, evolved into the most ambitious and inspiring radio sport program on Freeband frequencies…
The World Beauties Award (WBA) represents the natural evolution of an idea rooted in place, culture, and the thrill of DX, and is now set to take off in 2026!
The Vision: Giving Value to Place
The story starts in early 2024 with the creation of the SBA – Sardegna Beauties Award…
Conceived by Alessandro (165DA101 Alex), an avid portable operator and enthusiast of field activations on 11 metres, the SBA was designed to be different.
Rather than focusing on a single technical theme, the SBA placed the activation location at the centre of the experience.
Prestigious sites—whether historical, cultural, archaeological, or natural—became the true stars of each activation.
By operating from or near these locations, activators gave them international exposure, while hunters received something equally distinctive: unique, personalized electronic certificates for every confirmed contact.
The concept resonated immediately.
Rapid Growth and Early Success
The project gained major momentum in April 2024, when it was officially recognised and sponsored by the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC)…
At this stage, the project team expanded with the involvement of Gaetano (1DA001) and Kostas (90DA101), whose contributions in logistics, graphics, and operational support proved fundamental to the award’s rapid development.
The first operational phase began in June 2024, and within just six months Alessandro completed an impressive 60 activations.
Many of these were tied to established reference programs such as IOTA, COTA, and others, with some particularly significant activations commemorated through physical QSL cards.
The SBA had clearly struck a chord.
National Expansion: SIBA
In 2025, the award took its first major evolutionary step, becoming the SIBA – Sardegna Italia Beauties Award….
Participation was extended to all Italian Delta-Alfa members, transforming the initiative from a regional Sardinian program into a national one.
Hunter participation surged, and the regularly updated rankings on sbota.org became a focal point of competition and engagement.
The success of SIBA confirmed that the model was not only sustainable, but scalable.
Going Global: The World Beauties Award
From January 1, 2026, the project reaches its full expression with the launch of the WBA – World Beauties Award….
For the first time, all DA-RC members worldwide can participate as activators, showcasing the beauties of their own countries.
The WBA embraces an exceptionally broad range of activation categories, including:
- SOTA
- POTA
- COTA
- WWFF
- IOTA
- IWI
- Archaeological and culturally significant sites, and more
In short, there is something for everyone—portable enthusiasts, DX hunters, ragchewers, and explorers alike.
Each reference carries a score, with separate rankings for Hunters and Activators, ensuring a meaningful and competitive radio sport experience.
A Dual Mission
At the heart of WBA lies a powerful dual mission….
The WBA activator simultaneously:
- Enhances and promotes a site of historical, cultural, or tourist importance
- Elevates the prestige of their activation simply by operating near that location
- Every activation becomes a double victory—for the operator and for the place itself.
A New Global Frontier
The purpose of the World Beauties Award is clear:
- to enhance and promote the greatest possible number of sites of historical, cultural, and tourist interest worldwide, using the 11-metre band as a bridge between geography, culture, and radio sport.
From 2026, WBA invites you to a thrilling DX adventure.
Get ready to test your hunting skills in activations that will take you—through propagation and imagination—to every corner of the globe.
This is not just a challenge; it is an epic hunt that dares to defy the limits of ionospheric propagation.
WBA is your new global frontier. A breathtaking DX adventure that will take you on a journey with both your mind and your gear.
If you’re ready to conquer the impossible, WBA is your destination. Don’t be caught unprepared. Your new DX adventure awaits.
Key Information
- Award Period: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- Project Team: 1DA001 Gaetano / 165DA101 Alex / 90DA101 Kostas
- Open to: Hunters of all groups
More features coming soon!
🔗 Full details and rankings: https://sbota.org/
🎥 Official presentation video available via the WBA YouTube channel
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