2006 Pokémon Promo "Tropical Tidal Wave" #36 (Italian), Graded PSA 9

Name: 2006 Pokémon Promo "Tropical Tidal Wave" #36 (Italian), Graded PSA 9
Brand: The Collector
Availability: LimitedAvailability

A PSA 9 graded 2006 Italian Pokémon World Championship promo card, Tropical Tidal Wave #36, featuring Pikachu surfing on Lapras.

Estimated value

$800 - $2,000

Rarity

Rare(7/10)

COLLECTOR'S BREAKDOWN: 2006 POKÉMON PROMO "TROPICAL TIDAL WAVE" #36 (ITALIAN), GRADED PSA 9

This is a "Tropical Tidal Wave" Trainer card, a promotional item from the 2006 Pokémon World Championships. The artwork, by Sumiyoshi Kizuki, captures the event's spirit with Pikachu and Lapras joyfully surfing, an image iconic to the "Worlds" promo series. This specific example is the Italian language version, "Cavallone Tropicale", and has been professionally graded MINT 9 by PSA, preserving its superb condition within a sonically sealed slab.

CULTURAL CARD LORE

Where This Object Echoes

Olympic MemorabiliaModern

Similar to Olympic participation medals, this card serves as a tangible memento of reaching the highest level of international competition in its field.

Hawaiian Surf Culture20th Century - Present

The artwork, featuring surfing on a tropical wave, directly references themes of leisure and sport associated with Hawaiian and Californian coastal culture, where the 2006 event was held (Anaheim).

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•The ritual of collecting memorabilia from major sporting or gaming events to commemorate a significant moment in the hobby's history or a personal achievement.

Meaning Through Time

2006 (At Event)

A participation prize; a personal memento and badge of honor for qualifying for the World Championship.

2010s-Present (Collector Market)

A rare and valuable collectible, representing a key data point for master set collectors and an investment asset tracking the health of the high-end Pokémon card market.

CARD HISTORY & PRINT RUNS

Distributed exclusively to competitors and staff at the 2006 Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California. These 'Worlds' promos are highly sought-after relics from the pinnacle of competitive Pokémon TCG play. Each year's promo features unique artwork, making them a chronological record of the event's history. The 2006 card is from the EX series era, a period beloved by many veteran players and collectors for its distinctive game mechanics and card design.

COLLECTOR INTEL

The "Tropical" series of promo cards were given to participants of the Pokémon World Championships from 2004 to 2011, making them a unique set of 'entry ticket' memorabilia.

Each language version of a Worlds promo card, like this Italian one, was only given to players from regions where that language is spoken, resulting in vastly different population counts for each variant.

CARD STOCK & FINISH

Surface

The card's surface is sealed within the PSA slab, appearing clean with a matte finish and no holographic foil, which is standard for a non-holo Trainer card of this era.

Weight & Feel

Lightweight as a single card, but given a rigid and more substantial feel by the protective PSA plastic casing.

Condition

Graded MINT 9 by PSA, this card is nearly perfect. A PSA 9 grade signifies just one minor flaw, such as a tiny printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders, that prevents a Gem Mint 10 grade.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Rare90-95%

CommonLegendary

Exceptional items that serious collectors actively seek. Only a handful appear at major auctions each year.

Typical Characteristics

Few examples at auction yearly
Specialist dealer networks
Strong collector competition

Confidence Factors

Encapsulated and graded by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a top-tier third-party grading service.
Label information and certification number are consistent with PSA's public database.
The card's details and artwork match known examples of this specific promotional item.

How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

Identification is near-certain due to the clear, legible information on the PSA grading label, which provides the year, set, card name, language, and a verifiable certification number.

KEY EVIDENCE

1PSA authenticated slab with grade MINT 9 and certification #63185026.
2Card identified as the 2006 Pokemon Promo #36, 'Tropical Tidal Wave'.
3Language specified on both the label and card as Italian ('Cavallone Tropicale').
4Artwork includes the 'WORLDS 06' event marker on Lapras, confirming its origin.
5Exclusivity to the 2006 World Championships establishes its inherent rarity.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Verify the certification number on the official PSA website to view the population report.
→Inspect the PSA slab for any signs of cracking, frosting, or tampering that could compromise the grade.
→Research recent auction results for other non-English 2006 Worlds promo cards to establish a more precise market value.