Friday, October 17, Gáldar, Gran Canaria, Spain.
The coast of Gáldar hosted the third day of the Gran Canaria Frontón King this Friday, the final event of the IBC World Tour for bodyboarding. This was the much-anticipated debut of the top 16 riders in the world rankings, including the six contenders for the overall title.
In the junior division, the competition moved forward to the quarter-finals, leaving the battle for the world championship among Gran Canarians Néstor Reyes and Alberto Pérez, Chileans Cristóbal Tobar and Bastian Venegas, Peruvian Lucciano Alba, Italian Damiano Bonazzi, French Louka Zaniotto, and Australian Jai Taylor.
The day started early with very favorable conditions, similar to the previous two days. By midday, the surf lost some power, and a light wind picked up that smoothed the waves and slightly reduced their size, but it didn’t affect the show. As the event’s technical team reminded us, “to be the best in the world, you have to be versatile and know how to surf in all conditions: different sizes, wind directions, reefs, or beaches, and waves from both sides.”
The six riders with a shot at the championship took to the water today with mixed results. Current world champion Armide Soliveres, along with France’s Pierre-Louis Costes and South Africa’s Tristan Roberts, qualified first in their heats. Meanwhile, Moroccan Badr Eddine and Brazilians Uri Valadão and Gabriel Braga will have to fight for their spot in the repechage round.
“I couldn’t connect with the waves; the power dropped a bit, and my teammates were able to take advantage of the better ones,” explained Uri Valadão, the current ranking leader and main title contender. “Sometimes it happens, but I’m feeling calm. It’s about staying focused and doing my best in the next round,” he added.
In this repechage, each heat consists of three competitors, and two advance, so all still have a chance. Four of them already know what it’s like to be world champions, showcasing the level of this edition.
South African Tristan Roberts delivered one of the standout performances of the day, scoring the best wave (9.5) thanks to an extremely deep and technical two-section tube, drawing cheers from the crowd. With a total score of 17.25 points, he was unbeatable in his heat. Another highlight was Chilean Joaquin Soto, who put on an almost perfect performance.
Locals Keep the Frontón Dream Alive
Beyond the battle for the world title, several locals are still vying for the prestigious win at the event itself, one of the most coveted on the circuit. Notable competitors include Gáldar’s William Luján, Gran Canaria’s Jonathan Vega, and Lanzarote’s Pablo Lecouey.
Excitement and Skill in the Juniors
After the first round of the main category, the day continued with the junior series, which held two more rounds to determine the quarter-finals. The heats were highly contested and showcased a very high level, with various maneuvers and tight scores.
Peruvian Luciano Alba shined with the best wave of the day in his category, executing an impeccable Air Roll Spin in a challenging section of the wave, earning the highest individual score. Alba is joined by local talents Néstor Reyes and Alberto Pérez, along with Chileans Cristóbal Tobar and Bastian Venegas, Peruvian Lucciano Alba, Italian Damiano Bonazzi living in Tenerife, French Louka Zaniotto, and Australian Jai Taylor.
It’s worth noting that this category introduced a new format this year: the 48 qualifiers started the grand final with equal chances of claiming the world title, raising the level and excitement of the competition.
Gran Canaria Frontón King 2025, organized by Epic Events, is promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through the Insular Institute of Sports, Turismo de Gran Canaria, and the Presidency Department, with collaboration from the Gáldar City Council, Citroen, BeGreen, Corona, Munchitos, Bluetti, RedBull, Ozeano, Grupo Félix Santiago Melián, Link Store, Fitness Park, Our Style Canarias, and Loype Eventos.
You can catch the live stream and full coverage on the official website and social media channels.
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