THULUSDHOO, MALDIVES – August 13, 2026 – The IBC World Tour officially made its celebrated return to the Indian Ocean today for the opening day of the 2026 Maldives Pro. Making history as the tour’s first-ever visit to the island of Thulusdhoo, the world’s elite riders took on the famous reef break of Cokes (Randa Raalhugandu), delivering explosive performances and dramatic shifts across both the Men’s and Women’s divisions.

Key Highlights:

• Historic Island Debut: The IBC World Tour returns to the Maldives after a two-year hiatus, hosting its inaugural event on the island of Thulusdhoo at the world-class break of Cokes.
• Armide Soliveres Drops Daily High: Spain’s Armide Soliveres put on an aerial masterclass in Men’s Round 1, posting an event-best 17.60 combined total (8.85 air reverse + 8.75 backflip).
• Major Upsets in Women’s Return: After an 11-month offseason, world champion favorites Alexandra Rinder, Namika Yamashita, and Filipa Broeiro were relegated to the non-elimination repechage round.
• Women’s Division Standouts: Veteran Maylla Venturin posted the highest single-wave score in the Women’s division (8.50), while Luna Hardman carried her winning momentum with two solid 7-point rides.
• Repechage Scheduled Next: Competition continues tomorrow with critical Men’s and Women’s Repechage heats, with the official call set for 1:30 PM local time.

The event window opened with 4-to-6-foot waves pumping through the Cokes lineup. Despite challenging cross-shore winds, the technical quality of riding was on full display as athletes adjusted quickly to the powerful reef break.

The Men’s division kicked off the day’s action, where top-seeded heavyweights Pierre Louis Costes and Armide Soliveres immediately stamped their authority, skipping the elimination rounds to advance directly into Round 3.

Armide was the undisputed star of the morning in Heat 5, putting together a blistering heat total of 17.60 points. The Spaniard connected a massive air reverse for an 8.85 before backing it up with a backflip for an 8.75. In the very same heat, fellow countryman Jonathan Vega also lit up the lineup, posting a 16.00 combined total to secure his own spot in the next round.

Following the men, the Women’s Prime Series hit the water for their long-awaited season opener after an 11-month offseason. The extended break brought immediate drama and major upsets in non-elimination Round 1.

Defending World Champion Alexandra Rinder, 2025 World Title Runner-up and defending event champion Namika Yamashita, and world rank number three Filipa Broeiro all failed to secure top spots in their opening matchups. All three will now be forced to fight their way back through the upcoming repechage round.

Conversely, last season’s final event winner Luna Hardman picked up right where she left off, commanding her heat with a 7.00 and a 7.25. However, it was veteran rider Maylla Venturin who stole the women’s highlight reel, driving through a heavy outside section on one of the biggest sets of the day to execute a massive rollo, earning an 8.50 the highest single-wave score in the division.

Competition is set to resume tomorrow with Men’s and Women’s Repechage rounds, where athletes will battle to keep their event hopes alive. The official call is scheduled for 1:30 PM local time.

Catch all the live scoring, stream replays, and video highlights on ibcworldtour.com and the official IBC YouTube channel.

About the IBC

The International Bodyboarding Committe (IBC) is the official governing body for the professional bodyboarding world tour. Dedicated to the global growth, development, and promotion of the sport, the IBC organizes world-class competitive events across multiple divisions, ensuring the world’s best athletes have a premium platform to showcase their talents.