Pristine Waves and Record Chasing Performances Highlight World Class Day 3 at 2026 Maldives Pro

by Fabio Mota

August 15, 2026

2026 Maldives Pro, Events

THULUSDHOO, MALDIVES – August 15, 2026 – Day 3 of the 2026 Maldives Pro delivered the finest surf conditions of the waiting period so far, as the world’s best bodyboarders put on a masterclass in clean 5-to-6-foot waves at Cokes (Randa Raalhugandu). With light offshore winds grooming the lineup, both the Men’s and Women’s divisions pushed performance levels to new heights, setting up tantalizing Quarterfinal matchups.

Key Highlights:

Best Conditions Yet: Cokes fired all day with pristine 5-to-6-foot walls and light offshore breezes, providing a world-class canvas for technical riding.
PLC One Step From History: French legend Pierre-Louis Costes advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 15.75 total, putting him just one heat victory away from securing his 61st career World Tour podium—a new all-time world record.
Maldivian Surge: Four local Maldivian riders charged into the Men’s Quarterfinals, headlined by 21-year-old Aamin Umar Moosa, who tied for the highest heat total of the day with a 16.50.
Women’s Division Fireworks: Brazil’s Nicolle Calheiros posted a day-high 9.00-point ride, while defending event champion Namika Yamashita (Japan) dominated her heat with a 16.00 combined total.
Mother-Daughter Dynamic: Brazilian mother-daughter duo Neymara Carvalho and Luna Hardman both advanced out of Round 3, keeping themselves on a potential Semifinal collision course.

The action kicked off with Women’s Round 3, where high-flying projected rollos dominated the scoring criteria. Brazil’s Nicolle Calheiros set the standard in the opening heat, launching a deep, well-projected rollo on the outside section before connecting a spin and second rollo on the inside to earn a massive 9.00 single-wave score.

An all-Portuguese generational battle unfolded next, featuring former World Champion Joana Schenker, Filipa Broeiro, and Luana Dourado. Schenker and Broeiro showcased expert heat management to claim the top two spots and move forward into man-on-man competition.

Defending champion Namika Yamashita proved that a change of venue does not disrupt her championship rhythm, dropping an impressive 16.00-point combined total to command her heat.

The Women’s round concluded with an all-Brazilian showdown. Mother and daughter Neymara Carvalho and Luna Hardman successfully advanced together in second and first place respectively, with Hardman posting a 14.00 heat total and looking remarkably composed on the right-hand walls. The results set up a potential mother-daughter clash in the Semifinals should both win their upcoming Quarterfinals.

Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:

QF 1: Nicolle Calheiros (BRA) vs. Filipa Broeiro (POR)
QF 2: Joana Schenker (POR) vs. Maíra Viana (BRA)
QF 3: Namika Yamashita (JPN) vs. Neymara Carvalho (BRA)
QF 4: Luna Hardman (BRA) vs. Sara Abiko (JPN)

Credits: Humaid | IBC World Tour | Maldives Pro – Rider: Neymara Carvalho

The Men’s Round of 16 launched the knockout bracket phase, where local knowledge proved lethal. The Maldivian contingent put on an extraordinary display, securing four of the eight available spots in the Quarterfinals. Local 21-year-old Aamin Umar Moosa stole the show, posting a blistering 16.50 combined score.

Current world title contender Armide Soliveres (Spain) matched Moosa’s daily high with a 16.50 total of his own, highlighted by a cavernous barrel ride through the Cokes section.

Meanwhile, two-time World Champion Pierre-Louis Costes demonstrated laser focus, dropping a 15.75 total to secure his place in the final eight. A victory in his upcoming Quarterfinal heat will guarantee Costes his 61st career World Tour podium, officially setting a historic all-time world record.