NAMIKA YAMASHITA AND PIERRE LOUIS COSTES CROWNED CHAMPIONS AT THE 2026 SINTRA BODYBOARD FESTIVAL

by Javier Ceballos

September 6, 2026

2026, Events, 2026 Sintra Bodyboard Festival

Sintra, Portugal – Sunday, September 6, 2026

The highly anticipated final day of the Sintra Bodyboard Festival kicked off at 8:00 AM local time for its 30th anniversary, promising to be one for the history books. The swell finally pumped, and with zero wind, the world’s best riders put on an absolute show at stunning Praia Grande to decide the champs in the Women Prime Series and Men Rising Series divisions.

WOMEN PRIME SERIES: Japanese Dominance and High-Voltage Action

Starting in the quarter-finals, the competition switched to a head-to-head format:

• Quarter-Finals: Japan’s Yuka Nishimura edged out Brazil’s Maylla Venturin by a tiny 0.35 margin. Her compatriot Namika Yamashita threw down a solid 13.00 total score with clean aerial rolls to knock out local favorite Filipa Broeiro. 5x World Champ Neymara Carvalho (Brazil) dropped the highest single wave score of the day so far (7.75) for a 14.40 total to eliminate Sara Abiko (Japan). Finally, Luna Hardman (Brazil) landed a heavy 9.00 roll to lock in the highest heat total of the entire event (16.75), knocking out Portuguese youngster Luana Dourado.

• Semi-Finals: In an all-Japanese showdown, Namika Yamashita punched her ticket to the finals by just a few decimals over Yuka Nishimura. On the other side, mother and daughter faced off for the second time this event, with Luna Hardman taking the win over her mom, Neymara Carvalho, thanks to some super aggressive riding.

• Grand Final: In a nail-biter that went down to the wire, Namika Yamashita (13.85 pts) backed up her victory from Maldives last week, taking the crown over Luna Hardman (13.10 pts).

MEN RISING SERIES: Pierre Louis Costes Defends His Sintra Title

• Quarter-Finals: The biggest shocker came from Portugal’s Francisco Ferreira, who knocked out France’s Ethan Capdeville to secure his first-ever podium. Brazil’s Uri Valadão took down local rider Miguel Ferreira with a 14.00 total. French powerhouse Pierre Louis Costes (PLC) edged out Brazil’s Eder Luciano in a heart-stopper (14.25 to 13.60), while Spain’s Armide Soliveres (14.60 pts) moved on with his signature electric style against junior rider Lucciano Campos.

• Semi-Finals: Uri Valadão locked in his spot in the final by just 0.45 points against Francisco Ferreira, who walked off to massive applause as the breakout rider of the event. In a clash of titans, PLC posted the highest heat total of the entire event (16.50 pts), dropping a huge right-hand invert and a flawless left-hand backflip, to top Armide Soliveres.

• Grand Final: PLC looked unstoppable in the Praia Grande lineup. Stomping a massive left-hand air invert, he sealed the deal against Uri Valadão to go back-to-back as the Sintra champion.

OFFICIAL RESULTS: 2026 SINTRA BODYBOARD FESTIVAL

MEN RISING SERIES

• 1st: Pierre Louis Costes (France)

• 2nd: Uri Valadão (Brazil)

• 3rd: Armide Soliveres (Spain)

• 3rd: Francisco Ferreira (Portugal)

WOMEN PRIME SERIES

• 1st: Namika Yamashita (Japan)

• 2nd: Luna Hardman (Brazil)

• 3rd: Neymara Carvalho (Brazil)

• 3rd: Yuka Nishimura (Japan)

NEXT STOP ON THE IBC WORLD TOUR

The women’s division heads to South America to crown the new World Champion at the ArcelorMittal Wahine Bodyboarding Pro in Brazil, running September 10–20.