MEHDYA, MOROCCO – August 16, 2026 – The 2026 Everyday Mehdya reached a dramatic conclusion today on the coast of Morocco, crowning local star Adam El Moutouakil as event champion. Navigating clean, windless 2-to-3-foot surf on Finals Day, El Moutouakil held off a fierce field of international contenders to claim the trophy and lead six junior athletes to official qualification for the Gran Canaria Fronton King Grand Final.

Key Highlights:

• Home Turf Victory: Morocco’s Adam El Moutouakil captured the Everyday Mehdya title in a closely contested final heat against countryman Hamza Moumou.
• Defending Champion Eliminated: In the opening shocker of the day, defending champion Unax Pascual (Spain) was eliminated in the Quarterfinals by El Moutouakil.
• High-Flying Highlight: Event sensation Hamza Moumou dropped the day’s highest single-wave score—an 8.00-point backflip—mirroring his day-one spectacle.
• Golden Six Confirmed: Six riders officially locked in their spots for October’s Grand Final: Adam El Moutouakil (MOR), Hamza Moumou (MOR), Vicente Campos (POR), Agouzoul Abdelkarim (MOR), Ayoub Chahid (MOR), and Matias Baco (POR).
• Countdown to Spain: The Qualified Junior Men will meet in Spain for the Gran Canaria Fronton King Grand Final, scheduled for October 17 to October 31, 2026.

Glassy, pristine conditions greeted the final eight competitors as action got underway in Mehdya. Despite modest wave heights ranging from two to three feet, the tactical intensity reached its peak as riders fought for event points and world championship qualification.

The day opened with a major upset in the Quarterfinals. Defending event champion Unax Pascual (Spain) struggled to find rhythm in a slow-paced heat, falling to Adam El Moutouakil and exiting the competition earlier than anticipated.

El Moutouakil capitalized on the momentum, building a momentum-filled route to the final. In the Semifinals against Portugal’s Vicente Campos, El Moutouakil dropped the highest single score of his tournament run—a 7.75—to secure his place in the grand matchup.

On the other side of the draw, Hamza Moumou continued to put on an aerial clinic for the local fans. The 2025 event runner-up executed a near carbon-copy of his opening-day highlight, connecting with a clean section to land a massive 8.00-point backflip—the highest score awarded on Finals Day.

The Final set up an all-Moroccan showdown between El Moutouakil and Moumou. In a patient, highly tactical encounter where wave selection proved decisive, El Moutouakil edged out his rival by the narrowest of margins, posting a combined total of 9.40 to Moumou’s 9.20 to take his maiden title on home soil.

Qualification Locked for Gran Canaria

With the conclusion of the second Moroccan Rising Series leg, the six junior bodyboarders who have officially earned their automatic entries into the Gran Canaria Fronton King Grand Final are confirmed:

1. Adam El Moutouakil (Morocco)
2. Hamza Moumou (Morocco)
3. Vicente Campos (Portugal)
4. Agouzoul Abdelkarim (Morocco)
5. Ayoub Chahid (Morocco)
6. Matias Baco (Portugal)

These six athletes will represent the Junior Men Rising Series on the world stage in the Canary Islands, Spain, from October 17th to 31st, 2026, where the 2026 Junior World Champion will officially be crowned.

About the IBC

The International Bodyboarding Corporation (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.

About the Rising Series

The IBC Rising Series serves as the vital competitive pathway for emerging talent and regional athletes aiming to transition to the elite tiers of professional bodyboarding. Offering crucial ranking points and direct qualifying routes to Major Grand Finals—such as the Gran Canaria Fronton King—the Rising Series fosters the next generation of world champions.