Dramatic Upsets Mark Historic Opener at the 2026 Maldives Pro

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.

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.

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.