At 9:00 AM local time, the penultimate day of competition kicked off for the Men’s Prime Series.
Conditions were firing this morning with mid-sized sets and zero wind, leading to the highest scores of the event so far. The riders took full advantage of the clean faces, linking together massive air maneuvers.
THE ROUND OF 16
We’re down to the final 16 in Morocco. From here on out, it’s all man-on-man heats to secure a spot in the Quarterfinals. It was an intense day of high-stakes action and pure showmanship.
Portugal’s Joel Rodrigues went head-to-head with Spain’s Amaury Lavernhe. Once again, 2-time World Champ Amaury put on a clinic, putting up a super solid heat to cruise into the Quarters. Joel bows out with a respectable 9th place and a great overall performance.
Brazil’s Gabriel Braga took the win, dropping one of the best waves of the day—an 8.25—after sticking a heavy backflip followed by a clean roll. Gabriel has been in the world title conversation for two years straight, and he just proved he’s not slowing down. France’s Yann Salaun heads home after a fantastic run.
This one was tight between Tahitian Tahiri Tehei and local favorite Chajri Badr Eddine. In the dying minutes of the heat, the Moroccan sensation found a gem that knocked the Tahitian out of the running. Chajri is officially in the Top 8.
Heat 4 was an all-Brazilian battle that felt like a replay of last season’s most exciting matchups: Eder Luciano vs. Uri Valadao. We had a massive upset at Anza Beach—Eder Luciano went off, posting a near-perfect 9-point wave with a super technical ARS followed by two heavy rolls. The defending World and Morocco Champ, Uri Valadao, exits to a standing ovation and a huge hug from his buddy Eder.
Heat 5 featured another clash of titans: Peru’s Cristopher Bayona against local breakout star Elghzal Yassine. Bayona showed he’s in peak form and took the win. The Moroccan standout leaves the event with his head high after being one of the most talked-about names this week.
Two friends battled for a Quarterfinal slot: current World No. 2 Pierre Louis Costes (PLC) against the Moroccan GOAT, Brahim Iddouch. PLC didn’t give him an inch, dominating the heat from the start to lock in his spot. Brahim finishes with a well-deserved 9th place.
Performance of the Day: This was the heat everyone will be talking about. South Africa’s Tristan Roberts put on a total highlight reel, scoring the wave of the event so far—a 9.75 featuring two backflips and a roll. He also posted the highest heat total of the contest: 18 points. France’s Ethan Capdeville just couldn’t keep up with a performance that was next-to-flawless.
The final heat of the day was a total war between Chile’s Joaquín Soto and Spain’s Armide Soliveres. The Canary Islands rider, Armide, took the win by linking two great waves for the second-highest total of the day (15.95). The young Chilean fell just short of his goal but leaves with a solid result to start the year.
That’s a wrap on the second-to-last day at Anza Beach.
Check-in for the competitors is tomorrow at 8:30 AM local time. If the conditions hold, it’ll be Finals Day, and we’ll crown the new 2026 Morocco World Bodyboard Champion.
Don’t miss out on the best bodyboarding on the planet.
Watch the LIVE stream on the official site: www.ibcworldtour.com
Huge thanks to everyone making this event happen:
Associations:
• Imouran surf association
• New Generation anza
• Anza Blue Waves
• Taghazout Boardriders Club
Hotels:
• Tikida Group
• Nobi boutique Surf Hotel Tamraght
Sponsors:
• Pride Bodyboards
• Rip Curl
• Red Bull
• Regional council Souss Massa
Press and TV Channels:
• LA MAP
Tourism:
• RDTR www.visitruralmorocco.com
Authorities:
• Ministry of Education and sports
• City of Agadir
• Souss Massa Regional – Wilaya of souss massa
• Souss Massa Region
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- Web: www.ibcworldtour.com
- YouTube: @IBCWorldTour
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