October 20, 2024, Gáldar, Gran Canaria, Spain.
• Young Armide Soliveres snagged the world title right at home during the Gran Canaria Frontón King, the final event of the IBC World Tour, going head-to-head with two-time world champ, Frenchman Pierre Louis Costes.
• In the Junior Division, another Gran Canarian, Alexander Montes, also took home the world title, marking an unprecedented double win for the Canary Islands.
• Montes also claimed victory in the Junior Division event, while the new king of the Men’s Division is South African Tristan Roberts.
FINAL DAY OF THE GRAN CANARIA FRONTÓN KING AND THE IBC WORLD TOUR 2024
With all the epic moments that sports can bring, 22-year-old rider Armide Soliveres became the first Spanish world champion in bodyboarding’s Men’s Division this Sunday. This happened after his only rival, Pierre Louis Costes, lost his heat against his fellow countryman and friend Amaury Lavernhe at the Gran Canaria Frontón King, the most anticipated event of the IBC World Tour, which celebrated its twelfth edition and has been crowning world champions for nine years, held on the coast of Gáldar, known for having some of the best waves in the world for bodyboarding.
Lavernhe ended up losing the event final to the new king of the Gran Canaria Frontón King, South African Tristan Roberts, who showcased his impressive aerial skills to edge out the Frenchman in a very close battle, reminiscent of their showdown in 2019. Back then, Roberts took home the world title. He won the event again in 2022, making this his third crown in the most coveted event on the circuit.
As for the Junior Division, Gran Canarian Alexander Montes clinched the world title, completing a historic double for the island alongside Soliveres, as it’s the first time two Canarians have reached the pinnacle of bodyboarding. He also became the event winner, earning the title of prince of the Gran Canaria Frontón King by defeating last year’s champion, Peruvian Micheel Yancce, in the final. Montes had to win in Gáldar to secure the title; any other outcome would have crowned Chilean Mikelle Arriagada. With some solid surfing, he managed to achieve his goal, heat by heat.
A 22-year-old nursing student, now the new world champion! As for the new world champ, Armide Soliveres, he received the title this Sunday shortly after the day kicked off. Costes, who has two titles under his belt (2011 and 2016), needed to win the event to snatch the title from the Canarian—who had been eliminated the day before. In the first head-to-head heat of the seventh round, he faced off against Amaury Lavernhe, who also has two world titles (2010 and 2014).
Lavernhe had already warned the day before in his interview that he wasn’t going to let nationality or friendship with Pierre influence him. “This is sports, and I’m here to work towards my goal, which is to win the Frontón King.” And even if he had done that, it’s not clear that Costes would have been the one to benefit, because Lavernhe, who has been living in Gáldar for years, is just another member of the local rider community, always one of the favorites and a tough competitor in this event.
In front of a cliff and a packed crowd, Lavernhe and Costes battled it out, with the title contender struggling to make any headway while Lavernhe slowly pulled ahead with a nice right tube and then an inverted air. The tension was rising in the athlete area, where Soliveres, surrounded by friends and family, was counting down the seconds to receive his long-awaited world title as the horn sounded.
Soliveres kicked off the circuit with a second place in Morocco, a ninth in Iquique, and a fifth in Antofagasta—two events held in Chile—before scoring two first places in Brazil (Itacoatiara) and the Maldives. With those results, he arrived at the final event, at home, the Gran Canaria Frontón King, with a solid shot at the title. His only rival, Pierre Louis Costes, needed to win the event to stop him. And even though he’s one of the best riders in the world right now, Lavernhe ended his chances. It’s worth mentioning that Costes faced the exact same situation last year and also lost to Hawaiian Tanner McDaniel.
“It’s been a really tense few days, especially around me, but I’m super happy this all happened at home and that I’m celebrating it with the whole bodyboarding community on the Island,” Soliveres said just moments later. He added, “I just hope this encourages more people to catch some waves and that more institutions and companies decide to support us.”
This young nursing student, who has achieved “a lifelong dream,” admits he did it “a bit earlier than expected. It was my goal for a couple of years down the line, but this year I had to put a lot of effort into my studies and steal some time from training,” he confessed.
Montes, on the other hand, came out exhausted but “happy and finally relieved” after his final heat against Yancee, who really gave it his all and almost pulled ahead in the last moments. “Honestly, it’s something I’ve dreamed about so many times, but I didn’t want to fully believe it. I’ve been super focused because I had to win here, so I’m still processing it, but achieving something like this in the sport of your life is just incredible,” he pointed out.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE GRAN CANARIA FRONTÓN KING 2024
MEN’S DIVISION
1st TRISTAN ROBERTS (SOUTH AFRICA)
2nd AMAURY LAVERNHE (FRANCE)
3rd GABRIEL BRAGA (BRAZIL)
3rd URI VALADAO (BRAZIL)
JUNIOR MEN´S DIVISION
1st ALEXANDER MONTES (SPAIN, CANARY ISLANDS)
2nd MICHEEL YANCCE (PERU)
3rd DIA POLO (SPAIN, CANARY ISLANDS)
3rd NÉSTOR REYES (SPAIN, CANARY ISLANDS)
The Gran Canaria Frontón King Pro 2024, part of the IBC Bodyboarding World Tour, which also features a variety of music and food offerings, is organized by Epic Events and promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria through Gran Canaria Tourism, the Insular Sports Institute and its brand European Island of Sport, the Presidency Department with its brand The Island of My Life, and the Gáldar City Council, along with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Corona, as well as the collaboration of Munchitos and Ozeano.
Photos: Richard Alemán y Jesús de León
Make sure to keep an eye on the IBC and Gran Canaria Frontón King website and their social media. You’ll find all the info you need about this awesome event!
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