We’re breaking down the highlights and technical specs of the first stop of the 2026 IBC World Tour at the Morocco World Bodyboard Championship. This event was a big deal—not just for the points, but because it sets the tone for the entire season.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE
After three years in a row, Morocco has solidified its spot as a heavy-hitter on the IBC World Tour. Here’s why this stop matters so much:
- The “Champion Maker” Trend: Historically, if you kill it in Morocco, you’re probably taking the world title. Look at Uri Valadao and Louka Zaninotto in 2025. In 2024, Armide Soliveres took 2nd here and went on to win the Men’s World Title. Same for the women—Alexandra Rinder placed 2nd in Morocco in 2025 and finished the tour as World Champ.
- The Stakes: For the Juniors, this is the first RISING SERIES event, where they battle for one of 48 spots in the Grand Final at Frontón King (Gran Canaria) this October. For the Men, it’s the first PRIME SERIES event with a massive 5,000 points on the line—the highest score possible.
- The Venue: Anza Beach features a long right and a shorter, punchy left. It’s consistent, offering both barrel sections and ramps. It’s the perfect place to judge a rider’s speed, line choice, competition strategy, and high-performance maneuvers like heavy tubes and massive airs.
JUNIOR MEN’S DIVISION (RISING SERIES)
The Junior category was a total war of attrition and adaptability. The kids had to deal with some serious curveballs:
- The Fog Factor: Day 1 saw thick fog that messed with the athletes’ heads. The delay forced the organizers to cram the entire competition into Sunday.
- Physical Burnout: The finalists had to paddle out five times in a single day. At that age, that kind of physical toll is insane and really showed who put in the work during the off-season.
- The Upset: In a shocker, World Champ Louka Zaninotto got knocked out in the semis. Even though he posted the highest heat total of the event (15.75), his rivals were just more consistent in the man-on-man format.
Champion: Lucciano Campos (Peru)
The young Peruvian took the win thanks to incredible wave selection and his ability to huck massive airs under pressure. He stuck a huge inverted air that scored a 9.0, proving he’s the real deal in heavy water.
The following riders have now officially punched their tickets to the Grand Final:
MEN’S PRIME SERIES
This division was a masterclass in tactics, power, and elite-level bodyboarding. The weather over the six-day window kept everyone on their toes. It went from massive, victory-at-sea conditions with crazy currents (where it was all about survival and fitness) to glassy, clean rights where technical airs and radical riding took center stage.
Technical & Tactical Breakdown:
- The Defending Champ Falls: Uri Valadao got bounced in the Round of 16 by his close friend Eder Luciano. It just goes to show there’s zero room for error in the current Top 16. Eder used an ARS + 2 rolls combo to take down the champ.
- Local Hero: Chajri Badr Eddine proved that last year’s finals run wasn’t a fluke. Representing the rise of Moroccan bodyboarding, Chajri played the “local knowledge” card perfectly. His riding was aggressive and confident, and the home crowd’s energy definitely gave him an extra gear in every heat.
Champion: Tristan Roberts (South Africa)
Tristan didn’t just win; he dominated. He placed first in every single heat he paddled into. The highlight? A 10-point ride in the semis against PLC, where he pulled a reverse air right at the buzzer. It was easily one of the most electric heats we’ll see all season.
Current Men’s Top 16 Standings:
PERFORMANCE BY NATION (TOP 6)
Even though it’s an individual sport, national pride is always on the line. Here’s who showed up:
- PERU: Major props to Junior Champ Lucciano Campos and a solid showing by Cristopher Bayona in the Men’s.
- SOUTH AFRICA: Tristan Roberts is in peak form, looking untouchable in every heat.
- MOROCCO: With Chajri Badr Eddine in the Men’s final and Hamza taking 3rd in Juniors, the locals are officially a force to be reckoned with.
- FRANCE: A huge crew of French riders dominated the early rounds but stumbled when things got heavy in the semis.
- BRAZIL: Gabriel Braga took third, proving once again that he’s the man to beat in Morocco, while Eder Luciano walked away with fifth.
- SPAIN: Armide Soliveres and Amaury Lavernhe did enough to keep their spots in the Top 16.
TECHNICAL TAKEAWAYS
- Maneuver Progression: Backflips and rolls were the bread and butter. However, to win those close heats, you had to link combos (Backflip to Roll) or go big with high-risk moves like inverts and air reverses.
- Fitness is Key: Modern bodyboarding is an endurance sport. Being able to recover after a 30-minute paddle-battle against the Anza current was the deciding factor in the finals.
- Priority Psychology: In the man-on-man rounds, priority management was everything. Guys like Gabriel Braga and Tristan Roberts showed ice-cold patience, waiting for the right wave to snatch a last-minute win.
Next Stop: The tour heads to Chile for the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival (April 29 – May 10) for the Men’s and DropKnee divisions. It’ll be interesting to see how the riders transition from the long rights of Anza to the heavy reef slabs of La Nilda.
Huge thanks to everyone who supported the 2026 Morocco World Bodyboard Championship!
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
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
Follow the IBC World Tour on all our channels:
- Web: www.ibcworldtour.com
- YouTube: @IBCWorldTour
- IG: @ibcworld_tour
- TikTok: @ibcworldtour