ACTION PACKED DAY FOR THE JUNIORS AT THE GRAN CANARIA FRONTÓN KING 2026

• The defending world champion locks in the highest single-wave score of the day with an 8.25 and survives a nerve-wracking heat.

• Noah Chapman, Adriano Bravo, and Lucciano Campos put on a clinic on a day dedicated entirely to the junior division.

Defending junior world champion Louka Zaninotto of France proved once again this Thursday at El Frontón that he is fully committed to holding onto his crown. The French rider stood out as one of the star performers on day three of the Gran Canaria Frontón King 2026, which ran exclusively for the juniors and wrapped up with 12 riders still standing in the race for the world title.

Action kicked off at first light to make the most of the ocean conditions. While El Frontón didn't show its heaviest face, it delivered ideal launch pads for the sport's rising stars to showcase their aerial repertoire.

Zaninotto Lays Down the Gauntlet and Survives Heat of the Day

Louka Zaninotto made it clear right out of the gate that he remains the man to beat. Focused on defending the world title he claimed in 2025, the Frenchman scored the highest wave of the day on his opening ride—an 8.25 earned through a deep barrel—and went on to post the highest heat total of the day.

However, the champion had to dig deep in heat five of round four. That matchup stacked Zaninotto against 2025 world runner-up Alberto Pérez of the Canary Islands, Peruvian standout Jesús Mendoza, and Portugal's Vicente Campos.

It proved to be a high-caliber, neck-and-neck battle where both Zaninotto and Pérez found themselves in elimination territory at different moments. Ultimately, Jesús Mendoza took the heat win with a 13.30 total. Zaninotto responded when it mattered most to lock down second place with a 12.65, keeping his title defense alive. The shock of the day came with the elimination of Alberto Pérez, who bowed out despite accumulating 11.70 points, while Vicente Campos finished fourth with 11.50. A mere 1.80 points separated first from fourth place, underscoring the fierce level of competition.

Other notable performances from the day included:

• Noah Chapman (Hawaii): Dropped one of the top scores of the day after stomping a clean right-hand backflip.

• Adriano Bravo (Peru): Stood out with highly technical, massive backflips.

• Lucciano Campos (Peru): Pulling double duty in both the junior and men's open divisions—where he currently sits in the Top 16—won his heat to march forward in the draw.

• Cristóbal Tobar (Chile): Kept his title hopes alive by advancing through round four, building on the momentum of his 9.00-point backflip from the previous day.

Following the eliminations of Alberto Pérez and Unai Rodríguez in the final heat, Yahel Ojeda remains the sole local Canarian grom among the 12 remaining contenders. The 17-year-old posted his best-ever result at El Frontón and stated he is taking the contest "heat by heat," staying focused on the challenge of going toe-to-toe with the world's best young bodyboarders.

What's Next in the Competition

With round four complete, the contest enters a decisive phase that will narrow down the 12 remaining riders ahead of the quarterfinals.

Upcoming days are set to welcome the Open Top 16 into the lineup, with a promising swell forecast at one of bodyboarding's premier proving grounds. The waiting period for the Gran Canaria Frontón King runs from October 17 to 31, allowing organizers to pick the optimal six days for competition.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

The 14th Gran Canaria Frontón King and the IBC World Tour express their gratitude to all supporting entities:

• Main Sponsors: Instituto Insular de Deportes de Gran Canaria, Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Turismo de Gran Canaria (#VisitGranCanaria), Ayuntamiento de Gáldar, DOS X DOS - Grupo Imagen (Printing Partner), GALAGA AGENCY (Digital Partner), GRUPO FSM (Energy Partner).

• Corporate Sponsors: Cerveza Corona, Sholeo Lodge, Munchitos, Citroën Canarias, Fitness Park.

• Official Partners: Lipton, El Cruce Surf Shop, Ozeano, Loype Eventos, Federación Canaria de Surf.

MEDIA AND COVERAGE

For full daily updates and event coverage, visit the official Frontón King and IBC World Tour channels:

• Website: www.ibcworldtour.com

• YouTube: @IBCWorldTour

• Instagram: @ibcworld_tour

• TikTok: @ibcworldtour

• Spotify: IBC World Tour