Official Launch and What's New for the Gran Canaria Frontón King 2026

The legendary wave of El Frontón in Gáldar is set to become the epicenter of international bodyboarding once again from October 17 to 31. The stakes couldn't be higher, with both the Men's World Title and the Junior World Title on the line.

Stoke levels are at an all-time high. The Casa Palacio del Cabildo de Gran Canaria hosted the official press launch for the 14th edition of the Gran Canaria Frontón King, one of the most action-packed and anticipated stops on the global tour. Island officials, event organizers, media, and world-class athletes gathered to kick off an event that once again brings together the heaviest hitters on the planet.

World Titles and Title Contenders

A stacked field of 128 bodyboarders from 15 countries has completely sold out the heat draw (80 riders in the Men's Division and 48 in Junior Men). The showdown for world surfing supremacy promises pure high-voltage drama:

• Men's Division: South Africa's Tristan Roberts arrives commanding the top spot in the rankings. Mathematically, Roberts only needs to paddle out and finish his opening heat to lock up the World Champion crown.

• Junior Men: The race for the title is wide open. However, defending World Champion Louka Zaninotto from France enters the event as the rider to beat as he looks to back up his title in Canarian waters.

The event features a $45,000 total prize purse ($35,000 for the Men's Division and $10,000 for the Juniors). On top of crowning two world champions, taking the victory and earning the crown at El Frontón, one of the most powerful and feared heavy-water slabs on earth, remains a top priority for every competitor.

Tech Innovation, Sustainability, and Water Safety

The Gran Canaria Frontón King continues to push the boundaries of event production on the IBC World Tour with several cutting-edge upgrades:

app.frontonking.com;• Official Event App: This marks the first event on the tour to launch its own dedicated mobile app for tracking heat draws and live scores. Available for download at app.frontonking.com The official website also offers a complete island travel guide translated into five languages.

• Eco-Friendly Initiative: For the second year running, the event's competition infrastructure will run fully on solar power storage, backed by a comprehensive single-use plastic reduction scheme and eco-conscious waste management.

• Heavy Wave Safety: Given the raw power and high-risk nature of El Frontón, athlete safety is paramount. Beyond specialized water rescue teams and personal watercraft on standby, helmets remain mandatory for the Junior division and are now strongly recommended for all Men's Division competitors. Event partner El Cruce Surf Shop will be providing helmets for all riders.

• Champion Competition Vests: Following last year's massive hit, the World Top 16 will compete in custom contest vests featuring their names. Former World Champions will also sport one or more crown badges on their lycras to honor their world title legacies.

Event Schedule and Live Stream

• Athletes' Briefing: Friday, October 17 at 4:00 PM local time.

• Festival and Community Program: Beyond the action in the water, the event boasts a full line-up of side activities including live concerts, school field trips, and a dedicated Family Day. Check out the complete schedule at www.frontonking.com.

• Live Stream: Forecasts are pointing to a fiery start with insane surf conditions on tap. Please note there will be no live broadcast on Day 1; the official Live Stream webcast will kick off starting on the second day of competition.

Keep your eyes glued to the official IBC World Tour and Gran Canaria Frontón King social channels for all official call alerts, event updates, and real-time news.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

The 14th Gran Canaria Frontón King and the IBC World Tour would like to thank the public institutions and corporate partners making this event possible:

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

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

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

CONTACT & OFFICIAL CHANNELS

For updates, live streams, and event coverage:

• Official Website: www.ibcworldtour.com

• YouTube: @IBCWorldTour

• Instagram: @ibcworld_tour

• TikTok: @ibcworldtour

• Spotify: IBC World Tour