SPECTACULAR CONDITIONS ON THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF COMPETITION AT THE 2026 GRAN CANARIA FRONTÓN KING

• Damiano Bonazzi (ITA) dethrones reigning junior world champion Louka Zaninotto (FRA) and will face Hawaii’s Davey Anderson for the world title.

• Gabriel Braga (BRA) locks in the highest single wave score and the highest heat total of the event (16.25 pts), while Roberts, Soliveres, Lavernhe, and Costes advance to the final rounds.

Gáldar, Gran Canaria (Spain) — October 28, 2026

Day five of the Gran Canaria Frontón King 2026, the season finale of the IBC World Tour, delivered the heaviest conditions of the waiting period this Wednesday. Boasting solid four-meter bomb sets, completely windless glassy water,and a pumping northwest swell, 'The Beast' provided a world-class arena for massive barrels and critical air sections. The day concluded the Junior World Championship semifinals and narrowed the Open Men’s field down to the final 16 contenders hunting the prestigious King of the Frontón crown.

Junior World Title showdown set: Bonazzi vs. Anderson

The Junior division delivered the most intense drama of the day. In the opening semifinal heat, Tenerife-raised Italian rider Damiano Bonazzi took full redemption against defending world champion Louka Zaninotto of France, taking the win 13.65 to 12.50. An 8.00-point ride from the judges sealed the heat for Bonazzi, turning the tables on their 2025 clash where Zaninotto had halted his title run.

"My goal was to make the final, but the pressure was huge out there. I had to take down the reigning world champion in this heat, and here I am, one step away from the ultimate goal," Bonazzi stated after stepping onto the reef.

In the second semifinal, Hawaiian standout Davey Anderson claimed the remaining finals berth by defeating French competitor Mael Martinez (12.50 to 10.75), backed by two solid scores of 6.50 and 6.00 and one of the deepest, most technical right-hand tubes seen all day in the junior ranks. Bonazzi and Anderson will battle head-to-head this Thursday in a fresh, high-stakes final for the 2026 IBC Junior World Championship.

Gabriel Braga sets the benchmark as top seeds lock into the Round of 16

In the Men's Open division, Rounds 5 and 6 pushed the technical envelope to new heights. The standout performance came courtesy of Brazil’s Gabriel Braga, who threaded the deepest barrel of the day to claim the highest single-wave score of the event and an explosive 16.25 heat total in Round 6.

Earlier action saw Gran Canaria’s Jonathan Vega post a 15.00 heat total with a massive air reverse, instantly throwing his hat into the ring for the event’s most radical air award. 2025 World Champion Uri Valadão (BRA) posted a heavy barrel-to-backflip combination, while fellow Brazilian Eder Luciano advanced with a clutch buzzer-beater backflip.

Following the three-man battles of Round 6, the final 16 riders moving into the business end of the draw were locked in:

• Tristan Roberts (ZAF): The freshly crowned 2026 IBC World Champion sailed through his heat with textbook precision, keeping his bid alive to repeat his historic 2019 double by winning both the World Title and the Frontón King crown in the same year.

• Armide Soliveres (ESP): The 2024 World Champion asserted home-turf dominance with an impressive 15.95 total.

• Amaury Lavernhe (ESP): Clinched his spot into the next round with a solid 14.25 tally.

• Pierre-Louis Costes (FRA): Advanced in second place with a 14.85 total after a tight heat won by Reunion Island sensation Robin Legros, who took the win with a 15.10.

• Daniel Quintana (ESP): The local charger dominated his heat with 13.25 points, besting both Valadão and Yann Salaun.

Jesé Rodríguez takes in the action in Gáldar

The elite sporting action drew notable figures to the shoreline, including Gran Canarian soccer star Jesé Rodríguez (UD Las Palmas, formerly of Real Madrid and PSG). Watching from the cliffside and event decks overlooking El Frontón, he spent time with world champions Tristan Roberts and Armide Soliveres, praising the sheer athleticism, commitment, and bravery required to charge such a heavy wave.

Red Bull Banana Challenge and digital coverage

The event organizers would like to remind fans that voting remains open for the Red Bull Banana Challenge, honoring the most radical and progressive aerial maneuver of the contest.

Event brackets, live webcasts, daily recaps, and real-time live scoring are accessible via the official event app at app.frontonking.com and across the official IBC World Tour channels at ibcworldtour.com.

Next official call

The final showdown of the Gran Canaria Frontón King 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, October 29. The IBC World Tour technical director has called competitors for check-in at 10:00 AM local Canary Islands time, with forecasts showing an even heavier swell lining up to crown both the Junior World Champion and the new King of the Frontón.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

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

• 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 CONTACT AND CHANNELS

All daily updates, heat draws, and official media content can be found across Frontón King and IBC World Tour platforms:

• Website: www.ibcworldtour.com

• YouTube: @IBCWorldTour

• Instagram: @ibcworld_tour

• TikTok: @ibcworldtour

• Spotify: IBC World Tour