The beast is awake, and Tamega is showing off his potential again!

October 14, 2024

Monday, October 14, Gáldar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The second day of the Gran Canaria Frontón King has once again shown why it’s called The Beast. Waves up to 12 feet slammed against the volcanic reef of one of the most powerful waves in the world. The show kicked off at 8:00 AM, and El Frontón…

Monday, October 14, Gáldar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The second day of the Gran Canaria Frontón King has once again shown why it’s called The Beast. Waves up to 12 feet slammed against the volcanic reef of one of the most powerful waves in the world.

The show kicked off at 8:00 AM, and El Frontón was dressed to impress for the best athletes in the world. Today, they held Rounds 2 and 3 of the Men’s division, featuring 16 thrilling heats in extreme and truly unforgettable conditions.

A standout performance came from Australian rider Anthony Miller, who delivered an incredible show and got everyone—riders and spectators alike—on their feet. It was definitely one of the highlights of the day. Remember, Anthony is still a Junior and is competing in both divisions.

Among the locals, we have to highlight the performance of the current King of El Frontón, David Pérez, who kicked off with the highest score of the day (16.85), making it clear he’s a strong contender for the title. Unfortunately, the day also had some bad news with locals Gabriel Mendoza and Aitor Ojeda. Gabriel, who was close to winning the junior world title last year, had the crowd on their feet with a deep tube that ended in a 360º, but he had to be taken away in an ambulance due to an injury he sustained on the way out. We’ve been told he’s out of danger, but he had to drop out of the competition and couldn’t move on to the next round.

Another big scare of the day came from veteran Aitor Ojeda, a well-known figure at El Frontón who hasn’t missed a single edition since the Gran Canaria Frontón King started in 2013. Aitor had to be treated by emergency services and even needed oxygen. “The worst experience of my career,” he said, referring to the time he had to spend underwater, a stark reminder of how dangerous this wave and this area of the coast can be. He’s doing fine now, but it was definitely one of the most shocking moments of the day.

The bodyboarding legend gets the crowd hyped! Next up was one of the most anticipated moments of the competition: the debut of Brazilian Guilherme Tamega. The six-time world champion returned to Frontón—his last visit in 2018 earned him a third place—as a guest of the IBC, and he showed everyone why he’s a living legend in the sport. He scored the best wave of the day—a massive left where he pulled off two crazy barrels with barely any water over the dangerous volcanic reef—scoring a 9.75 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. After his ride, Tamega expressed his gratitude to the IBC for the invite and said he felt “really connected to El Frontón” during his first session. “I enjoyed it a ton,” he said.

Robin Legros also put on an aerial show, which is his specialty, and Lanzarote’s Ricardo González made a last-minute save with a huge and risky ARS (aerial roll spin) that helped him make a comeback.

In the next round, the battle for the world titles kicks off. In the junior division, Mikelle Arriagada (Chile), Louka Zaninoto (France), Unax Pascual (Spain), Jai Taylor (Australia), Bastián Venegas (Chile), and Gran Canaria’s Alexander Montes are all in the running for the crown. It’s also time for the much-anticipated showdown in the Men’s division between two-time world champ Pierre Louis Costes from France and local young gun Armide Soliveres, who’s leading the year’s rankings and could become the first Spanish world champion in history, as both will enter starting from the fourth round.

The Gran Canaria Frontón King Pro 2024, part of the IBC Bodyboarding World Tour, is packed with a variety of music and food offerings. It’s organized by Epic Events and promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria through Gran Canaria Tourism, the Insular Sports Institute and its European Sports Island brand, the Presidency Council with its “La Isla De Mi Vida” brand, and the Gáldar City Council, along with brands like Mercedes-Benz and Corona, plus support from Munchitos and Ozeano.

Photos: Jesús de León y Richard Alemán

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!

www.ibcworldtour.com

www.frontonking.com

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