THE SHOW BEGINS AT THE GRAN CANARIA FRONTÓN KING 2026

GÁLDAR, GRAN CANARIA — October 17, 2026

The Gran Canaria Frontón King 2026 launched this Saturday in Gáldar with an action-packed opening day. The 14th edition of this flagship IBC World Tour event kicked off with the athlete safety and technical briefing before moving straight into competition. Conditions were all time, featuring pumping three-meter waves, sunny skies, and a packed crowd lining the natural amphitheater of El Frontón.

Men’s Division cuts first 16 riders The Men’s Division set the pace as 80 riders from 16 nations hit the water for Round 1. With the first round wrapped, 16 bodyboarders have been knocked out of the main event.

The standout performance of the day belonged to Réunion Island’s Robin Legros, who posted the highest single-wave score in Heat 2 after launching a heavy, radical air reverse. A former Red Bull Banana Challenge winner and a top performer in 2025, Legros puts himself right back in contention for the event’s most mind-blowing maneuver award.

Next generation locks in for Junior World Championship battle The Junior Division also took to the water, marking the official start of the World Title decider. A stacked field of 48 groms representing 11 countries and 5 continents earned their spots through the global Rising Series pathway to compete for the crown.

Round 1 was non-elimination, with the top two riders in each heat booking a direct spot into Round 3, while third and fourth place drop into the re-qualification round. Spanish prospect Unax Pascual delivered a solid showing while taking on the double-duty challenge of competing in both the Pro Men and Junior divisions.

Defending 2025 champion Louka Zaninotto of France is also back in the mix, looking to lock in back-to-back world titles.

Stage set for World Title deciders Officials ran heats right up until last light. The Gran Canaria Frontón King window runs through October 31st, allowing contest directors to carefully select the best swell, wind, and tide conditions.

In the Men’s Division, the top 16 seeds in the world rankings are seeded directly into the main rounds later in the window. Among them is current IBC World Tour rating leader Tristan Roberts of South Africa, who needs only to advance through his opening heat at El Frontón to officially seal the 2026 Bodyboarding World Championship title.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS The 14th Gran Canaria Frontón King and the IBC World Tour extend their gratitude to the public institutions and corporate partners making this world-class event possible:

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

OFFICIAL CHANNELS AND MEDIA CONTACT For more information, live streaming, and real-time contest coverage:

• Official Website: www.ibcworldtour.com

• YouTube: @IBCWorldTour

• Instagram: @ibcworld_tour

• TikTok: @ibcworldtour

• Spotify: IBC World Tour