TRISTAN ROBERTS MAKES HISTORY BY CLINCHING HIS THIRD WORLD TITLE AT THE GRAN CANARIA FRONTON KING 2026

• The tour's flagship event returns to action following a three-day lay day period with explosive Men's heats and the first Junior semifinal matchups locked in.

• The next official call is set for Wednesday, October 28, with a promising swell forecast lined up for the penultimate day of competition.

Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain (October 26, 2026)

The Mecca of world bodyboarding made history once again. South African powerhouse Tristan Roberts officially claimed the 2026 IBC Men's World Title during the Gran Canaria Fronton King, capping off a flawless competitive campaign at the wave that has defined the defining milestones of his career.

Roberts entered this final stop of the tour holding a commanding lead at the top of the world rankings. He only needed to paddle out in his opening heat to mathematically lock up the world championship—a feat he accomplished with textbook competitive poise. Competing in Heat 4 of Men's Round 4, the South African posted a combined two-wave heat total of 13.25 points to defeat Peru's Christopher Bayona (12.25) and kick off the celebrations.

His exit from the water captured the raw emotion of the moment: hoisted onto the shoulders of two childhood friends and carried up the steep cliffside stairs, Roberts was greeted by his mother, who had secretly flown to Gran Canaria to watch her son crowned world champion live for the very first time.

"It is truly special to win another world title right here," said Roberts after the heat. "I first surfed this wave when I was only twelve years old, and since then I have built an unbreakable bond with Gran Canaria, its people, and the local community. I approach this third title with deep gratitude toward my mom, who supported me endlessly since I was a kid so I could pursue my dream as a pro rider, and to everyone who continues to believe in me."

With this triumph, Roberts secures his third IBC Men's World Title (2019, 2022, and 2026)—all clinched at El Fronton—adding to his 2014 Pro Junior World Title.

The Race for the Crown of Fronton King 2026 Remains Wide Open

With the world title decided, the main event now heads into its most intense phase. Roberts remains fully in contention to pull off a historic double, hunting for another event victory after previous triumphs here in 2019 and 2024.

Men's Round 4 confirmed the elite level across the main draw:

• Pierre-Louis Costes (FRA): Advanced comfortably by winning his heat with a solid 13.50 heat total.

• Armide Soliveres (ESP): The local standout delivered an impressive performance, locking in a 13.35 heat score.

• Amaury Lavernhe (FRA): Advanced into the next round with a runner-up finish in his match.

• Unax Pascual (ESP): Put on a masterclass to win his heat with a 12.25 total despite still competing as a junior.

Junior Semifinalists Decided as the World Title Race Heats Up

The Junior division progressed significantly after completing Round 5 and the first two Quarterfinal heats:

1 Damiano Bonazzi (ITA) put on a dominant quarterfinal display to eliminate Brazil's Guilherme Montenegro, who had previously notched Round 5's single highest wave score and top heat total of 13.50.

2 Louka Zaninotto (FRA), the reigning Junior World Champion, kept his title defense alive with a clutch win over Chile's Cristobal Tobar.

Bonazzi and Zaninotto will face off in the first Junior Semifinal, while the remaining Quarterfinal matchups—Davey Anderson vs. Junior Mendoza and Mael Martinez vs. Martin Fischer—will hit the water on the next call.

Community Outreach, Youth Engagement, and Digital Innovation

The return to competition followed a three-day wait for optimal conditions, a window maximized by the organization to engage directly with the local community. Several local schools visited the contest site for educational language workshops in English and French, where students conducted interviews with international competitors. The off-water program also featured live music, Family Day festivities, and interactive activations for traveling fans and locals alike.

On the technical and digital side, the organization highlighted the ongoing Red Bull Banana Challenge, which rewards the event's most radical aerial maneuver. Fan voting for this specialty award, alongside live scoring, webcasts, and heat draws, is powered by the event's official app at app.frontonking.com

Next Call

Event directors for the Gran Canaria Fronton King and the IBC World Tour have called the next official check-in for Wednesday, October 28. Forecast charts indicate a fresh swell filling in, setting the stage for the Men's Round of 16, the decisive Junior World Title heats, and the crowning of the 2026 King of Fronton.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS The 14th Gran Canaria Fronton King and the IBC World Tour extend their sincere gratitude to the event partners: Main Sponsors: Instituto Insular de Deportes de Gran Canaria, Cabildo de Gran Canaria,Turismo de Gran Canaria (#VisitGranCanaria), Ayuntamiento de Galdar, DOS X DOS - Grupo Imagen (Printing Partner),GALAGA AGENCY (Digital Partner), GRUPO FSM (Energy Partner). Corporate Sponsors: Corona, Sholeo Lodge,Munchitos, Citroen Canarias, Fitness Park. Official Partners: Lipton, El Cruce Surf Shop, Ozeano, Loype Eventos,Federacion Canaria de Surf.

MEDIA CONTACT AND CHANNELS Full coverage, heat replays, and daily updates are available across official Fronton King and IBC World Tour channels: Website: www.ibcworldtour.com YouTube: @IBCWorldTour Instagram:@ibcworld_tour TikTok: @ibcworldtour Spotify: IBC World Tour