The 2026 IBC trophy was awarded a few minutes ago during the last stop of the World Tour in Gran Canaria, Spain (window period ends October, 31st).
Meet the 2026 Bodyboarding World Champion, Tristan Roberts. The South African bodyboarder, age 29, who had conquered the world title already twice (2019, 2022), just added another world title to the career.
By winning the Heat 4 of the Round 4, Tristan automatically became the new world champion! TROB is already the seventh bodyboarder to claim 10 or more World Tour event wins in the History, and may add one more if he wins the 2026 Frontón King.
Mr. Roberts is also the fifth rider in the bodyboarding History to be crowned World Champion three or more times… and the only one in South Africa with three crowns. Andre Botha and Jared Houston scored two wins each other.
Regarding the action, the Top 16 finally got wet today showing impressive performances not only from TROB but also from Armide Soliveres, Yann Salaun, Ethan Capdeville, and Pierre-Louis Costes, just to name a few.
This leaves PLC, who was a contender in the title race (as usual), as the world runner-up for the tenth time in the career. This show the strong resilience of the Frenchman, and probably means PLC is indeed the fiercest (and most feared) competitor on the tour for over a decade. No other athlete has reached this mark.
Anyway, stay tuned for more and the final results at the Gran Canarian beast.
What a journey TROB, congratulations!
