What an amazing final day at the second-to-last event of the IBC World Tour. The conditions on Sunday were similar to Saturday, with beautiful, long waves on both sides, no wind, and a fantastic sunny day. It was awesome to see how the riders adapted to all kinds of challenges from day one to the last, showing that to be world champions, you need to be versatile and able to surf in any conditions.
Sunday was the big day, with the world titles on the line in the Women’s and Men’s divisions. Here’s a recap of what went down in Praia Grande, Sintra: Let the action begin and the tension rise!
What better way to kick off the day than with a world title at stake? Every heat of the men’s division semifinals feels like a final, so the excitement is guaranteed.
LIONEL MEDINA vs PIERRE LOUIS COSTES [semi 1]
The Canarian rider is fighting to break into the world top 16, while the Frenchman is aiming to win in Sintra to keep his world champion hopes alive. PLC dominated this heat, scoring a solid 16.95 points. Lionel Medina put up a great fight with a score of 15,00 points, but couldn’t take out Pierre, earning a well-deserved third place in Sintra instead.
“Lionel is always a tough competitor. I managed to pull off an 8.45 backflip, and that helped me move on. I need to stay focused until the end; I’ve got one more heat to go”, said the Frenchman.
MAXIME CASTILLO vs URI VALADÃO [semi 2]
These two stars of our sport put on a great showdown. Uri Valadão, coming off four wins in Sintra, was the favorite and lived up to the hype, advancing to the big final with the same solid performance he showed throughout the championship. Maxime Castillo took home a well-earned third place after eliminating many of the title favorites in Sintra, racking up points to climb the rankings.
“I’m super happy to be in the final and to face off against Pierre again. It’s going to be a bodyboarding show”, said the Brazilian shredder.
In the women’s division, there´s no doubt we’re about to witness one of the most important heats of the year, where the two title contenders go head-to-head.
SARI OHHARA vs MAIRA VIANA [semi 1]
The tension and competition in this heat were off the charts! The final result was super close, decided by just 0.25 points. Maíra Viana from Brazil managed to beat Japan’s Sari Ohhara in a showdown that will go down in the history of this sport. But Maíra had to stay focused because to become the world champion, she needed to win the event. Sari finished in third place, proving once again that she’s one of the best riders in recent years
Maíra said, “It was a super intense heat, with a lot of paddle battles, but the important thing is that I made it through. Sari is always a great opponent.”
KAIRA SHIRAHASE vs TERESA MIRANDA [semi 2]
Next up was another intense heat to secure a spot in the final and compete for the title against the Brazilian. Two of the strongest competitors throughout the event faced off in a warrior duel. This time, the scales tipped in favor of the Canary Island rider, Teresa Miranda, who scored 12.40 against the 11.65 from the Japanese rider, who had to settle for third place.
“This event is really important to me, and I’m thinking about winning it. Both Sari and Maira are excellent competitors, and whoever becomes the world champion, I’ll be happy for her,” said Teresa.
MEN’S DIVISION FINAL
We’re kicking off one of the best battles you can see in bodyboarding, and one of the classic heats in the history of the sport – a rematch of the 2021 final in Sintra. World title on the line, Sintra Pro Fest title up for grabs, two of the best riders in the world, fun waves, and a crowd hungry for a show. It was an epic heat, and it looks like the excitement is going to keep going for at least another month since the world champion hasn’t been decided yet.
French rider Pierre-Louis Costes hit his first goal by winning in Sintra, and now he’s gearing up to take on the Gran Canaria Frontón King. Uri Valadão wraps up with a solid second place, showcasing some seriously radical surfing and proving to be a top contender in the sport day after day.
“I’m super stoked to win this event; Sintra is a really special place for me. Now I need to focus on the Frontón King. It’s gonna be tough to win at El Frontón since the level in the Canaries is incredible. For me, it’s an unmatched spot and the best wave in the world for bodyboarding. I love the vibe there. I’ve won my world titles at El Frontón, and it’s a place that inspires me like no other.” – Pierre Costes
WOMEN’S DIVISION FINAL
Maíra Viana needs to win in Sintra, she needs it to beat Teresa Miranda; if she comes in second, the world champion will be Sari Ohhara. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this final that decides the world champion. A year of hard work and dedication comes down to this heat.After the final horn sounds, Maíra raises her arms and screams—the new world champion of the IBC World Tour 2024 is Brazilian. After putting together an almost perfect heat with a score of 16.15 points, Maíra pulls off the feat of her life, leaving Teresa with a well-deserved second place.
“I’m super excited! I have to thank God; He gave me the strength to be here. I’ve had a really tough few weeks with personal issues, but I made it. I managed to get through all my heats with high scores, and honestly, I’m really happy. It wasn’t an easy year, but I’m so grateful for the support from all my sponsors and everyone who backs me and sends positive vibes—family, friends, this victory is for all of you”. – Maíra Viana
There’s one more winner at Sintra: French boy Amaury Lavernhe who won the Dk Wars held on Saturday afternoon – an expression session single Heat format with four riders (Portugal’s Renato Paço, France’s Xavier Andrieux, and Reunion Island’s Fabien Thazar) battling for a very special trophy who honours the Dropknee stance.
Now it’s time to let a reminder that the last event of the IBC World Tour will be held in Gáldar at the Gran Canaria Frontón King from October 12th to 27th. This event will decide the world titles in the Men’s and Junior Men’s divisions.
In the Men’s Division, the chances for the world champion are as follows: Armide Soliveres and Pierre-Louis Costes are the only two contenders.
1- If PLC doesn’t win the Frontón King, Armide Soliveres will automatically be the world champion.
2- If PLC wins at El Frontón and Armide Soliveres comes in second, Armide will also be the world champion.
All photos by João Araújo
