MATÍAS DÍAZ TAKES THE CROWN AT THE 2026 ITACOATIARA PRO. The Chilean rider claims international glory after an epic final day stacked with heavy, high-level moves in Niterói, Brazil.

After laying low for a few days waiting for the perfect conditions, Itacoatiara Beach absolutely came alive today for the high stakes final day of the Itacoatiara Pro 2026. Known for having one of the best beachbreaks on the planet, the Brazilian spot didn’t disappoint. It served up heavy ramps and deep barrels, letting the world’s bodyboarding elite put on an unforgettable show. The final showdown came down to 7 wild, man on man heats starting straight from the Quarterfinals.

The top eight riders of the event went head-to-head in single-elimination quarterfinals heats where there was zero room for error:

Pierre-Louis Costes (France) vs. Gabriel Braga (Brasil): In a super tight battle decided by a razor thin 0.30 points, the two time French world champ used his master class technique to lock in a podium spot, sending local favorite Braga home to a cheering crowd.

Dudu Pedra (Brazil) vs. Tristan Roberts (South Africa): Heavy wave specialist and local vet Dudu Pedra went down against the current world tour number 1. Roberts locked up the heat in the final minutes with a massive air reverse that scored 7.10 points.

Amaury Lavernhe (Spain) vs. Armide Soliveres (Spain): A clash between good friends and world champs both repping Spain. The French-Spanish vet Lavernhe flexed his experience, putting together a solid 14.25 total score thanks to a crazy 7.75 invert that left Canarian rider Soliveres with no answer.

Matías Díaz (Chile) vs. Ethan Capdeville (France): Chile’s Matías Díaz set up his win with a rock solid strategy he used all day: go big on the very first wave. He kicked off the heat with a super clean 7.75 backflip, dominating from start to finish and locking in the first world tour podium of his career.

A clash of titans in the first semifinal that Tristan Roberts owned from the get go. He stomped a clean air reverse going right for an 8.50, backed it up with a solid backflip, and walked away with a 14.75 total. PLC just couldn’t get into a rhythm with Itacoatiara’s waves in a weirdly quiet heat for the Frenchman.

Next heat was an epic, above the lip air battle. Matías Díaz opened up with a 7.75 backflip, and Amaury Lavernhe fired right back with a 7.00 backflip of his own, keeping things tense until the final buzzer. In the last minute, the two time Spanish world champ launched into a massive backflip that probably would’ve given him the win, but he couldn’t stick the landing. Showing pure sportsmanship and what the bodyboard community is all about, Amaury cheered right there in the water as the Chilean advanced to the final.

Matías Díaz touches the sky in Brazil after an insane aerial showcase.

The final saw two heavy hitting styles face off: Tristan Roberts, who was hunting for his third straight tour win and hyper focused on the 2026 world title, and Matías Díaz, riding a massive wave of motivation after fulfilling his dream of making his first ever IBC World Tour final.

The Chilean executed his game plan perfectly, cherry picking only the heaviest waves and holding onto priority. He opened up with a technical, stylish air reverse for a 7.75, which Roberts answered a couple of minutes later with a similar 7.00 move. But Díaz shut the door on the contest by sticking a second air reverse that was even more mental, earning an 8.50 from the judges (one of the highest scores of the final day).

Dropping a 16.25 total, the highest combined score of the entire day, Matías Díaz officially became the new Itacoatiara Pro 2026 Champion, banking a historic win for South American bodyboarding.

“I’m so stoked to be the third Chilean to win in Brazil. Everything just lined up perfectly here in Itacoatiara to make my dream come true. Going up against Tristan and Amaury, who are both two time world champs in the final, my whole focus was just to surf the heavy waves and keep priority. My goal was just to make my first world podium, so actually winning the whole event is completely unreal. I’m dedicating this title to my country, Chile, and to everyone who has my back. Huge thanks to the Itacoatiara crew and everyone who makes this happen.” – Matías Díaz

The tour heads now to Mexico for the Pascuales Bodyboard Pro, a Rising Series event for both the Men and Junior Men divisions. For the first time ever, the tour will test itself at one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world: Boca de Pascuales, in the state of Colima. The official waiting period runs from July 3rd to July 9th.