Intense full day at Gran Canaria island to end the 2023 Bodyboard World Tour.
Last Friday, during the quarter finals of the 2023 Frontón King, Reunion Island son Robin Legros stole PLC’s chance to win the third world title of his career. Legros beat Pierre with a 9.25 and a back up of 8.00 points, fading the dream of the French veteran, who just got a better wave of 7 points.
Robin Legros, who resides in Gran Canaria, actually reached the final where he came to fight for the trophy with the local youngster David Pérez – none of them top ranked on the IBC World Tour. Pérez was a real hero and took advantage of his local knowledge to win the final heat by 13.00 vs. 12.50 points.
Hawaiian Tanner McDaniel, who had lost early in the event (read here), witnessed the quarterfinal Pierre performance from the athlete’s area, his sole rival for the bodyboard world title. McDaniel held back his emotions until the moment the buzzer sounded. After he was lifted onto the shoulders of his supporters and friends, and received the trophy that declared him the best in the world.
The 24 years old bodyboarder, wrote later on the social media: “Thank you for everything, Pierre. Fighting for my first world title against someone I idolized so much as a kid means more than anything. I remember watching the webcast late at night cheering for you when you won the World Title in 2011. Your influence on the sport helped shape the rider I’ve become. I will always cherish every heat we have had together.”
Last time an Hawaiian (or North American) bodyboarder won the world title was in 2012, a conquest by the one and only Mr. Jeff Hubbard.
World Tour Top 5
01. Tanner McDaniel [Hawaii] 10.535 pts
02. Pierre-Louis Costes [France] 9.455 pts
03. Tristan Roberts [South Africa] 8.770 pts
04. Ethan Capdeville [France] 8.253 pts
05. Amaury Lavernhe [France] 7.893 pts
On the junior side, Peruvian Micheel Yancce claimed the world title and the FK23 crown, presenting exceptional skills and unique style in each heat. He also reached the semifinals in the open category and was awarded with a trophy for the most radical maneuver of the championship.
World Tour Junior top 5
01. Micheel Yancce [Peru] 4.250 pts
02. Guilherme Montenegro [Brazil] 3.655 pts
03. Jorge Hernandez [Canary Islands] 3.125 pts
04. Gabriel Mendoza [Canary Islands] 3.103 pts
05. Unax Pascual [Basque Country] 3.093 pts
See ya next year!
