The Bodyboarding World Tour has returned to the Maldives for one of the most anticipated events of the season. The 2026 Maldives Pro takes place from 12 to 21 August, bringing together some of the world’s best riders at one of the fastest and most powerful waves in the archipelago: Cokes.
The competition also marks the IBC World Tour’s debut on Thulusdhoo Island, in North Malé Atoll, bringing high-performance bodyboarding to a reef break renowned for its intense barrels, fast sections and highly technical conditions.
Cokes: a true test of performance
Known locally as Randa Raalhugandu, Cokes is a right-hand wave that breaks over a shallow reef. When the conditions come together, it produces long barrels, fast sections and perfect ramps for aerial manoeuvres.
It is a wave that demands speed, control and quick reactions. A moment’s hesitation can be enough to miss the section or find yourself too deep inside the barrel.
These characteristics make Cokes a particularly exciting stage on which to observe the evolution of modern bodyboarding. At this level of competition, every detail matters: from line choice and positioning on the wave to the speed generated by the board and the precision with which manoeuvres are executed.
Armide Soliveres posts the highest score on Day 1
Spain’s Armide Soliveres delivered one of the standout performances of the opening day, finishing his heat with a combined total of 17.60 points.
His performance included an air reverse scored at 8.85 and a backflip that earned 8.75 points from the judges. In addition to securing his place in the next round, Soliveres recorded the highest heat total of the opening day.
The combination of speed, projection and control demonstrated by the Spanish rider confirmed Cokes’ enormous potential for high-performance bodyboarding.
Surprises in the women’s competition
The opening day also produced some unexpected results in the women’s division.
Alexandra Rinder, Namika Yamashita and Filipa Broeiro, three riders considered potential contenders for the top positions, were sent to the repechage round. As this round did not involve immediate elimination, they remained in the competition with an opportunity to progress through the event.
Brazil’s Maylla Venturin was among the standout performers, recording the highest single-wave score of the women’s competition with an 8.50.
Luna Hardman also made a consistent start to the event, posting two rides in the seven-point range and carrying the strong form shown at previous events into the Maldives.
An important event for the World Tour
The 2026 Maldives Pro features three IBC World Tour divisions:
- Women’s Prime Series, with 3,000 ranking points available;
- Men’s Rising Series, with 2,500 points;
- Junior Men’s Rising Series, with 500 points.
In addition to valuable ranking points, the event offers prize purses of USD 25,000 for the women’s division, USD 25,000 for the men’s division and USD 2,500 for the Junior Men’s competition.
The return to the Maldives after a two-year absence reinforces the international dimension of the tour and presents riders with a very different challenge from the beach breaks found at other events.
What type of bodyboard works best in fast and powerful waves?
Waves such as Cokes demonstrate the importance of a bodyboard’s technical characteristics.
In fast, powerful conditions with critical sections, riders generally look for boards capable of generating speed, holding a strong line inside the barrel and responding quickly to changes of direction.
Some of the most important characteristics include:
- A Core with good stiffness and responsiveness, suited to the water temperature;
- One or more stringers, helping to reinforce the board and control flex;
- Channels, improving grip and control on the wave face;
- Rails capable of maintaining a secure line without compromising speed;
- A tail suited to the rider’s style and the type of wave;
- A slick with good projection and low friction.
In warm water, a PP Core is often chosen for its stiffness, light weight and responsive feel. However, there is no universal configuration: each rider’s weight, height, experience and riding style also influence the choice of board.
At SurfersLab, you can find bodyboards from specialist brands such as NMD, VS and Hubboards, with different constructions, sizes and configurations for a wide range of experience levels and wave conditions.
From the Maldives paradise to Praia Grande
After the Maldives, the attention of the international bodyboarding community will turn to Portugal.
From 1 to 6 September, Praia Grande will host the 30th edition of the Sintra Bodyboard Pro Festival, the longest continuously running event on the World Tour.
In 2026, the women’s competition has been upgraded to Prime Series status, offering 3,000 ranking points and USD 30,000 in prize money — the same amount awarded in the men’s division.
The Sintra event could play a decisive role in the final stages of the season, particularly in the battle for the women’s world title. For Portuguese fans, it will also be an opportunity to watch some of the world’s best bodyboarders free of charge at one of the sport’s most iconic beaches.
Until then, all eyes remain on Cokes, where the Maldives Pro promises more barrels, major manoeuvres and a few surprises before the winners are crowned.
Joana Schenker finishes runner-up as Filipa Broeiro reaches the podium
The 2026 Maldives Pro ended with an excellent result for Portuguese bodyboarding. Joana Schenker finished second in the Women’s Prime Series, while Filipa Broeiro secured third place, delivering a double podium for Portugal at the opening women’s event of the IBC World Tour season.
In the all-Portuguese semifinal, Joana Schenker came from behind with a 6.75-point ARS to defeat Filipa Broeiro and secure her place in the final.
In the title-deciding heat, Joana faced Japan’s Namika Yamashita. The Portuguese rider made a consistent start, recording two 6.00-point rides and another wave scored at 6.80. Namika maintained the momentum she had built throughout Finals Day and posted a combined total of 13.55 points to win the 2026 Maldives Pro.
Although she did not claim the title, Joana Schenker opened her season with an important runner-up finish, while Filipa Broeiro confirmed her excellent performance by finishing among the top three riders at the event.
Pierre-Louis Costes wins with the event’s only perfect 10
In the men’s division, Pierre-Louis Costes won the Maldives Pro following a high-level final against Spain’s Armide Soliveres.
The French rider finished the heat with an 18.50 total, including the only perfect 10 of the entire competition. The score was awarded for a wave on which he combined an air 360, an ARS and an inverted air.
In addition to winning the event, Costes extended his historic record to 61 professional podiums, further establishing himself as the most podiumed athlete in the history of professional bodyboarding.
Armide Soliveres finished second, while Aamin Moosa and Ali Khushruwan shared third place.
In the Junior Men’s Rising Series, local rider Eyan Ahmed claimed the title with 13.90 points, defeating Nooh Mohamed Dhunaim Irushad and Dhaain Abdul Fathah in a closely contested final.
The tour now heads to Portugal
Following the Maldives, the IBC World Tour now travels to Portugal. The next event will take place in Costa Nova on 27 and 28 August, with the Miss Quebramar Cup forming part of the Women’s Rising Series.
Shortly afterwards, from 1 to 6 September, attention will turn to Praia Grande and the historic 30th edition of the Sintra Bodyboard Pro Festival.
The 2026 Maldives Pro therefore concludes with three new champions — Namika Yamashita, Pierre-Louis Costes and Eyan Ahmed — and with Portugal once again making its presence felt on the world bodyboarding stage through Joana Schenker’s runner-up finish and Filipa Broeiro’s third place.
