Morocco's coastline has always set a dramatic stage for the opening round of the IBC World Tour, and the 2026 edition was no different. With elite athletes from around the globe descending on Anza Beach, the event — organised under the auspices of the International Bodyboarding Corporation and staged by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Surfing (FRMS) — brought a $35,000 prize fund and serious competitive stakes. Tristan Roberts, The Realest, rose above them all.
In a final that had South African fans celebrating loudly on the beach, Roberts dispatched home favourite Chajri Badr Eddine decisively, posting a combined score of 15.50 points to Badr Eddine's 12.75. Roberts' two scoring rides. However, the drama happened in the Semi-final heat between PLC & Tristan, where Tristan scored a crazy 10 in the last 30 seconds by performing the only Air-reverse in the entire event. He eliminated his good friend PLC and headed to the Final against Badr Eddine.
A Champion in Peak Form
Tristan, now 29, had already signalled his intentions well before the final. During the Top 16 round, the South African produced one of the performances of the entire event and also being on the very strong side of the draw, facing Ethan Capdeville in the Quarterfinals and PLC in the semis.
It was a reminder, if one were needed, that T-Rob is not simply a champion with a great record — he is a bodyboarder capable of moments of genuine brilliance. His combination of power, technical precision, and wave reading sets him apart even in a field packed with world-class talent.
A Hero Forged in Hermanus
Tristan was born in Cape Town but moved to the small coastal town of Hermanus at the age of seven, where he first discovered bodyboarding alongside his older brother and local friends. The waves of Onrus — a break just outside Hermanus — became his proving ground, and the foundations laid there have supported a career that now spans multiple world titles and global recognition.
His first world title came in 2019 following victories at the Itacoatiara Pro and the Gran Canaria Frontón King, where he famously defeated two-time world champion Amaury Lavernhe in the final. He then backed that up with a second consecutive title in 2022, cementing his status among the sport's all-time greats.
World Tour Leader — What's Next
As the opening round of the 2026 IBC calendar for both the Men's and Junior Men's divisions, the Morocco Championship carries full scoring weight. Tristans’ victory means he heads into the rest of the season atop the world rankings — exactly the position from which champions are made.
The 2026 IBC World Tour has six stops across different countries and three continents, including Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, and Canaries. The next event on the calendar is the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival, held at the powerful La Nilda break in Chile's Antofagasta region — an event that will also host the Dropknee World Championship.
If Morocco is anything to go by, the sport is in for a spectacular year. And Tristan Roberts — the team rider of Pride Bodyboards® and one of bodyboarding's undisputed greats — looks very much like a man on a mission.