The young athlete from Gran Canaria will receive this recognition on 3 October for his “meteoric” career and historic milestones that place him among the best bodyboarders in the world, according to the regional government.

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 21 Sept. (EUROPA PRESS) – The Government of the Canary Islands has awarded Armide Soliveres the Canary Islands Sports Award 2025 in the category of Best Individual Career, acknowledging his meteoric rise and the historic accomplishments that have established him as one of the world’s top bodyboarders.

This award will be presented on 3 October in Tenerife, during the second edition of these awards, as part of the ExpoDeca 2025 fair, according to a statement from the regional government.

Soliveres succeeds Pedri, a footballer for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, who was honoured at the first gala held in 2024, thus marking the “continuity” of an award intended to highlight prominent figures in Canarian sports across various disciplines.

AN EXAMPLE OF “PERSEVERANCE AND DISCIPLINE”

The head of the department, Poli Suárez, has highlighted Soliveres as “an example of perseverance, discipline, and talent,” positioning the Canary Islands at the pinnacle of the bodyboarding world and exemplifying “the essence of Canarian sports.”

According to the department, Soliveres expressed his “extreme happiness” at receiving this recognition. “I didn’t expect it at all and yet I have been honoured. It’s something excellent to add to my CV, and I am proud to receive the same award as Pedri last year. For me, it signifies that a minority sport like mine is getting much more recognition, motivating me to continue competing every day,” he added.

A native of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, he grew up in La Cícer, at Las Canteras beach, considered the birthplace of surfing and bodyboarding on the island. Armide Soliveres made history in 2024 by becoming the first Spaniard to be crowned world champion in this discipline. His victory, as highlighted by the regional government, was a milestone in national sports and a source of pride for all of the Canary Islands.

Soliveres has continued achieving elite results in the 2025 season, solidifying his status as an international reference. This year he triumphed at the Iquique Bodyboard Pro in Chile, won the first event of the national circuit in San Andrés (Arucas), and secured third place at the Sintra Pro Fest in Portugal, one of the most demanding competitions on the global calendar.

Furthermore, he remains among the leaders of the Fesurfing 100 Bodyboard League, confirming his consistency and competitiveness.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

His career reflects the close relationship between the Canary Islands and the sea and the strength of a talent pool that has given the archipelago worldwide recognition in wave sports. “The season has been quite entertaining, with good results in Morocco, Brazil, and Chile, allowing me to reach second place in the ranking. I am training hard and am very eager to defend the world title in 2025 at the Frontón King, at home, with all the fans supporting me. It would be a dream to achieve that again,” the athlete stated.

In addition to his sporting challenges, Soliveres is clear that his objectives also include dignifying and giving visibility to the discipline. “I thoroughly enjoy competing, and it gives my life meaning at the moment. I want to live off bodyboarding in a stable way, making it my way of life, while also supporting the sport and helping it grow,” he affirmed.

A KEY FIGURE IN BODYBOARDING

At just 24 years old, Soliveres is already considered a key figure in the present and future of international bodyboarding. In fact, the department highlights how his successes have inspired new generations of Canarian riders and made him an ambassador for the archipelago’s sporting excellence.

The Canary Islands Sports Award 2025 also aims to solidify the impact of his career and his status as a pioneer. The ceremony on 3 October will serve as a tribute to the bodyboarding community of La Cícer and to a sport that has placed the islands on the international map.