Armide Soliveres Honoured with 2025 Canary Islands Sports Award
A Historic Achievement
The Gran Canarian rider, the first Spaniard to win a world title in bodyboarding, will receive the award on 3rd October in Tenerife during the second edition of the Canary Islands Sports Awards. The Canary Islands Government has awarded Armide Soliveres the 2025 Canary Islands Sports Award in the individual career category, recognising his meteoric career and historical milestones that have placed him among the world’s top bodyboarders. The award will be presented at the ExpoDeca 2025 fair.
Soliveres follows in the footsteps of Pedri, the FC Barcelona and Spanish national team footballer, who received the honour at the inaugural ceremony in 2024, marking the continuity of an award aimed at highlighting the outstanding figures of Canary Islands sport across its various disciplines.
Celebrating Sporting Excellence
The Canary Islands Sports Awards are promoted by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports. Poli Suárez, the head of the ministry, praised Soliveres as “an example of perseverance, discipline, and talent, who has placed the Canary Islands at the pinnacle of world bodyboarding and perfectly embodies the essence of Canary Islands sport.”
Soliveres himself expressed his delight at receiving this recognition. “I was not expecting it at all, and in the end, I have been acknowledged. It’s something excellent that I will add to my curriculum, and I am proud to receive the same award as Pedri did last year. For me, it signifies that a minority sport like mine is being recognised more widely, and that motivates me to continue competing every day,” he stated.
A Meteoric Rise
Hailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, he grew up in the La Cícer area, at Las Canteras beach, which is considered the birthplace of surfing and bodyboarding on the island. In 2024, Armide Soliveres made history by becoming the first Spaniard to be crowned world champion in the discipline. His victory marked a significant milestone for national sport and a source of pride for the entire Canary Islands.
Far from being complacent, Soliveres has continued to achieve elite results in the 2025 season, establishing himself as an international reference. This year, he won the Iquique Bodyboard Pro in Chile, triumphed in the first national circuit event in San Andrés (Arucas), and secured third place at the Sintra Pro Fest in Portugal, one of the most challenging competitions on the global calendar. Furthermore, he remains among the leaders of the Fesurfing 100 Bodyboard League, confirming his consistency and competitiveness.
From Las Canteras to the World
His career reflects the close connection between the Canary Islands and the sea and showcases the talent that has earned the archipelago global recognition in wave sports. “This season has been quite exciting, with good results in Morocco, Brazil, and Chile, which has allowed me to reach second place in the ranking. I am training hard and am very eager to defend the world title in 2025 at Frontón King, at home, with the whole crowd supporting me. It would be a dream to achieve it again,” the athlete explained.
Alongside his competitive challenges, Soliveres is also committed to dignifying and raising the profile of the discipline. “I really enjoy competing, and it gives my life meaning right now. I want to live off bodyboarding in a stable way, making it my lifestyle, while also supporting and promoting the growth of this sport,” he affirmed.
At just 24 years old, Soliveres is already considered a key figure in the present and future of international bodyboarding. His achievements have inspired new generations of Canary Island riders and established him as an ambassador for the sports excellence of the archipelago.
Recognition from the Canary Islands
The 2025 Canary Islands Sports Award further solidifies the impact of his journey and his status as a pioneer. The ceremony on 3rd October will also honour the bodyboarding community of La Cícer and celebrate a sport that has put the islands on the international map.
“With athletes like Armide, we demonstrate that the Canary Islands have no limits. It is a source of pride that a local rider carries our flag to the highest levels of the world,” remarked Poli Suárez, who highlighted that the Canary Islands Sports Awards are continuing into their second edition “with the mission to recognise those like Armide, who inspire Canary Island society through their example.”
