Hermanus' Own Tristan Roberts Reaches the Pinnacle Again: Crowned 2026 World Champion!

Monday, 26 October 2026

There’s a legendary buzz in the air across our coastal town today! Hermanus local Tristan Roberts has officially reached the top of the world once again, claiming the 2026 IBC Bodyboard Men's World Title. This marks his third career Men’s World Championship (adding to his victories in 2019 and 2022), further cementing his place as one of the all-time greats in professional bodyboarding.

A Season to Remember
Tristan set the tone for his remarkable campaign right from the start, powering through a stellar tour season highlighted by a thrilling win at the Morocco World Bodyboard Championship in Agadir and another strong finish at the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival in Chile. Demonstrating unmatched power, technical precision, and fearless wave-reading skills, Tristan’s performances throughout the IBC World Tour showed the globe what local ocean lovers have known for years: T-Rob is a generational talent.

From Onrus Beach to the World Stage
Having moved to Hermanus at seven years old, Tristan spent his formative years honing his skills alongside his older brother and friends right here on our local shores—most notably at Onrus Beach. From racking up five South African titles as a youth to making history as the first bodyboarder to win both the Junior and Senior World Titles, his journey has always been grounded in the waves, spirit, and community of Hermanus.

Congratulations from Everyone in Hermanus!
On behalf of the entire Hermanus community—from the locals who watched you learn to ride waves at Onrus to all of us cheering you on from home—congratulations, Tristan! 🏆🇿🇦
Thank you for representing South Africa and our beautiful coastal town on the international stage with such humility, dedication, and world-class passion.
You continue to inspire the next generation of local ocean enthusiasts and make every single person in Hermanus immensely proud!