Hermanus has reason to celebrate. Local bodyboarding star Tristan Roberts has done it again!
Roberts claimed the 2026 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival (ABF) Men Prime title at the iconic Nilda Point break in Chile, securing his second ABF crown in a stunning final that had more than 12 000 spectators on the northern Chilean coast holding their breath. His first title was in Morocco.
The event, widely regarded as the most spectacular in the festival’s history, confirmed Roberts as one of the most dominant forces in competitive bodyboarding today.
In a fiercely contested final, the Hermanus local faced Chilean crowd favourite Moisés Silva, who put up a remarkable performance to claim a historic runner-up finish on home soil. But it was Roberts who rose above the noise, delivering the kind of explosive, composed surfing that has become his trademark.
For Hermanus, a town that has long nurtured Roberts’ love for the ocean, the victory is deeply personal. Those who watched him grow up riding the swells of Walker Bay always knew he was destined for greatness, and he continues to deliver on that promise on the world stage. “This win means everything,” he said following the final. This ambassador for Hermanus is set to carry his hometown wherever he competes.
In his interview after the win, Roberts said: “I am stronger than ever. I am from a small town in South Africa, living my dream to be here. I am so grateful for it. Thanks to everybody back home.”
The tour started in Morocco and moved to the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival in Chile, with upcoming events in Brazil in May, then Mexico and the Maldives.
Roberts is leading the men’s ranking with 10 000 points, with Amaury Lavernhe from Spain in the second place with 6 700 points.
