A Prestigious Honor for a Local Hero
The Government of the Canary Islands has distinguished Armide Soliveres with the 2025 Canary Islands Sports Award in the individual career category. This prestigious honor recognizes his meteoric rise and the historic milestones that have placed him among the best bodyboarders on the planet. The award will be presented on October 3rd in Tenerife during the second edition of these awards, held as part of the ExpoDeca 2025 fair.
Following in the Footsteps of Greatness
Soliveres succeeds FC Barcelona and Spanish national team footballer Pedri, who received the award at the first gala in 2024. This continuity underscores the award’s mission to highlight the great figures of Canarian sports across various disciplines. The Canary Islands Sports Awards are an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports. The ministry’s head, Poli Suárez, praised Soliveres as “an example of perseverance, discipline, and talent, who has placed the Canary Islands at the pinnacle of world bodyboarding and perfectly represents the idiosyncrasy of Canarian sport.”
An Unexpected and Humbling Recognition
Soliveres himself confessed to feeling “super happy” with the recognition. “I wasn’t really expecting it, and finally, I’ve been recognized. It’s something excellent that I will have on my resume, and I am proud to receive the same award as Pedri did last year. For me, it means that a minority sport like the one I practice is becoming much more well-known, and that motivates me to keep competing every day,” he said.
A Meteoric Career
A native of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Soliveres grew up in the La Cícer area of Las Canteras beach, considered the cradle of surfing and bodyboarding on the island. He wrote a historic page in 2024 by becoming the first Spanish world champion in the discipline. His triumph was a milestone for Spanish sports and a source of pride for the entire Canary Islands archipelago.
Dominating the 2025 Season
Far from resting on his laurels, Soliveres has continued to deliver elite results in the 2025 season, cementing his status as an international reference. This year, he conquered the Iquique Bodyboard Pro in Chile, won the first event of the national circuit in San Andrés (Arucas), and achieved third place at the Sintra Pro Fest in Portugal, one of the most demanding competitions on the world 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 Canary Islands’ intimate relationship with the ocean and the strength of a training ground that has given the archipelago worldwide recognition in wave sports. “The season has been quite exciting, with good results in Morocco, Brazil, and Chile, and that has allowed me to reach the number two spot in the rankings. I am training hard and am very eager to defend my world title in 2025 at the Frontón King, at home, with all the fans supporting me. It would be a dream to achieve it again,” the athlete explained.
Goals Beyond Competition
Beyond his sporting challenges, Soliveres is clear that his goals also include dignifying and raising the profile of the discipline. “I really enjoy competing, and it’s what gives me life right now. I want to make a stable living from bodyboarding; I want it to be my way of life, and at the same time, I want to support this sport and help it grow much more,” he affirmed.
An Inspiration for the Islands
At just 24 years old, Soliveres is already considered a key figure in the present and future of international bodyboarding. His successes have inspired new generations of Canarian riders and have made him an ambassador for the archipelago’s sporting excellence. The 2025 Canary Islands Sports Award solidifies the impact of his career and his status as a pioneer. The October 3rd ceremony will also be a tribute to the bodyboarding talent nurtured at La Cícer and to the sport that has put the islands on the international map.
Demonstrating That the Canary Islands Have No Limits
“With athletes like Armide, we demonstrate that the Canary Islands have no limits. It is a pride that a local rider carries our flag to the highest level in the world,” stated Councillor Poli Suárez, who emphasized that the Canary Islands Sports Awards are celebrating their second edition “with the vocation of recognizing those who, like Armide, inspire Canarian society with their example.”
