Sports, inclusion, equality, and shared responsibility come together in an event that places the coast of A Coruña as the epicenter of professional surfing for nine days.
This is the only WSL circuit event held in Spain and features Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast as one of the top favorites.
Pantín (Valdoviño), August 23rd.- The 37th edition of the Abanca Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is now underway in the surf city of Ariño, which will be the center of professional surfing for the next nine days.
Pure spectacle awaits at the wave factory of Pantín, where you can enjoy an event that combines sports, equality, shared responsibility, and inclusion with outdoor leisure and live music, all in the final stretch of August.
This afternoon saw the official presentation of the competition, supported by public administrations and private sponsors who, once again, make this ongoing event possible. It serves as the best showcase of the Galician coast’s potential, with a constant commitment to sustainability, environmental efficiency, and the preservation of the environment in all aspects.
Among the sponsors, we would like to thank Jael Joyería for their commitment, the exclusive collection designed by Vazva for this 37th edition, Vithas, our onboard hospital, the essential presence of Gadisa and Estrella Galicia, and the contributions of Intermax, Caetano Fórmula (Dacia and Renault), Parque Ferrol, and Ópticas Noroeste. And of course, Abanca, which gives the event its name.
INCLUSIVE SURFING AND GALICIAN OPEN
The competition kicks off on August 24th and 25th with the international adaptive surfing event, included for the first time in the Para Surf League calendar, the WSL (World Surf League) equivalent in this discipline. Forty athletes (15 women and 25 men) will participate across various categories, including American Dana Cummings, one of the pioneers and major advocates of this sport, and Spain’s Sara Almagro.
Simultaneously, the Galician Open will take place in collaboration with the Galician Surf Federation, offering Galician athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills over these days and earn a direct wildcard entry to the main competition (men’s and women’s categories).
WSL: THE COMPETITION
The main competition begins on Monday, August 26th, with the first heats of the World Surf League (WSL), the only event in Spain on its European calendar, leading up to the grand final over the weekend.
Among the nearly 200 registered athletes – 119 in the men’s category and 59 in the women’s – stands out Kauli Vaast, who recently crowned himself as the Olympic champion in Paris 2024, surfing the waves of his native Tahiti.
In the women’s division, Janire González-Etxabarri, winner of the 36th edition and recent representative of Spain in the Olympic team, will be competing alongside Teresa Hopkins, the French Pauline Ado, Teresa Bonvalot (POR), Kauli’s sister Aelaan Vaast, and other notable Spanish surfers.
Other highly-ranked European surfers include Maxime Huscenot (2023 winner), Thiago Carrique, Joan Duru, Marcos Mignot, Gatien Delahaye, and Charly Quivront. Among the Spanish surfers, Kai Odriozola, Yago Domínguez, and Adur Amatriain are notable, as well as two surfers beloved by the local fans, Vigo’s Gony Zubizarreta and Vicente Romero.
CORRESPONSIBLE SPACE AND PANTIN SOUND
In collaboration with the Directorate General for Equality Promotion of the Xunta, the Abanca Pantin Classic Galicia Pro will be a Responsible Space, facilitating work-life balance and active leisure for the little ones with workshops on skateboarding, surfing, recycling, creativity, and cooperative games.
The event will feature a completely free space under a tent for nine days (from August 24th to September 1st), open Monday to Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM and from 4 PM to 8 PM. This resource aims to promote work-life balance and shared responsibility among workers, athletes, and the numerous spectators who typically attend the event.
Additionally, there will be live music as part of the Pantin Sound lineup, with nine scheduled performances providing the soundtrack to the competition, featuring bands like Smile, DJ (and surfer Mario Azurza), Virginia Red, Señora DJ, and Los Pucheros Atómicos. You can check the lineup by date here.
Moreover, there will be an official store, food trucks in the leisure and dining area offering international cuisine, and many other surprises from Saturday, August 24th to Sunday, September 1st.