Pantín, Valdoviño, August 27 – The Atlantic Ocean is showcasing all its strength and power at Pantín, one of Europe’s great wave factories, in these opening days of the ABANCA Pantín Classic Galicia Pro (August 26–31). The QS 4000 event brings together nearly 200 of Europe’s top surfers.
Extremely demanding surfing, both physically and mentally, has marked the men’s rounds held since early this morning at Ariño Beach. Surfers faced alternating sunshine, drizzle, strong gusts of wind, and powerful sets with wave heights not seen in the last decade.
The three remaining heats from Round 112 were completed—postponed from yesterday—along with Round 96, which began just after 9:00 a.m. and ended around 7:00 p.m. in the men’s division, the largest category with more than 100 surfers entered.
Advancing to the next rounds were: Jean Cocagne, Lenni Jensen, Leo Paul Etienne, Julien Fontvielle, Stef van Noordennen, Leonardo Apreda, Alfonso Suarez, Stanley Norman, Paul Cesar Distinguin, Edoardo Papa, Moises Dominguez Requena, Enzo Cavallini, Paul Boniface, Noe Ledee, Justin Becret, Peru Zuniga, Samuel Redon, Markel Vizcarguenaga, Martim Nunes, Tristan Guilbaud, German Olympic surfer Tim Elter, and Michele Scoppa.
One of the day’s most curious moments came in the heat of Cantabrian surfer Mario Rasines, the only one of four competitors who actually paddled out. “It was the strangest of my life. Just me, thirty minutes alone in a giant sea. I managed to make it out the back once and catch one wave,” he said afterwards. Rasines was eliminated in the following round along with Galician surfer Manu Fernández and Connor Donegan. Still in the competition are Donegan’s brother Dylan Donegan Dos Santos, both based in the Canary Islands.
SALTWATER AND LIVES ACROSS MANY SEAS IN THREE FILM PREMIERES
This Thursday, August 27, Round 64 will get underway. Among the day’s highlights is the premiere of three documentaries closely tied to surfing: Latitud Sur by Laura Coviella; Undreamed Waves by Lucía Martiño; and Anti-vlogby Luis Díaz—a blend of comedy and sport with a social backdrop, told through humor.
The screenings will take place on the main stage at Pantín Sound starting at 6:30 p.m., with the presence of all three protagonists: Asturian surfer Lucía Martiño, big-wave specialist Laura Coviella from the Canary Islands, and Luis Díaz, who has represented Spain in several Surfing World Championships.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AND ‘RECYCLING ISLANDS’
As part of the ABANCA Pantín Classic Galicia Pro’s deep environmental commitment from this privileged corner of the Galician coast, the event once again highlights sustainability and recycling initiatives.
One of the main actions this year are the “recycling islands”—more than a dozen distributed across the 6,000 m² venue, as well as on the dunes of the beach, to encourage and facilitate waste separation (organic, plastics, and cardboard).
In addition, from the Espazos Corresponsables program, supported by the Regional Ministries of Environment and Social Policy, daily workshops promote early environmental awareness and social responsibility. Activities include creative projects with recycled materials and organized beach cleanups.
This Friday, August 27, at 5:00 p.m., a cleanup is scheduled at O Rodo Beach, designed especially for children but open to everyone who wants to help leave the shore free of plastics, trash, and cigarette butts.