In 2023, it surpassed 97,000 visitors during the 9-day competition and has a significant impact on local employment and the economy, generating around 500 associated jobs.
Pantín, Valdoviño, August 27th – Pantín is one of the eight parishes of Valdoviño, with a registered population of 587 residents (INE 2023). However, it overflows during the nine days of the international surfing competition Abanca Pantin Classic Galicia Pro, which this summer reaches its 37th edition, multiplying its population by 165 times.
According to data from the previous edition, with a visit counter by Intermax Technology, attendance exceeded 97,000 people, 165 times more than the usual census. The favorable weather and wave forecast for this week, combined with the heavy turnout over the past weekend, suggest that this figure will be surpassed, as approximately 49,800 visits have already been recorded from Saturday the 24th to Monday the 26th, according to competition records.
Abanca Pantin Classic Galicia Pro is the only World Surf League (WSL) event in Spain that counts towards the European circuit, gathering nearly 200 professional surfers this year (117 men and 59 women). The event goes beyond sports, offering a comprehensive experience for a full day of sun, salt, and waves, with leisure and dining areas, a skate park, surf initiation classes, live music, and other experiences.
THE PANTÍN CLASSIC IN NUMBERS
In terms of employment, the event setup began on August 10th to deploy a 5,000 square meter area with a team of 18 workers. In total, for the event running from August 24th to September 1st, around 100 direct hires were made, along with nearly 467 induced jobs, mostly in local companies involved in transportation, logistics, audiovisual teams, competition assistance, registration, retail, and information services.
The activity generated by the event also benefits the local hospitality and dining industry, as it brings in 200 competitors (and their families), impacting businesses from Ferrol to Cedeira, where hotel occupancy is close to 90%, according to a specialized booking portal. This is especially true in the Ariño area, where more than 100 team members dine daily.
WEDNESDAY 28: QS 3000 WSL
On the sports side, three qualifying rounds were held today, featuring a dozen heats. In the men’s category, competitors such as Andy Criere, Vicente Romero, Pedro Amorim, Ian Fontaine, Nestor Garcia, Markel Vizcarguenaga, Elijah Chort, John John Rabinovitch, Francisco Almeida, Oliver Heintz, Charly Martin, and Lukas Skinner, among others, continue to advance.
The competition resumes this Wednesday, August 28th, at 10:00 AM with new rounds and heats to make the most of the optimal sea conditions at this wave factory.