The awards were presented on Friday night at a gala held at Pazo Libunca, honoring their commitment and historic connection with the competition.
Pantín, August 30 – Sarah Almagro (Marbella, 2000), world champion of adaptive surfing and three-time Spanish champion in Prone 2, and Gony Zubizarreta, the greatest Galician surfer of all time, were recognized with the Pantín Genuines Award at the Joyería Jael gala held Friday night at Pazo Libunca in Narón, with hundreds of guests in attendance.
This award celebrates their longstanding commitment to the championship throughout its many editions.
For Sarah Almagro, her journey is one of resilience and inspiration. At just 18, she suffered from meningococcal meningitis, which left her on the brink of death for several months. She survived eight cardiac arrests and the amputation of her hands and feet. In 2021, she tried surfing again, reconnecting with her passion for bodyboarding at Pantín Beach. From that moment, a profound bond was born—finding in the sea both therapy and healing. Today, her record includes three Spanish titles, one European title, one World Championship, and several world medals. “Pantín never disappoints,”says Almagro, who declares herself “in love” with this beach, returning each summer to compete in the Para Surf League, the adaptive equivalent of the WSL.
Gony Zubizarreta (Buenos Aires, 1985), visibly moved, recalled his childhood at Pantín Beach with his father and brother, immersed in the original spirit of the competition. On a surfboard since the age of seven, he has competed in this event for many consecutive years, almost always as the local crowd’s favorite. “This tribute means a lot to me, and I want to thank you all for your support in the surfing world,” he said. Today, Zubizarreta remains closely tied to the championship, working as part of the communications team for Classic Surf Pro in WSL events.
The awards were presented by Chema Fernández, Director of Joyería Jael, and Blanca Panzano, Managing Director of Tag Heuer in Spain, during a gala co-hosted by Mikel Urigortia and Lucía Martiño.