Playa de Las Américas became, for the sixth consecutive year, the epicenter of European surfing with the celebration of the Spring Surfest Las Americas Pro. From November 25 to December 8, the famous Las Palmeras wave hosted a transversal event that united sport, culture, social activism and environmental protection, and which was organized jointly between the European Surfing Federation, the Spanish Surfing Federation and the Canarian Surfing Federation. One more year, the wave known worldwide as “Spanish Left”integrated up to four independent competitions in the same event in which more than 300 surfers participated.
Accompanying the event, Spring Hotels enabled a space on the beach with a bar, rest areas, a shaping area Lighting Boltamenities for riders with lockers that simulate the changing rooms for surfers at the Bitacora Hotel, a family area with the hotel’s own entertainment and a stage where there were different performances during the championship, starting with a concert by Los Salvapantallas on Sunday, November 26.
The Las Américas Open opened the competition from November 25 to 28. Framed within the National Open Surfing Circuit Championshipit was about the penultimate test of the national Fesurfing circuit and had the participation of more than 150 riders, both in the male and female categories, aged between 15 and 35 years. The event continued with the second edition of Las Américas Pro Euromaster Open of Surfing, which took place between November 28 and December 3. In this event, riders over 35 years old competed in four different categories to become European Euromaster champions in their respective categories.
Surfing for the little ones
From December 3 to 8, the second edition of Eurokids, a championship dedicated to boys/girls that brought together the best Canarian, peninsular and European talents in a family environment and in up to six different categories. Furthermore, as a highlight, the European title was played in the under-14 category. Simultaneously, for yet another year, Lightning Bolt Festival. From December 4 to 8, attendees and participants were able to enjoy the surf festival, sponsored by the renowned brand, in which surfers participated with retro boards. There were musical activities and a board exhibition, as well as three competitions, with one- or two-keel boards. ■
Pedro Gonzalez, insular director of Foreign Action and Institutional Relations, stated in the presentation that “in Tenerife we have the possibility of walking from where you are staying to the waves, as happens in Las Américas with the Hotel Bitácora. That is a unique plus of incalculable value, with which few places can compete.