The SUP Talent Spain Series Final was hosted in Xàbia
Full press release of the organization.
Friday 14th January 2022 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith
The final of the SUP Talent Spain Series 2021 took place last weekend in which the young promises of Stand Up Paddle showed the good form of this sport in Spain.
The Alicante town of Xàbia hosted this second final of the SUP Talent Spain Series with the collaboration of the Club de Surf Jávea and the Club Náutico Jávea, which provided all the technical means necessary for this sporting final to be held flawlessly.
After the enforced break in 2020, the SUP Talent Spain Series started again covering the entire Spanish territory in search of young athletes, aged between 10 and 15 years, with the greatest potential in this discipline, who can become an Olympic choice in 2028, with the aim of bringing them together in the final that has determined the six most talented athletes in paddle surfing in Spain.
During the first day, the official training companies were celebrated by Telmo Irigoyen, Technical Director of the Club de Surf Jávea , and Carlos López, President of the Federación Catalana de Surf, both Technical Advisors at the Federación Española de Surf.
Jávea Bay offered its characteristic setting, with the cliffs of Cape San Antonio in the background and near-perfect conditions, with light northwest winds and a flat sea, allowing technicians to begin to assess the attitudes and skills of the finalists.
During the second day, the final of the SUP Talent 2021, the weather was choppy, causing both athletes and coaches to intensify their efforts to ensure their safety at sea. Finally, the organization chose to make a very fast “downwind” – route in favour of the wind – of almost 5 kilometres, between the Club Náutico Jávea and Cala Blanca, and returning to the beach of the Arenal in a demanding crossing against the wind of almost 2.5 kilometres, allowing the technicians of the Spanish Surfing Federation to check the bravery of these athletes when facing conditions reserved only for experts.
At the end of the day, and while the technicians finished deliberating the last characteristics of the finalists, they were presented with gifts and different products from Leclercq Surfing (surf school and paddle surf), Raw Elements (sun creams specialized in water sports), WetSuitCare (neoprene soap), Vivida (surf fashion) and Awesome Maps (sports spot maps). Then Carlos López and Telmo Irigoyen announced what young promises of Spanish paddle surfing were going to hold the title of SUP Talent 2021.
The SUP Talent 2021
Among the nearly 500 athletes who took part in the selection tests for the final throughout the season, the most talented athletes in 2021 have been:
Martina Vidal, from Club Be Watersports (Alicante), and Eva Díaz, from Club Blue Salt (Barcelona), in the Under 12 category.
Alexia Soto, from Club Deportivo Parres (Alicante), and Pablo Vidal, from Club Be Watersports (Alicante), in the Under 14 category, and
Unax Etxeberria, from Club Deportivo Kairoscore (Guipuzcoa), and Paula Ruiz, from Club Deportivo Parres (Alicante), in the Under 16 category.
For many years, you’ve told us how much you love what we’re doing and some of you have even asked for ways to say thanks. For us, there really is nothing easier to show someone how much you appreciate their efforts than buying them a beer (or a wine; or even a coffee) – it’s so simple. Click on the link below to find out more.
