From today until May 13, 2025, local surfers and wave forecasters will be monitoring every swell that hits the Cantabrian coast. On the day waves reach heights of 6, 7, or even 8 meters, combined with the right wind and tide conditions, the 11th edition of La Vaca Gigante—the big wave surfing championship held in Santander, Cantabria—will take place.
When that moment comes, media, fans, surfers, and crew will be called into action. With just 48 hours’ notice, a frenzied countdown begins, culminating in thousands of spectators gathering on the Cueto cliffs in the Aspiring Geopark of Costa Quebrada to witness this unique spectacle.
The 24 invited surfers—12 local and 12 international—will strive to ride the biggest and most powerful waves of the day, seeking to dethrone Basque surfer Indar Unanue, the winner of the 10th edition. They’ll also compete for a prize money of €12,000. This year, in a major development, the event is part of the newly established Big Wave Alliance international tour. The winner will secure a spot in the tour’s grand finale, which will crown the global big wave surfing champion.
Once again, the event organizers are focusing on initiatives beyond the competition itself. Throughout the year, and especially during the event, they will promote actions supporting inclusion, equality, and sustainability. Notably, La Vaca Gigante is now part of a global platform of 30 organizations advocating for plastic-free events. Additionally, in collaboration with Carbono Gestión, the event aims to assess and reduce its environmental impact, enhancing the championship’s sustainability.
The organization aspires to match or surpass the impressive results of the previous edition: 10,000 live spectators, 40,000 online streaming viewers, and 20 million impressions across social media, TV, and press.
Official Presentation
The championship was officially unveiled at the Eurostars Hotel Real in Santander, in a glass-walled room overlooking the beach, to a packed audience. Led by Pedro García, president of the Club ObsessionA2 de Santander, the presentation featured the participation of Beatriz Pellón, Sports Councilor for Santander City Council; Francisco José Arias, Councilor for Tourism and Social Dynamization; Luis Martínez, Regional Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports of the Government of Cantabria; and Roberto Media, Regional Minister of Development, Land Management, and the Environment.
During the presentation, the importance of La Vaca Gigante as a platform to promote Santander and Cantabria was highlighted. “The championship will have an even more distinctly Cantabrian essence this year, with the support of numerous local producers rooted in our land, and the promotion of our traditions, culture, and gastronomy,” emphasized Pedro García.
The event concluded with striking footage from past editions and messages from Andrew Cotton, Brazilian surfer Vinicius dos Santos, Hawaiian surfer Shannon Marie Quirk, Cantabrian surfer Nano Riego (winner in 2023 and runner-up in 2024), and Big Wave Alliance director Gary Linden. The surfers, who describe La Vaca Gigante as the closest thing to the famous Jaws in Europe, expressed their excitement to once again hear this giant wave roar.
About La Vaca Gigante (The Giant Cow)
La Vaca Gigante is a big wave surfing competition organized by Club ObsessionA2 and presented by Obsession Surf Santander. It is supported by the Santander City Council through the Department of Tourism and Social Dynamization and the Municipal Sports Institute, as well as the Government of Cantabria through the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, Cantabria Infinita, and Año Jubilar Lebaniego 23-24; the Regional Society for Culture, Education, and Sports; and the Regional Ministry of Development, Housing, Land Management, and the Environment. The event’s main sponsor is Somos Hijolusa, with local sponsors Dysmetcant, Villa Miguela Hostel, Mimoondo, Grupo Seguser, and Camarsa. The championship is twinned with El Buey Santos del Mar and is part of the Big Wave Alliance international tour.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
