Twenty-four hours left to the activation of the final alert –Red alert– of La Vaca Gigante By Oakley, ObsessionA2 Club reveals the list of competitors and the competition format.
The Cliffs of El Bocal will be the place where the extreme surfing challenge La Vaca Gigante By Oakley will take place and where the best international and national big riders will get together.
Santander, center of attention at global level for big wave surfing.
Cover photographer: Sergio García
The best secrets of La Vaca Gigante By Oakley are revealed with the announcement of the competition format and the names of the big riders who have accepted the challenge of the Cantabrian wave.
THE COMPETITION FORMAT OF LA VACA GIGANTE BY OAKLEY
After the confirmation of the number of participants who will finally face the challenge of the 7-meters wave the Cantabrian Vaca, ObsessionA2 has confirmed the competition format of the event.
The male riders, in heats of eight riders, will enter twice to the water, being able to ride a maximum of 4 waves for each heat and scoring a total of 4 waves for the final score. The heats will last 40 minutes.
The four female riders will enter once to the water, scoring the two best waves for the final score, in heats of 45 minutes long. The riders will have 5 more minutes for the heat as they enter the water just once.
This time will be the second one at global level that an international event gives the opportunity to female riders to face big waves with their own division and their own cash prize. La Vaca Gigante By Oakley has been the first big wave surfing competition at international level to support the role of the female riders and give them the opportunity to compete with their own division.
The male winner as well as the female winner will win a cash prize of 2.500 euros and varied equipment.
THE BRAVES WHO WILL CHALLENGE LA VACA GIGANTE BY OAKLEY
Finally, there will be 40 men and 4 women who will challenge the powerful
7-meter wave of La Vaca Gigante By Oakley. The powerful group made of international and national stars which will make us enjoy the event.
Despite the last injuries due to different factors, the list of riders is one of the most powerful lists at international level.
At national level, the Asturian Carlos Alberto Meana, Jacobo Rodríguez y Pablo Suarez; the Canary Islanders Aaron Rodriguez, winner of the last edition of La Vaca Gigante – looking for winning again– Alex Zirque, David Rodal, Yeray García and Dani Brunch (these two last ones have entered in order to replace two recent injuries) and Pablo Solar.
Among the Cantabrian riders, the confirmed participants are Ajan Olavarri, Ale Morales, Alvaro Cotera, Asier Puntiverio, Dani Pablos, David Echague, one of the favorites: Miguel Welsh, Nagai Puntiverio, the discoverer of La Vaca Gigante Oscar Gómez-Ibars, Pablo Gutiérrez, Tino Aja or the young promise Marcelino Botín – replacing a injury–.
The riders from Euskadi are Adur Letamendia, Aritz Aramburu, one of the favorites Axi Muniain, Iker Muñoz, Adrian Fernández, Indar Unanue or Nacho González, another favorite rider. From Galicia, Luís Rodríguez.
Photographer: Sergio García
THE STARS OF THE WORLDWIDE SURFING CHALLENGE THE CANTABRIAN WAVE
Among the great international figures who are coming to Cantabria, it must be outlined the great world figure Jamie Mitchell – Australian rider living in Hawaii– or the French riders Pilou Ducalme, Stephane Iralour or the star Gautier Garanx.
The British rider Tom Butler who reached the podium in the last edition of La Vaca, is another rider who was not sure about coming to the Cantabrian big wave surfing competition and his presence is one of the keys of the event; along with him, the Irish riders Andrew Cotton and Ollie Oflaherty come to Cantabria to do their best.
Talking about surfing figures, undoubtedly, the stars of this edition of La Vaca Gigante By Oakley are: The great international surfing figure Grant Baker: legend of the big wave surfing , who has no doubt to respond to the invitation sent by ObessionA2 Club to the Cantabrian event. The South African rider is, with no doubt, the number one at global level and a real idol. What is more, it should be outlined the Portuguese rider Joao Macedo, also one of the world’s top riders.
Alessandro Piu could be consider as the most famous rider in Italy and one of the riders who will assure a great spectacle, as well as the young surfing promise worldwide Dylan Cotton.
THE WOMEN ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE
Finally, there are four women who have accepted the challenge. Two of the five world’s top attend the event: the Portuguese rider Joana Andrade and the French rider Justine Dupont have confirm their attendance. The Irish rider Easkey Britton, who will try to attend the Cantabrian event, is waiting to the oficial confirmation due to different causes. The Cantabrian presence is confirmed with Mirka Solar, from Suances.