The 16th edition of the Laboral Kutxa Punta Galea Surf Challenge opens its waiting period tomorrow, November 15.

Punta Galea Challenge, Europe´s only and oldest international big wave championship.

The Punta Galea Challenge attracts 24 big riders every year. Half of them are members of the Big Wave Tour: the twice world champion, the South-African Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Alex Botelho, from Portugal and 7th in the world, or the Californian Nic Lamb, who has already won the Punta Galea Challenge twice.

The other dozen represents the best of Basque big wave surfing, which is also known as winter surfing, that is so traditional along the Basque coast. The Basque contingent is led by Natxo González, from Plentiza and the only Basque surfer in the Top 10 of the world. This stellar sport event has a full safety backup in place on land, at sea and, even, in the air. The clifftop, an ideal natural amphitheatre, is where around 20,000 spectators congregated to watch the riders on the 6-metre high waves during the mere 4 hours that the competition lasts.

The event is held on just one day in the height of the swell season, between autumn and winter. There is a 5-month waiting period running from 1 November to 30 April. During that time, the event’s organisers, surf experts and meteorologists carefully study each depression moving towards the Bay of Biscay, and choose the one bringing the best waves and most favourable winds. Just 48 hours’ notice is given before the event is held.

It is undoubtedly one of Getxo’s flagship events. The town’s commitment to board sports has been consolidated by a series of new events linked to the iconic Punta Galea Challenge.

In Getxo alone, there are 60 companies and entities linked to the Surf sector and the municipality has 25 leisure options linked to the sea. Getxo is an ideal spot for surfing all year round. Five beaches and nearly twenty wave types, including the one at Punta Galea, rated by experts as excellent for extreme surfing.

Free bus

 A free bus at the Bidezabal metro station to get to Punta Galea. The shuttle will depart at precisely hours from Bidezabal and will return to the hours and a half from the La Galea car park until the end of the competition