La Vaca Gigante, one of the most awaited surfing events on the Cantabrian coast, has finished its tenth edition with the outstanding participation of two alumni of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO).
Among the surfers who challenged the waves of more than seven meters were Juan Merodio and Nicolás García, former students of the institution, who demonstrated their talent and experience in the sport.
Nicolás García showed his ability in the first rounds, achieving a total of 23.84 points that gave him access to the grand final. In this last stage, he demonstrated his knowledge of the Cantabrian Sea, achieving a third place on the podium.
On the other hand, Juan Merodio, with a perfect score of 10 in his best wave and a combined score of 26.90, left his own mark on the competition, being the protagonist in the third set.
In the qualifying series, there have also been some figures such as Óscar Gómez, one of the pioneers of this Vaca Gigante and who has expressed his pride in seeing his pupils stand out: “Today was epic, probably the best in the last 15 years.”
For his part, surfer Luis García has shown his support for Nicolás: “I would have loved to have been in the final with him, but I’m very proud of what he’s accomplished.”
La Vaca Gigante, which started in 2007 with the support of some brands and a group of friends, has grown to become a major event in the surfing calendar. Despite being held on a Wednesday, the event has attracted a crowd that has enjoyed the competition in the wildest area of Santander.
Finally, Nicolás García, the third-place qualifier in the competition, shared his emotions after the event: “Today has been an incredible day. I started very well, then I couldn’t catch any more waves, and in the end, I finished third. I still can’t believe it, and now it’s time to enjoy it.”
UNEATLANTICO hand-in-hand with sports
It should be noted that UNEATLANTICO maintains a collaboration agreement with the ObsessionA2 Sports Club, with the aim of promoting and encouraging sports in the region. This agreement allows for various academic and sports activities.
In addition, the University, in collaboration with the Government of Cantabria, the Cantabria Surfing Federation, and the municipalities of Santander and Ribamontán al Mar, has announced the organization of the first Spanish University Surfing Championship 2024, which is a milestone in the history of university sport. This event will bring together the best university surfers in Somo while helping to raise the reputation of Cantabria as a benchmark for surfing.