DISCOVER HUELVA FESTIVAL 2023

A hundred athletes met last July 22 at the Discover Huelva SUP Festival 2023. A national Stand Up Paddle classic, under the great organization of Club W. Isla Cristina and the Municipal Sports Service of City Hall of Isla Cristina. This has been the 8th edition, among which we highlight the presence of riders from the SUP national team and the young promises in the lower categories that show the great progress of this sport worldwide and that is reflected in the andalusian coasts

But the bulk of the competition came with the SUB 14, SUB 16, SUB 18, Amateur and Elite categories, who dominated the waters of Isla Cristina with their boards and paddles. A spectacular visual image for all those who were enjoying the beach. For the Elite and SUB 18 categories it would be their first race of the day, since in the afternoon they had a second competition; performing at the end of the day the sum of the times of both races for the final classification.

Turning of buoys, carrying and overtaking offer a lot of spectacle to this racing model, without failing to add the intense heat present in this day of competition. On the Elite category, Antonio Morillo and Fernando Pérez from Cádiz offered a lot of excitement in the Elite category, where the latter won the victory in a final sprint reaching the finish line. The young local Augusto García got the first position in the SUB 18 and, for the women, Isabel Valverde crossed the finish line first ahead of the islander Rocío Bensaid, who finally won the first position in the day’s combined.

We also highlight the great results by Álvaro del Pino and Laura Ailing in SUB 14, Jorge Valenzuela and Blanca García in SUB 16, Marc Simoncelli and Lorena Mendoza in SUB 18; as well as the rest of the participants in these categories who have shown a great performance.

In the afternoon, the west wind come to the Isla Cristina beach, which was ideal for the second race for the participants of the Elite and SUB 18 category. Antonio Morillo, Fernando Pérez and Augusto García delighted us with a magnificent downwind, with a fascinating reading of the sea by these three athletes. But with about 200 meters to finish, Morillo put on the accelerator and managed to cross the finish line first, taking about 20 seconds from Fernando, which earned him the victory of the combined ahead of a friend of Los Canos. Augusto achieved the first position in SUB 18 and third overall.

Sergio López and Josu Allica climbed to the top of the podium in the combined Master and Kahuna categories correspondingly. And we also highlight the participation of some Amateur and youth riders who were encouraged to participate in this downwind, even if it was not scoring for these categories.

Late in the afternoon, under a magnificent atmosphere and with the presence of the authorities and sponsors, the ceremony and closing of the championship took place. And like every year, Discover Huelva, will continue betting and working for this type of competition in which federated competition and promotion among the little ones come together.

Thank the Institutional Support of the Junta de Andalucía, Andalucía European Sports Region, Huelva Provincial Council, the SMD of the Isla Cristina City Council, our coverage at sea with the Red Cross, Maritime Rescue, Civil Protection and the sponsors Brandt, Hotel Estival Isla Cristina, AWA Sun Glasses, Starboard, Usisa, Covey, 9:00 p.m., Masiá Ciscar, Heineken, Up Suping and Emilio and his great Windzone team who once again welcome us at their Center in the best possible way. We look forward to seeing you next year!

Istood up at two and a half years old. When I got it, I was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that promised me life in a wheelchair with a short life expectancy. I couldn’t climb stairs or run and any wrong movement would bring me to the ground, but against all odds, and despite my muscular weakness, my legs allowed me to walk.