Spain

History Surfing in Spain is acknowledged to have begun around 1962 when Jesús Fiocchi from Santander obtained a surfboard from the Barland factory in France. The first beach to be surfed was probably El Sardinero in Santander, by a group of about twelve individuals, including Jesús. Between then and the early 1980s, surfing in Spain really didn't make a great deal of progress. This was almost certainly due to the isolation imposed by the Franco dictatorship and to the financial difficulties experienced by the majority of the Spanish population. Around this time, most people were still struggling to feed their own families; they were in no position to afford the luxury of a surfboard or a car to get them to the beach.Throughout the 1960s, one or two isolated groups of surfers sprang up in Cantabria and Euskadi. In 1969, the first Spanish surfboard factory, Santa Marina Surfboards, was set up by local surfer José Merido. Surfing was still struggling to get a grip and, by about the mid 1970s, the surfing population in Spain had still only grown to a few hundred, mostly still centred around Cantabria and the Basque Country. During the 1970s, surfing slowly become known in Asturias, beginning at Tapia de Casariego, then at places like Gijón and Salinas. Surfing started in Galicia at Vigo in 1969 and La Coruña in 1970, with the first contest being held at Nemina. Eventually, surfing came to Andalucía, but it was behind the northern development curve, despite travelling surfers passing through on their way to Morocco. Then, in the early 1980s, things really started to take off. The improving Spanish economy meant that more people could afford surfing equipment and a car to get them about. Spanish surfers were learning quickly about equipment and picking up techniques from foreign travellers, now a common sight at places like Mundaka and Rodiles. Throughout the 1980s, surfboard factories, wetsuits and clothing brands sprung up everywhere, and the number of surfers in Spain began to sky-rocket. In 1987, the first Spanish surfing magazine Tres60 was published and, in 1988, the first international surfing contest was held at Zarautz.

Today Since then, surfing in Spain hasn't looked back, and has rapidly caught up with the rest of the world. Surfboards are now of the highest quality, often shaped by top international shapers at the large Pukas factory. Every kind of surfing equipment is available from surf shops all over Spain although it is often more expensive in Andalucia. A host of international contests are held at a number of Spanish beaches each year, including the prestigious Billabong Pro at Mundaka in October. The number of people in the water is increasing at a greater rate than ever, surfing schools are big business, and second-generation surfers are just beginning to appear. As in other parts of the world, various subcultures have branched out from the surfing culture itself. For example, longboarding, big-wave surfing and bodyboarding are now serious activities in their own right. A number of good-quality Spanish surfing magazines are available, some with a readership of over twenty thousand. With increasing numbers of surfers, crowded line-ups are obviously becoming more common in Spain. At some spots, the crowd has become so intense that it is now a major factor affecting the quality of one's surfing session. Mundaka is probably the prime example of this. However, the Spanish are used to living in confined spaces with lots of people. They also tend to let off steam continually by shouting and waving their arms about rather than bottling it all up and then resorting to physical violence when things get stressful. As a result, real problems in the water are remarkably few, considering the sheer number of people. This is not to say that the basic rules don't apply - as a visiting surfer one must earn respect by first treating the locals with respect. Also, the hazardous nature of some spots, particularly some big-wave spots in the Basque Country, means that the locals won't tolerate inexperienced surfers in the line-up who put themselves and others in danger. There are still many uncrowded areas of Spain with excellent surf. These often tend to be in small, isolated communities where people are not so used to seeing outsiders. As a travelling surfer you won't go unnoticed, and will more likely be met with a friendly curiosity from the locals. Fortunately, localism is quite rare in mainland Spain, apart from at a few notorious spots such as Rodiles and El Brusco.

Eastern Spain Surf Culture Surfing on the Spanish Med coast was virtually unheard of through the ‘70s and the windsurfing boom of the ‘80s, apart from a few isolated individuals and the occasional cross-over windsurfer. The next decade saw surfing explode across Europe and locals realised that with enough patience, even the Med has some great waves, as little groups took to the water in Barcelona and beyond. The generally small waves are perfect for beginner surfers and the popularity and ease of use of bodyboards has helped expand numbers. The whole mainland coast is now well served with surf associations, surf shops and excellent websites, which can really help in the process of being in the right place at the right time and meeting other surfers. Catalonia has the most surfers and most developed surf scene and the Asociacion Catalana de Surf organises contests, concerts, surf films and parties. Localism at a few spots is just starting to be a concern but travellers with a good attitude will find locals friendly and encounter very few problems. The island surf communities are small and close knit, with plenty of protection given to secret spots, but a generally easy-going vibe is the norm in the line-ups. Meeting other surfers still has a buzz about it compared to the often ‘too cool’ surfer vibe along the Atlantic shores.