Once again, Salinas becomes the epicentre of surfing. Following the conclusion of the European SUP Championships, the Barreltopia Salinas Longboard Festival continues with the opening event of the 2026 European Tour of Longboard (ETL), held alongside the Spanish Longboard Championships. Organised jointly by the European Surfing Federation (ESF) and the Spanish Surfing Federation (FESurfing), the event further strengthens Salinas' position as one of Europe's premier surfing destinations.
The return of the European Tour of Longboard in 2025 was a great success, and this year's opening event has attracted 90 competitors, confirming the continued growth and momentum of the tour.
Round 1 of the Women’s Open and Men’s Open categories brings together in the water athletes from Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Germany and Denmark – a line-up that confirms the international reach the event in Salinas has achieved.
The number of registered competitors (90) has also raised the standard of the competition and led to some surprises right from the early rounds.
Round 1 of the Women's Open and Men's Open divisions brought together athletes from Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, a line-up that confirms the international reach the event in Salinas has achieved.
The high number of registered competitors has also raised the level of competition, producing several surprises from the opening heats.
Among the biggest upsets of the first round were the eliminations of French riders Kito Guessard, Etienne Deval and Teiva Portilla, together with Dutch surfer Douwe Robroch, who were defeated by riders including Romain Maurin (FRA), Max Jamet (FRA) and Norway's Anker Frantzen, who had advanced through the qualifying rounds.
The Women's Open division also produced several surprises, most notably the early elimination of reigning ETL champion Thilde Sofie Rasmussen (DEN) and Mare Robroch (NED).
In the Men's Pro Junior division, the quarter-finals have already been completed. The favourites lived up to expectations, including Reggie Roynon (ENG) and reigning Junior champion MartĂn GarcĂa Andrade, who posted the highest heat total of the day with 14.50 points. Fresh from winning the EuroSUP Surf Junior Boys European title, LĂ©o Le Tohic Casareggio once again showcased his versatility by qualifying for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls division, newly crowned EuroSUP Surf Junior Girls European Champion Julieta RodrĂguez-Villamil won her opening ETL heat to comfortably advance to the semi-finals, where she will face France's Margaux Vieuge, runner-up at last year's ETL event in Estoril.
This international sporting event once again reflects the Barreltopia Salinas Longboard Festival's mission of promoting the core values of surfing—community, respect for the environment and personal growth—both in and out of the water.
Alongside the competition, today's cultural programme features the "Visit to the Village of El Castillo", guided by Gonzalo PĂ©rez MĂ©ndez, offering athletes and visitors the opportunity to discover the area's fishing heritage and panoramic coastal landscapes, reinforcing the connection between surfing, local culture and community.
Friday's programme extends well beyond the competition. The festival market remains open until 10:00 p.m., accompanied by food trucks, workshops for all ages, and the presentation of Roberto ValentĂn's latest book, a thriller inspired by the surfing culture of Salinas. Live music will continue throughout the evening across the festival's two stages, while the photography exhibition dedicated to longboarding and the Asturian coastline remains open to visitors until the end of the month.
The Barreltopia Salinas Longboard Festival continues through Sunday, 26 July, with the ETL finals, the conclusion of the Spanish Longboard Championships, live music and a wide-ranging cultural programme in Salinas.
All photos and highlights by: mediatproducciones.es