Esperanza Barreras and Fernando Pérez Winners of the 6th Gran Carrera del Mediterraneo SUP Race

A day filled with intense competition and emotion marked the 6th Gran Carrera del Mediterraneo SUP Race, organized by Club Deportivo Parres with support from the Alicante Provincial Council.

This major event for SUP enthusiasts brought together over 160 athletes for a weekend of action, activities, and tributes. Participants came from nearly all corners of the country, including Galicia, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Cádiz, Palma, Valladolid, Vizcaya, and included top SUP figures like current World Champion Esperanza Barreras and World Runner-up Alexia Soto.

This race counted towards the official Spanish national SUP Race circuit as the Spanish Long Distance Cup as well as a leg of the regional “Circuito Mediterraneo”.

On Sunday morning, the elite category covered a 13 km route from Urbanova Beach to Santa Pola, while other categories held their races on Varadero Beach, including the popular Rookie division, which was more recreational.

The elite race kicked off at 9 a.m. from Urbanova Beach, with participants starting off strong. After a few minutes, the lead packs began to form. In the men’s category, Fernando Pérez, Sergio Cantoral, and Antonio Morillo remained in the lead pack throughout the race. At 4 km, they reached the sprint checkpoint, with Antonio Morillo claiming it first after an intense sprint. However, after 13 km, Fernando Pérez took the victory in the men’s elite category.

In the women’s elite category, current world champion Esperanza Barreras led the entire race, followed by Alexia Soto and Laura Paricio. Barreras was the first female competitor to cross both the sprint checkpoint and the finish line.

Results – Top 10 Elite Overall:

Elite Men | General Category

1. Fernando Pérez
2. Sergio Cantoral
3. Antonio Morillo
4. Iván de Frutos
5. Iván Esteve
6. Rubén Cantoral
7. Enzo Ponzó
8. Beñat Villagarcia
9. Roberto Cañedo
10. Artem Avramenko

Elite Women | General Category

1. Esperanza Barreras
2. Alexia Soto
3. Laura Paricio
4. Berta Ferré
5. Inés Blin
6. Bianca Toncelli
7. Teresa Criado
8. Gadea Ibarloza
9. Laura Baccaro
10. Erica Irles

Other long-distance winners included Pablo García (sub 8), Daira García and Gael Álvarez (sub 12), Aisha Ledo and Borja Camacho (sub 14), Nuria Chiquero (sub 16), Adriana Juan and Luis Aganzo (Rookie), Laura Fluxá and Jorge Chiquero (Open Inflatable), Natalia Piñeros and Rubén Ponce (Open Absolute), Alexia Soto and Iván Esteve (Elite Junior), Teresa Criado and Fernando Pérez (Elite Senior), Esperanza Barreras and Roberto Cañedo (Elite Master), Eva Ruiz and Javier Coloma (Elite Kahuna), and Mª Jesús García and Daniel Fenoll (Elite Grand Kahuna).

In addition to the races, Saturday morning featured a more recreational day with various activities on the beach to introduce the sport to the public. Open SUP and inclusive SUP classes were offered in collaboration with Apda Aspe and its Inclusport Sports Initiative; participants enjoyed various water activities: adapted SUP boards, Big sup challenges, Dragon Boat excursions, and paddling in the bay. Many were first-time participants and had a wonderful experience. Another memorable moment was provided by Kokitoko, an event partner that designs clothing and accessories with drawings by people with disabilities. After their time in the water, participants could express their feelings through art.

Tribute to the DANA Victims in Valencia

Due to the recent tragedy in Valencia caused by the DANA storm, the event held a tribute to the deceased and missing with a floral offering at sea. All participants wore black armbands throughout the race to honor the victims. This was undoubtedly one of the most moving moments of the event.

The event was attended by Loreto Serrano, Mayor of Santa Pola and Provincial Deputy of Alicante; Ángel Piedecausa, Councilor for Sports and Beaches of Santa Pola; and Borja Merino, Councilor for Tourism and Health. The Mediterranean SUP Race was supported by the Alicante Provincial Council and featured sponsors like Convotis, Mercalicante, Coca-Cola, Kokitoko, and Apda Aspe, among others.