The Spanish youth surfing team came second in the European youth surfing championship which came to an end after a week of competitions on the waves of Santa Cruz, Portugal.

It was a very tight final between the first three teams, which France won by 10496 points, just over 200 points ahead of Spain and 270 ahead of the home nation, which came third. England was 3000 points behind in the ranking by nations.

The victory of Sean Gunning in under 16 and that of Nadia Erostarbe in women under 18 and Armide Solivares were key to achieving this high score that was supported by a solid performance of Yael Peña and Iker Amatriain (third and fourth in under 18), Melania Suárez (third in women under 18), Javier Domínguez (second in bodyboarding under 16) and Carlos Suárez (third in bodyboarding under 18).

“I still can’t believe I’m the new European champion,” Sean Gunning wrote on his Instagram. “I’m so proud to be part of the national team and to have managed to place second. We will come back stronger. Thank you to all the team members and coaches for an amazing week in Portugal.”

Meanwhile, Nadia Erostarbe said: “It has been an unforgettable week with the best team. Thanks to everyone who supported me on the beach, especially Rafa Selles (the team doctor), without you this would not have been possible,” wrote Erostarbe on her Instagram.

This is how the ranking by nation was:
1. France 10.496 pts
2. Spain 10.281 pts
3. Portugal 10.203 pts
4. England 7.196 pts
5. Italia  6.726 pts
6. Ireland 6.434 pts
7. Netherlands 6.339 pts
8. Germany 6.274 pts
9. Belgium 6.051 pts
10. Channel Islands 5.994 pts
11. Scotland 5.523 pts
12. Wales 5.328 pts
13. Russia 3.415 pts
14. Poland 900 pts
15. Sweden 860 pts
16. Denmark 835 pts
17. Norway 720 pts

In the individual categories these were the results:
Surf S18
1. Thomas Debierre (France) 19.00
2. Christian Portelli (Suède) 11.60
3. Yael Pena (Spain) 9.93
4. Iker Amatriain (Esp) 9.57

Surf S18 ladies
1. Nadia Erostarbe (Esp) 13.93
2. Mafalda Lopes (By) 13.53
3. Melania Suarez (Esp) 12.43
4. Neïs Lartigue (France) 10.70

Surf S16
1. Sean Gunning (Esp) 15.14
2. Thomas Ledee (France) 14.30
3. Guilhermo Ribeiro (By) 11.50
4. Afonso Antunes (Por) 10.34

Surf S14
1. Noa Dupouy (Fra) 15.17
2. Nicolas Paulet (Fra) 11.67
3. Martin Nunes (Por) 10.50
4. Joao Mendonca (Por) 6.16

Bodyboard S18
1. Yon Aimar (Fra) 14.80
2. David Vedor (Por) 13.97
3. Carlos Suarez (Esp) 12.03
4. Miguel Ferreira (Por) 9.77

Bodyboard S16
1. Amide Soliveres (Esp) 15.60
2. Javier Dominguez (Esp) 15.43
3. Joel Rodrigues (Por) 10.83
4. Pedro Ferreira (Por) 5.93

Longboard
1. Antonio Dantas (Por) 13.97
2. Cornélius Accoh (Fra) 13.70
3. Jordan Zervas (Eng) 7.20
4. Kay Van der Valk (Hol) 5.83