Cover photo: Promotion of the championship

The classic Punta Galea Challenge will not take place this year, the organization reported in a press release, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The decree published last week by the Basque Government with the latest restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus infections has been decisive in making this decision, which has been carried out unanimously," the organization said in the statement.

“After several meetings, under normal conditions, the waiting period would begin around this time and would last until March 2021, but the mobility difficulties of some of the international surfers, as well as the limitations regarding capacity and the gathering of the public, always so essential and multitudinous in this event, encourage us to suspend this year, with the intention of resuming the championship with more strength and novelties, next season,” they add.

Regarding this, Ibon López and South African Grant "Twiggy" Baker spoke on the event's social media account. The latter said he was "very upset" but explained that he understands "the situation is serious in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic" and that it seems to him "a good decision."

Meanwhile, Ibon López said: “This winter we will enjoy the waves without a championship and next year we will come back stronger.”

The event that is still on for now is the one in La Coruña, which had plans to join the one in Ilha Pancha and this one to make a Spanish big wave tour.