Chumbo Chianca and Ian Cosenza won the first Illa Pancha Challenge

Natxo González and Adrián Fernandez finished third. The historic tournament took place on a day of giant and tubular waves at a pump in Galicia

January 31, 2019

Cover photo: Jose Manuel Triñanes Piñeiro

The Brazilian duo of Ian Cosenza and Lucas Chumbo Chianca won the inaugural big wave tow event, Illa Pancha Challenge, which took place yesterday in Ribadeo, Galicia.

These two beat two compatriots in the grand final, Pedro Scooby and Everaldo Pato Texeira.

Tied in third place were Basques Natxo González and Adrián Fernández de Valderrama.

"Today (yesterday) was a very special day in Galicia, we competed in the first national event of the tow in modality (…). I am not used to surfing this type of waves and even less in this modality, but we worked very well as a team," said Natxo González referring to the event and its good result.

“The waves were huge and very violent. We are going home with a third place, a prize for the best local surfers and the biggest wave of the event. Not only am I happy about that, but because this championship is the beginning of a great story, taking into account how difficult it is to make a championship of this calibre possible, since you need the perfect sea conditions to give that green light that we are all waiting for like crazy. I would say that the Lipchain Illa Pancha Challenge 2019 has been a 10 championship. Thank you Galicia!”, concluded González.

Chilean Rafael Tapia also participated in the event along with his tow-in partner, Alemao de Maresias, who dislocated his shoulder and continued surfing anyway.

These are the final results:
1 Lucas 'Chumbo' Chianca & Ian Cosenza
2 Pedro Scooby & Everaldo Pato Teixeira
3 Natxo Gonzalez & Adrian Fernandez from Valderrama
3 Carlos Burle & Joao Chianca “Chumbinho”