How did the first editions come about?
The first editions of competitive events were held in the late 1980s as a result of a strong movement to defend the waves, at a time when the territory was threatened by tourist development aimed solely at creating more artificial beaches.
The figure of Francis Arnay is particularly relevant during this time, and without him, it is impossible to understand the current state of surfing on the island. In sports, he was proclaimed Provincial Champion and participated in different editions of the Spanish Championships, while socially, he founded the Association for the Defense of Surfing (ADES) after the destruction of the Fitenia wave in southern Tenerife.
The turn of the 21st century and the growing interest in surfing brought professional championships of the world circuit to Tenerife. However, the financial crisis of 2008 led to the discontinuation of these international competitions.
This did not stop the Canarian surfers. The archipelago continued to be an ideal place for surfing, and the sport had taken root and was already part of the islands’ sports culture. The skill level of the athletes and their determination to professionalize pushed the Canarian Surf Federation to resume the organization of these events in conjunction with the World Surf League.
This is how, in February 2018, the world surfing circuit returned to Tenerife with the first edition of the Las Américas Pro championship held at Playa de Las Américas in the municipality of Arona. In 2021, due to the pandemic, the event was moved to November and December, with subsequent editions held during those months.
The organization took advantage of the infrastructure to simultaneously hold a championship of the Canarian circuit, qualifying for the national circuit, in addition to competing in the Euromaster and Eurokids categories. The latter was introduced as a novelty in the last edition held.
Evolution of the event editions
2018 Las Américas Pro Tenerife
The first edition of the event, in collaboration with WSL Europe, focused on competition and creating an international atmosphere at Playa de Las Américas.
2019 Cabreiroá Las Américas Pro Tenerife
The second edition combines the classic competition format with the first activities aimed at energizing the Las Palmeras area.
2020 Cabreiroá Pro Las Américas
The event grows and consolidates itself as one of the most important surfing events in Spain, thanks to its extensive offerings in competition, culture, and leisure.
2021 Spring Surfest Las Américas Pro
The growth leads to a structural change in the event's stage, adding extra value to both the European-level competition and to leisure and culture.
2022 Spring Surfest Las Américas Pro
The event takes a step further and evolves into a 14-day surf festival. The Surfest turns Playa de Las Américas into the epicenter of European surfing.
2023 Spring Surfest Las Américas Pro
New international sponsors join the event, and the number of registrations in the lower categories increases.
