<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been an atypical season of big waves in Europe, to say the least. From autumn to winter few swells have arrived in the Old Continent. And those that came did it with a variability in the reports that complicated the organization of a surf championship that goes from 0 to 100 in 48 hours. In this occasion, <strong>La Vaca Gigante was convened just 24 hours</strong> in advance and in retrospect, it can already be said that it has been a <strong>successful hit</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At noon, during the safety meeting, the waves that broke in front of the Cueto cliffs were less than 2 meters high. But the sea coming in, the tide was rising and, with the passing of the hours,<strong> the waves reached the 7 meters in height</strong>. The show was served for the more than <strong>5,000 people</strong> who passed through this spectacular enclave of the Costa Quebrada, in Cantabria.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First there was a 45 minute<strong> Trials</strong> round. Or in other words, 7 local and international surfers were looking for a sport in the competition. As in the entire championship, the two best waves scored, depending on their size and how critical the take off or standing up was. The Ecuadorian <strong>Daniel Rangel claimed the spo</strong><strong>t and joined the 17 surfers already classified</strong> for the final phase.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Between <strong>big waves, wipeouts, rescues, celebrations, split boards and changes in the win</strong><strong>d, the hours went by</strong>. After the 3 qualifying heats arrived the sweet point of the tide and La Vaca bellowing it was time for the final with <strong>10.000€ </strong>at stake. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The cowboys in contention were the Brazilians Vinicius Dos Santos and Willyam Santana and the Cantabrians Nano Riego, Miguel Welsh, Michel Velasco and Óscar Gómez Ibars. And although the final began dominated by Brazilian big wave surfers, the Cantabrian team got their act together and <strong>Nano Riego, with the best wave of the championship (9.87) grabbed the win. </strong>They got him out of the water on the shoulders to get on the podium accompanied by his family, where he shook the cowbell well and raised the milk jug that accredits him as king of La Vaca Gigante 2022-2023 and as the big wave Spanish Champion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Thanks to everyone. The love I feel is incredible. Surfing is my passion and this comes at the best time of my life. I dedicate it to my family, to the local community, to the people who have come from Nazaré and, especially, to my uncle Nando, who recently passed away. He has been a very important person in my family, a legend in the rowing world. I know that today he has rowed with his trawler, which has pushed me very hard. I have really enjoyed this day.” - <strong>Nano Riego</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>LA VACA GIGANTE 22-23 RESULTS</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1º - Nano Riego (CAN) - 26,97</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2º - Vinicius Dos Santos (BRA) - 26,56</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3º - William Santana (BRA) - 25,66</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4º - Miguel Welsh (CAN) - 18,26</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5º - Michel Velasco (CAN) - 17,83</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6º - Óscar G. Ibars (CAN) - 13,99</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best Cantabrian: Nano Riego</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best wipeout: Nano Riego</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://lavacagigante.es/resultados-la-vaca-gigante-22-23-directo/" target="_blank">Full Results</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>La Vaca Gigante 2022-2023</strong>, El Buey Santos del Mar (Chile) twin event has been possible thanks to the work of ObsessionA2 store and Club in Santander, as well as the sponsorship of <strong>Plea Beach House</strong> and <strong>Mini Grünblau Motor</strong>. It also has the institutional support of the <strong>Santander City Council</strong>, the <strong>Santander Municipal Sports</strong><strong> and Tourism Institute</strong>; the<strong> Government of Cantabri</strong><strong>a, Vice-presidency, Department of Sports, Cantur and the Regional Society of Education, Culture and Sports</strong>. Finally, the local help from the<strong> Cantabrian Surf Federation</strong>, the<strong> Seguser Group</strong>,<strong> AGZ Andamio</strong><strong>s</strong>,<strong> Indiba Fisiofun</strong> and <strong>Aemet</strong>.</div>