Aritz Aranburu was the first Spanish surfer to qualify for the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.
The shining marble star with his name has been embedded in the floor of the promenade of Somo, in Cantabria, Spain, as a new addition to its prestigious “Somo Surfing Walk of Fame.”
The Gipuzkoan surfer, visibly excited, wanted to dedicate a few words to “all that people who have supported me throughout my career. I’ve always felt one of the most supported surfers.”
Aranburu also had words of thanks to his parents, Karmele and Rafa, who did not want to miss the event.
“Winning a championship gives you great satisfaction in a certain moment, but to receive acknowledgment for a career is really exciting,” said Aritz.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of my parents, who believed in me from the beginning and helped me to fulfill my dream.”
Aritz’s dream is the dream of any professional surfer.
A Unique Talent
In fact, he is the Spanish athlete who has gone further in surfing competition, as the first, and the only one to date, who has gained access to the Dream Tour elite.
He made it for the last time in 2014, and previously in 2008 and 2009.
“In surfing, talent is not enough. You have to train a lot and need to have a clear goal in mind,” says Pablo Gutierrez, former European champion and Aranburu teammate in the professional circuit.
“Aritz is an example for new generations. This is a star for a unique surfer.”
Among Aritz’s greatest achievements, there is a historic third place in the 2009 Billabong Pro Tahiti of Teahupoo, the 2007 European Championship title, two runner-up European Junior titles (2004 and 2005) and two fifths in World Junior rankings (2004 and 2005).
The name of the Gipuzkoan will accompany other distinguished characters previously recognized in the Cantabrian promenade, like Pablo Gutiérrez and the first Spanish female surfer, Laura Revuelta, as well as several local pioneers.
“We want to turn the Somo Surfing Walk of Fame a European benchmark. It’s a great honor for us that Aritz has accepted this recognition. There is no Spanish surfer who has managed to match him,” explains Francisco Asón, mayor of Ribamontán al Mar.
“We are in contact with top world-class surfers to invite them to come to discover our municipality and leave their mark here forever.
“We want them to inspire us with their stories and motivate the youngest surfers to follow their sporting steps.”
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