RIBAMONTÁN AL MAR
CITY
1963 is the year surfing originated in Spain, on the beaches of El Sardinero (Santander) and Somo ( Ribamontán al Mar ).
In 1973, “Casa Lola”, in Loredo ( Ribamontán al Mar ), was the first Spanish workshop to manufacture surfboards.
In 1979, he opened Xpeedin, the first surf shop in Somme.
During the 1980s, with the surfing boom , many pioneers settled in Somo and Loredo, establishing the foundation of the surfing character and tradition that Ribamontán al Mar retains to this day.
In 1991, the Escuela Cántabra de Surf, the first surf school in Spain, was founded in Som.
In 2009, the Spanish government awarded the municipality of Ribamontán al Mar the country's first tourism revitalization plan focused on surfing.
In 2011, for the first time, the University of Cantabria introduced surfing into its summer courses: “ Surfing: new emerging tourism industry ”.
In 2012, Ribamontán al Mar became Spain's first Surf Reserve, recognizing the quality of its beaches, the sporting, environmental and cultural value of surfing, and its commitment to coastal preservation.
In the same year, the Somo Surf Center was inaugurated, the epicenter of all surfing activities in the municipality — competitions, events, exhibitions, and the headquarters of the Cantabrian Surf Federation, which maintains its facilities there.
In 2017, the first Surfing Walk of Fame was created in Spain.
Ribamontán al Mar has over 12 km of beaches and coastline, encompassing seven towns: Somo, Loredo, Langre, Galizano, Castanedo, Carriazo and Suesa, and six main sandy areas: El Puntal, Somo, Loredo, Los Tranquilos, Langre and Galizano.
The area belongs to the Specially Protected Zone (SPC) of the El Puntal–Somo–Loredo dune system.
With 300 days of waves per year, the municipality offers surfing for all levels — from beginners to professionals — in iconic locations such as La Curva, El Barco and Santa Marina, the latter considered a "temple" of big waves.
Permanent population: 4,500 inhabitants (25,000 in summer).
22% of residents are surfers.
Surfing generates 4.5 million euros per year, 180 direct jobs, and 12,000 surf students annually.
24% of tourists visit Ribamontán al Mar attracted by surfing, and 30% of those hire services from local surf schools.
