Surfing Río Urumea: watch your head on the bridge

Surfing River Urumea is a crazy experience. Located in Donostia/San Sebastián, the local Urumea offers an endless wave ride when the weather conditions meet in perfect harmony.

Have you ever wondered if it was possible to take off in an ocean wave and finish the ride in the center of a city?

Well, it's not a dream; it's reality. Río Urumea is an excellent surf spot for all Iberian surfers.

On big swell days, local surfers, stand-up paddleboarders, longboarders, bodyboarders, and kayak riders know they will have a great surfing day.

There's even space for tandem surfing couples. Can you imagine?

Surfers kick off their endless ride at the mouth of the River Urumea, while others prefer to avoid the bridge and only get on the wave train a few meters later.

Hodei Collazo, one of the best Spanish surfers, has joined the endless riding fever.

Not a Tidal Bore

Local Donostia/San Sebastián surfers know when it's time to enjoy their special wave.

They rush from all parts of the Basque Country city to the margins of the River Urumea to dress in their wetsuits and jump into the water.

Tourists are astonished by what they see, but local residents already know about the Río Urumea surfing fever.

The Donostia/San Sebastián river surfing wave is not a tidal bore; it is just a strong swell that enters Urumea through the ocean.

Discover more river waves and tidal bores of the world.

Top Stories

The most successful competitive surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, rode what may have been the last heat of his 24-year professional career.

We can't choose our height, and 80 percent of it is genetic. But if you're into surfing, taller and shorter surfers feel noticeable differences in getting acquainted with boards, paddling for, and riding a wave.

Ryan Crosby is the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the World Surf League (WSL).

Nothing fuels more controversy in and outside the water than awarding scores for waves ridden in competitive surfing.