At Peña Txuri Surf Eskola we have seen thousands of students pass through our facilities at Sopelana beach, but there are stories that fill us with a special kind of pride. Today we want to talk to you about Yago Domínguez, a 23-year-old born in Sopelana who today is dedicated to professional surfing, taking the name of our school and our coast all over the world.
Yago’s story is the perfect reflection of what it means to grow up loving the ocean. It is a demonstration that with effort, passion, and the right environment, the biggest dreams can be achieved. For us, seeing him compete in the best international leagues is the confirmation that our teaching philosophy works, from the first contact with the whitewater to high performance.
The Beginnings: Learning to Love the Sea in Sopelana
Every champion has a beginning, and Yago’s is linked to our waves. For us, watching him grow has been a privilege. As Yago himself recalls with a smile when looking back: «I’ve been surfing since I was about 6 years old and I remember that’s the beginning of being at Peña Txuri doing summer camps that my parents sent me to».
It was those first summer camps and surf courses that ignited an unstoppable spark. What started as child’s play during the holidays quickly became a lifestyle. At Peña Txuri, we always insist that the beginner stage is crucial to lose the fear of water and start enjoying it, and Yago is the best example of this.
The Leap to High Performance with Aritza Saratxaga
As his talent became evident, the game transformed into discipline. Yago decided to take another step in his technical progression. As he tells it himself, he decided to «start training with Aritza around 12 years old or so, until now. So my whole life spent here».
Under the guidance of our Technical Director, Aritza Saratxaga, Yago began to polish his technique, understand how to read the ocean, and prepare himself physically and mentally for competition. Our high-performance group demands a lot of sacrifice, but it also creates unbreakable bonds. It deeply moves us to hear him say that «training at Peña Txuri is something very special and I think all of us surfers who train here value it a lot because the affection you are given and the dedication they have in this school is something I haven’t seen anywhere else».
A Historic Year: Reaching the Challenger Series
Hard work pays off, and this last season has marked a before and after in his career. Yago himself tells us how this success was forged: «I talked to Aritza, I sat down at the beginning of the season with him and we said “What is our goal for this year?” And the main one was to get into the Challengers and be able to travel the world competing».
And boy, did they achieve it. With a titanic effort, Yago highlights that «this year we have made a category change. We have moved to the Challenger category, finishing in the top eight of the QS, and we have managed to move to the next league». This achievement is no coincidence; it is the result of years of early mornings and relentless training.
For the school, supporting Yago at this international level is a huge challenge and commitment. He tells us how they have been «traveling, Aritza and I, to different places like Australia, South Africa, we went to Mendocito together, California». We know this involves sacrifices for the team back in Sopelana, since «Aritza stops coaching and Naroa stays in charge of all the kids to make a very big effort so I can fulfill my dreams».
A Passion for Waves and the Obsession with Mundaka
Despite traveling all over the world and surfing dream breaks, Yago’s heart remains anchored to our coast. He admits that living this moment «is a dream for me… I don’t need much more than this. With this I am happy».
And speaking of local waves, there is one that steals his sleep. Yago confesses his fixation on one of the jewels of our coast: «I have an obsession with Mundaka, man. Between Meñakoz, Sope or Mundaka, I choose Mundaka every time in my life. I’m obsessed. If there are waves I’m going to try to be there. And if there are good waves and I haven’t been, I’m going to have a hard time, a very hard time».
Peña Txuri: A Family and a Refuge
Surfing isn’t just about trophies and exotic trips. At Peña Txuri, we know surfing is community. Yago defines it perfectly when explaining what he likes most about the school: «What I like most about Peña Txuri I think is the atmosphere. Whenever you come down here, whether you’ve had a bad day or something has happened to you, it’s like you come down here to the beach to Peña Txuri, you disconnect from everything… you go for a surf, you are here with your friends talking and it’s something that changes your day».
Of course, there are also tough moments on the Cantabrian coast. Forging champions means facing the elements. As our protagonist rightly says, the hardest parts are «the tough sessions we have in Sope struggling, raining, cold like this morning which was super tough». But even those days build a good surfer’s character.
Learn to Surf at Any Age
The success of Yago Domínguez is inspiring, but at Peña Txuri Surf Eskola our mission encompasses all kinds of people. You don’t have to want to be a professional to enjoy the sea.
It fills us with pride when Yago points out that «the good thing about Peña Txuri is that you have courses for all levels, whether it’s your first day of surfing they will treat you like one of the group, or if you want to improve your surfing. There are all levels. From mothers who have started surfing at 50 to 5-year-old kids who come to Peña Txuri in summer».
- For the little ones: Discover our surf lessons for kids, where play and safety are the foundation of everything.
- For those looking for a challenge: It’s never too late to start. Sign up for our surf lessons for adults.
From Peña Txuri Surf Eskola, we will continue to support Yago Domínguez in every heat, every wave, and every trip. He is living proof that our school, more than a training center, is a big family united by the sea.
