GRAVITEO A Coruña Xacobeo transformed the O Parrote waterfront into an open-air arena of vertical daring during a three-day urban sports festival that drew thousands of spectators to the Galician coast. Organized by La Opinión and Prensa Ibérica with institutional backing from regional and local authorities, the landmark event blended high-stakes climbing disciplines with freestyle parkour, leaving athletes and organizers eyeing a potential return in 2027.
Psychobloc Master Series Redefines the Marina Skyline
The festival’s marquee attraction, the Psicobloc Master Series, brought deep-water soloing directly to the A Coruña waterfront with a towering 16-meter wall constructed directly over the sea. Spectators routinely paused to question the sheer scale of the temporary structure, whose overhanging profile stretched toward the water without traditional ropes, harnesses, or safety nets. American climber Chris Sharma, serving as an event ambassador and global icon of the discipline, tested the routes early in the weekend to confirm their viability before the international field took over.
As competition shifted into evening sessions under stadium lights, the visual drama intensified against the dark waters of O Parrote. Competitors traded jokes about avoiding a look downward before launching into demanding sequences above the bay. When the dust settled on the finals, Eneko Carretero and Julia Charnourdie secured the elite titles, capping off a two-and-a-half-hour showcase that kept thousands of onlookers fixed on the vertical battleground.
Speed and Bouldering Showcase Elite Spanish Talent
Directly behind the psychobloc structure, a separate 15-meter vertical wall hosted the Open Internacional y Gallego de escalada de velocidad. Sprinters flew up the regulation routes in times ranging from five to eight seconds, drawing raucous cheers from the surrounding crowds. Alejandro Rivas and Sarah Vouaux claimed the top steps of the podium in the elite categories, while local favorite Nora García Maestu delighted her hometown supporters by capturing third place. In the youth divisions, Telma Flores and Iván Pacios earned gold medals in the speed brackets.
Meanwhile, the Open cidade de A Coruña bouldering wall tested raw power and technical problem-solving rather than sheer altitude. Vladimir Babin and Elena Ferreiro triumphed in the absolute divisions, backed by strong performances across youth categories where Javi Gento, Aitana Martínez, Mateo Ríos, and Lía Queijeiro secured victories. The inclusive weekend program also featured dedicated competition for paraescalada athletes, highlighting the depth of climbing talent on display.
Parkour Championship Delivers Horizontal Thrills
Beyond the vertical walls, GRAVITEO expanded its footprint into horizontal acrobatics with a dedicated parkour setup that hosted both the Spanish Championship and an Open International. Traceurs ranging from youth divisions to senior competitors navigated complex scaffolding, rails, and gaps, bringing gymnastic precision to the festival’s closing stages.
Worth a look
