60th Descent of the Sella
In the 60th International Descent of the Sella (1996), around 1,300 paddlers from 20 countries took part, reinforcing its international reputation. The race promised high intensity with the return of a strong Portuguese duo, but it was two powerful Asturian pairs who battled for glory: the Villaverde twins and the local pair from Ribadesella, Ramón Cerra and Alberto Llera.
In the end, Cerra and Llera claimed an epic victory with a thrilling sprint finish, restoring Ribadesella’s honor with a win that had eluded it for 37 years. They completed the demanding 20 km course in 1h 9min 28sec, maintaining a blistering pace throughout.
In K1, the victory went to José Corral Bustabad of the Galician Autonomous Team, followed by a young Julio Martínez Gómez, who would later become one of the most decorated paddlers in the history of the Sella with 11 overall wins.
The 1996 Descent of the Sella once again proved why it’s Spain’s most famous river paddling race: tradition, excitement, international participation, and a festive atmosphere that filled the riverbanks from Arriondas to Ribadesella with thousands of enthusiastic spectators cheering the competitors on.
tag: international descent of the river sella 1996
