Descenso del Sella: Twenty Kilometres of Canoes
Asturias, Spain
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Les Piragües
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300
XP
+100 Spain
= 400 total
1 day
Descenso del Sella: Twenty Kilometres of Canoes
300 + 100 XP
In 1929 Dionisio de la Huerta and a few friends paddled down the Sella for the fun of it. They repeated it in 1930 and 1931, fixed the start and finish at Arriondas and Ribadesella in 1932, and turned it into a race with thirteen paddlers. It now runs twenty kilometres down the river on the first Saturday of August following the 2nd, has been a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 1980, and finishes under the bridge at Ribadesella. Renfe runs a Tren Fluvial down the valley beside the race so the crowd can follow the boats.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Paddle the Arriondas to Ribadesella run yourself — the river is open all summer and outfitters rent everything
2
of 5
Come for the race on the first Saturday of August after the 2nd and watch the noon start — paddles locked in a frame that releases when the light goes green, after Dionisio de la Huerta's verses are read out
3
of 5
Ride the Tren Fluvial from Arriondas, which runs beside the river with stops to get out and watch
4
of 5
Find out how it started: a few friends going down the river for fun in 1929, fixed at this course in 1932
5
of 5
Finish at Ribadesella and work out how twenty kilometres of river feels from inside a boat
Paddle the Arriondas to Ribadesella run yourself — the river is open all summer and outfitters rent everything
Come for the race on the first Saturday of August after the 2nd and watch the noon start — paddles locked in a frame that releases when the light goes green, after Dionisio de la Huerta's verses are read out
Ride the Tren Fluvial from Arriondas, which runs beside the river with stops to get out and watch
Find out how it started: a few friends going down the river for fun in 1929, fixed at this course in 1932
Finish at Ribadesella and work out how twenty kilometres of river feels from inside a boat
Before you go
The Descenso del Sella is raced on the first Saturday of August after the 2nd.
Cold, fast water and rocks — wear the buoyancy aid. The race weekend fills every bed for miles; book far ahead or stay well away.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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