Rafa Montero Contreras, who was honored with a ceremonial kick-off by CD Estepona, wins his third Spanish Freestyle Kiteboarding Championship

The sports community in Estepona is once again celebrating another success by one of its leading figures. Rafael Montero Contreras, the young athlete from Estepona who, on October 5, 2025, took the ceremonial kickoff at the match between CD Estepona and Real Jaén at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium, has been crowned Spanish Freestyle Kiteboarding Champion for the third consecutive year, reaffirming his status as one of the best riders on the national scene.

At just 19 years old, Rafa Montero once again climbed to the top of the podium at the competition held on Valdevaqueros Beach (Tarifa), as part of the Spain Kiteboarding League. The Estepona native, who entered the competition as one of the top favorites, managed to defeat his three rivals in the final thanks to his spectacular repertoire of aerial maneuvers, thus claiming his third consecutive national championship, following those won in 2024 and 2025.

This latest championship is particularly noteworthy, as 2026 has been an especially demanding year for the athlete. Montero has begun his studies in Aerospace Engineering in Puerto Real (Cádiz), a degree program that has required him to focus much of his energy on his academic work. In fact, the rider himself decided to skip several international competitions during the season so he could balance training with his studies. However, once his university exams were over, he didn’t want to miss the Spanish Championship and made his return in the best possible way: by winning the national gold medal once again.

Rafa Montero’s name was already familiar to fans of CD Estepona. On October 5, 2025, the Estepona champion was honored before the league match against Real Jaén, corresponding to the fifth matchday of the 2025/26 season. In the lead-up to the match, he received a CD Estepona jersey in recognition of his athletic achievements and was honored with the opportunity to take the ceremonial kickoff on the field at Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium, where he was warmly welcomed by the Estepona fans.

Rafa Montero’s career continues to be spectacular despite his youth. After being crowned U-19 world champion in 2024 and finishing third at the Junior World Championships last season, the Estepona native now faces a new challenge in the senior category. Following this latest national success, he will travel to Sicily for a training camp ahead of the Senior Kiteboarding World Championship, to be held in Brazil in early October, where he will seek to carve out a place among the world’s elite.

After winning the championship, Rafa Montero himself highlighted the effort that went into this achievement: “It’s been a very tough year, because balancing the Higher School of Aerospace Engineering with training requires a lot of organization and many sacrifices. Arriving in Tarifa right after my final exam and winning the national title for the third consecutive year means a lot to me.” He also wanted to thank his sponsors for their support: Eleveight, Prolimit, the Málaga Provincial Council, Grupo Hospiten, Asisa Estepona, and Club Deportivo Los Reales.

From CD Estepona Fans, we’d like to extend our most sincere congratulations to Rafa for continuing to carry the name of Estepona to the highest levels of national and international sports. It was a true source of pride to see him perform the ceremonial first serve at the Muñoz Pérez, and today it is even more of an honor to celebrate that an athlete from our city has once again been crowned Spanish champion. Congratulations, Rafa, and good luck at the World Championships in Brazil!