D.L. MU 74-2025 - ISSN 3045-6703
Costa Cálida I No. 2131 I 7 - 13 May 2026 I FREE Newspaper
Aviation amazement Pedal for smiles THE Costa Calida was the hub of aviation in Spain over the weekend, as Santiago de la Ribera hosted the 2026 edition of the San Javier International Air Festival, taking to the skies and turning the Mar Menor skyline into a spectacular backdrop for aerobatics, incredible aircraft, and activities for the whole family to take part in. The aviation festival took place at the Barnuevo Esplanade, the Paseo Colón, and the Mar Menor skyline. The festival featured a variety of activities, workshops, and interesting talks for aviation hobbyists. One
Photo Credit: ÁLVARO RM / YouTube
Santiago de la Ribera takes to the skies
Air festival thrills crowds with aerobatics, aircraft and family fun.
of the major highlights of the event was the special Sunset Show, taking place just as the sun was setting over the sky and fea-
turing sunset acrobatics with coloured smoke and standout visual effects. Another major fixture was the Grand Air Show,
the most anticipated moment of the festival. This major aviation event featured more than 15 national and international participants and aircraft, including aircraft from England, Portugal, and Italy, the Italian WeFly Team Patrol, which puts pilots with disabilities into the spotlight, the Eurofighter aircraft, other military aircraft. In addition to the aviation spectacle, the weekend also featured free concerts, autograph sessions with the pilots, a family Play Zone complete with simulators, VR setups, and children’s activities.
Triathlon triumph
400-kilometre charity ride raises awareness and funds
A LOCAL charity association focusing on giving visibility to an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease has launched a 400-kilometre charity cycling challenge between Murcia and Granada. The aim of the challenge is to raise funds for the research into this disease, as well as inspire local cyclists to take to the road in a route that will take two days to complete. The Por La Sonrisa de Elenita (For Elenita’s Smile) association aims to raise awareness and funds for the IRF2BPL gene mutation, an ultra-rare disease that often leads to severe developmental regression, epilepsy, and movement disorders. This condition affects just 14 patients in the whole of Spain. The ‘Elenita’ in question is a young girl from Molina de Segura, born in 2017, who was diagnosed with this rare disease after having suffered a loss of motor skills since 2022. The challenge will bring together a group of volunteer cyclists who will ride nearly 400 kilometres through Murcia, Almeria, and Granada. Organisers have also launched a campaign encouraging citizens to ‘sponsor a kilometre’, which allows people to contribute from €10 per kilometre. The funds raised from this effort will go towards research.
ONCE more, the Playa de Rihuete in Puerto de Mazarron was the kickoff point for one of the season’s most awaited sporting events, the Fuente Álamo Triathlon. The event, now in its incredible 34th edition, saw nearly 800 athletes participate and countless visitors gather in the charming coastal town to support their loved ones taking on the challenge. The triathlon consisted of an intense swimming segment, followed by a challenging cycling course and finishing with a final footrace to determine the winners. The event began in the early afternoon and saw
Photo Credit: Spanish Federation of Triathlons
Fuente Álamo Triathlon returns with excellent turnout in Puerto de Mazarron
Nearly 800 athletes competed in the challenging Fuente Alamo Triathlon.
24
the athletes kick off the race at the beach with a fast and highly competitive pace. The race, maintaining its iconic route from previous years, finished on the Ronda de Poniente in Fuente Álamo. In the end, Noelia Juan Pastor and David Cantero were crowned the overall winners, though all the athletes who participated were thoroughly praised for taking on such a challenging and all-encompassing course. Nicknamed the ‘triathlon for triathletes’, this event is a major draw for athletes who come to take on the formidable challenge.
Photo Credit: Por La Sonrisa de Elenita / Facebook
Cyclists ride 400km to fund ultra-rare disease research.