Orio AE achieved a clean sweep last year and aims to continue its reign this summer. In 2025, the team from Orio secured the Gipuzkoa, Euskadi, and Spain Championships, claimed the La Concha Regatta, and won the League with a new record of 16 victories in 20 races. This season, Iker Zabala's crew has already successfully defended their three federation titles prior to the League's start.
Alongside Orio, four other boats from Gipuzkoa will compete in the top category: Donostiarra, Hondarribia, Getaria, and San Juan.
The 2026 season introduces regulatory changes. The rules for this season will once again increase the minimum number of homegrown rowers required. This is a further measure to pressure clubs that have not previously invested in youth development categories. The new regulations are expected to benefit clubs with a strong core of local rowers, such as Orio, Hondarribia, Getaria, or San Juan, while potentially posing challenges for teams like Zierbena or Urdaibai.
Last year, lineups were required to include at least seven own-club rowers, with a minimum of four being homegrown. The number of own-club rowers could be reduced to six, provided at least five were homegrown. This summer, each boat must field at least five homegrown rowers if they have seven own-club rowers, and if they have only six own-club rowers, all of them must be homegrown.
Broadly speaking, a rower is classified as homegrown if they compete with the club where they started rowing, or if they have been in the club's youth categories for at least three seasons, consecutive or not, provided they have not previously spent three seasons in the youth categories of the club where they began rowing.
In addition to homegrown rowers, 'own-club' rowers are those who have belonged to a club for at least three consecutive seasons.
Orio retains the core squad that led them to championship success in 2025. Coach Iker Zabala will be without Asier Carballeda – now with Donostiarra – and Ibon Arruti. The club has bolstered its roster with several local rowers and reinforcements like the Galician Diego Pérez, who joins from Urdaibai.
Donostiarra, third place in 2025 and a race winner, has been the closest challenger to Orio during the preseason. The team led by Igor Makazaga finished just 33 seconds behind Orio in the Gipuzkoa Championship and aims to secure some regatta victories this season. The crew from the Gipuzkoan capital has experienced four departures but has strengthened its squad with several homegrown rowers and signings such as Galician Javier Sayans, arriving from Bermeo.
The top-tier race last season was completed by Zierbena and Bermeo Urdaibai. Zierbena, the League runners-up and winner of three League regattas, underperformed in the Euskadi and Spain Championships, despite the absence of specific quotas. Nevertheless, the boat coached by Dani Pérez, with Donostiarra's permission, aspires to be Orio's main rival. Zierbena has lost some experienced rowers and has been strengthened by several homegrown talents.
Urdaibai, with ten titles, is the most decorated club, holding a seven-title lead over Hondarribia and Kaiku, who each have three.
Urdaibai surpassed the previous record of fourteen titles in the past season, 2025.
Orio became the champion with the most points in a single campaign last year, breaking Udaibai's record of 227 points, achieved in 2024.
Gipuzkoa has the same number of competing boats this year as in 2025.
Urdaibai, fourth in 2025, has undergone significant changes in its lineup. For instance, the boat managed by Orio's own Jon Salsamendi will feature veteran Asier Zurinaga – formerly of Kaiku, Urdaibai, Castro, or Santurtzi – as its coxswain, replacing Iñigo Larrinaga. Additionally, experienced rowers such as Gentza Iraitz Zubiri, Carlos Mañas, and Yeray Cayón have departed the crew, among others.
Hondarribia and Getaria finished fifth and sixth in the League last season, tied on points. The Ama Guadalupekoa has lost experienced rowers like Galder Ezponda or Iñigo Jokin Sagarzazu during the preseason but has utilized its B team to cover absences and incorporated a couple of rowers from other ARC-1 clubs. Mikel Orbañanos's team aims to make progress with a more mature squad than last season.
Getaria, meanwhile, seeks to avoid relegation struggles this season. Coach Jon Larrañaga has brought back several familiar faces to reinforce the Esperantza.
San Juan finished eighth last year upon their return to the elite. Joseba Fernández's team aims to leverage their experience to climb the rankings. Erreka has seen six departures this winter and has reinforced its roster with several promising young homegrown rowers.
Lekittarra, on the other hand, faces a season marked by a change in coaching. Markel Akarregi will take over from Osertz Alday at the helm of the seventh-placed team from last league with a very similar squad.
Ondarroa, ninth last year, will continue to strive for permanence for another season, under the guidance of Iñaki Errasti from Usurbil. Ares, tenth in 2025, under José Manuel Peláez, will pursue a similar objective.
The newly promoted teams, Santurtzi and Chapela, who are embarking on their first experience in the Eusko Label League, will also be fighting for survival. The boats led by Alexander Esteban and Juan Zunzunegui will replace the relegated Kaiku and Cabo.
