- Title: BRAZIL: Storm surge attracts surfers to Rio's de Janeiro beaches
- Date: 10th April 2010
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (APRIL 09, 2010) (REUTERS) WAVES WITH SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND OCEANSIDE AVENUE CLOSED DUE TO WATER AND SAND VARIOUS OF SURFERS RIDING LARGE WAVES LIFEGUARD ARRANGING FLAG READING "DANGER, STRONG CURRENTS" (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LIFEGUARD, CORPORAL MARQUES, SAYING: "Today is a great day for surfers. We are watching them more closely than the population itself, even because the population knows about the dangerous conditions and won't take risks. But we are watching the surfers very closely." VARIOUS OF SURFERS RIDING LARGE WAVES (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SURFER, MARCO AURELIO SOUZA, SAYING: "I caught (some waves) but possibly I should have brought a larger surfboard to catch these waves because they are fat waves which break far away and have ocean-like characteristics. So I needed a larger board, with thicker sides and better floatation, good for surfing." VARIOUS OF WAVES CRASHING IN THE GUANABARA BAY AREA WAVE CRASHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GUANABARA BAY VARIOUS OF WAVES IN IPANEMA BEACH
- Embargoed: 25th April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVACDVI4WTI4GZBNUI1N8OVC2MOP
- Story Text: Surfers in Rio de Janeiro take advantage of the sea conditions caused by a storm which hit the tourist city this week, flooding streets and triggering mudslides.
Large waves, some as high as 16 feet, attracted dozens of surfers to Rio de Janeiro's scenic Copacabana beach on Friday (April 9) following this week's storms.
The storm surge was prompted by torrential rains which battered the tourist city since Monday, causing floods and landslides which killed 187 people in the state.
Lifeguards this week had to double their attention over surfers and body boarders who decided to take on the massive waves.
Lifeguard Corporal Marques said only surfers were facing the storm surge.
"Today is a great day for surfers. We are watching them more closely than the population itself, even because the population knows about the dangerous conditions and won't take risks. But we are watching the surfers very closely," he said.
Marco Aurelio Garcia, a 48-year-old surfer and architect, said he chose the wrong surfboard for the day's waves.
"I caught (some waves) but possibly I should have brought a larger surfboard to catch these waves because they are fat waves which break far away and have ocean-like characteristics. So I needed a larger board, with thicker sides and better floatation, good for surfing," he said.
Large waves were also seen around the city's Santos Dumont airport where the water almost reached the tarmac.
The storm was one of the heaviest to batter Rio in the last decades. The torrential rains uprooted thousands and claimed several lives, especially in poor hillside neighborhoods. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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