The Rip Curl Pro Argentina, an event on the world surfing circuit taking place in Playa Grande, Mar del Plata, was invaded this morning, Friday, in an unprecedented way by a union protest carried out by the Union of Lifeguards of Argentina (UGA).

At around 11:15 in the morning, when the 7th round of the 3rd series of the tournament was being played, with the Brazilians Mateus Herdy, Vitor Mendes, Renan Pulga and Nahuel Rull, between 50 and 100 lifeguards walked towards the tip of the Biología jetty with some banners, flags and lifebuoys and then jumped into the water.

For about 20 minutes the protesters stood right behind the surfers, in front of all the cameras (see video), waving their rings, banners and flags. The situation was a bit confusing for the surfers, who continued surfing anyway.

Brazilian Herdy even surfed the best heat of the tournament during the protest, scoring a 9,5 and a 7, to achieve the best score so far in the event.

The union encouraged its followers on Facebook to follow the tournament live through a notice.

According to what the president of the Argentine Surfing Association (ASA), Freddy Tortora, told DUKE, it was the first time in history that a protest of this type took place in a surfing tournament in Argentina.

*After this article was published, the Union of Lifeguards of Argentina (UGA) informed us that the deployment carried out was coordinated and agreed upon with the tournament organizers.