The best surfer in history, Kelly Slater, has strongly questioned the measures that some countries are taking to get surfers out of the water and respect the different rules and quarantines imposed.

“I’ve seen videos this week of people being arrested for surfing alone, with no one around. They get grabbed and pulled out of the water or off the beach. A lot of these videos show people walking side by side on the beach or in the surrounding area, dry. Especially in Bondi (Australia). Such ridiculousness and tremendous irony. Shopping malls have been open in some countries where surfing is totally banned,” says Slater in an Instagram post unrelated to the situation generated by Covid-19, as reported by Stab.

He added: “If someone, instead of attacking, gives me a rational explanation for why people can’t surf if they keep their distance, I’m open to listening, as long as there’s a good argument.”

The post came on the same day that 2015 ISA World Champion Noe Mar McGonagle was pulled out of the water by police in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, and after several videos and photos emerged of surfers being escorted by police in that country.

In one particular post, a police officer can be seen shooting at a surfer who is running away from him.

Argentina, Peru, Spain, Ecuador and Chile were other countries where the perfect waves were empty of people. Surfing is not prohibited, but leaving the house without a relevant justification is (of course surfing is not prohibited).

In Peru, several videos of arrests have been released, and in Ecuador, one has been released in which professionals Álvaro Malpartida and Bibi Rodríguez apologize for having surfed.

A prominent figure who spoke out against this She was the world champion in 2004, Sofia Mulanovich: “I wanted to tell all those people who love to go surfing like me that we are in quarantine, that they can't be in the water. I understand that maybe the sea can be in front of their houses and they don't have to walk far to get there but also think about everyone, if people see people surfing then those who like jogging will go jogging, those who like to do other activities also go out and in the end nobody respects the quarantine.”

 

 

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Costa Rica isn't screwin around! Terrible though! @simonrex415 getting shot at on set for the new @snapt4 📹@logandulien 👀

A publication shared by the Kook of the Day (@kookoftheday) the 28 2020 7 has 34: XNUMX PDT

*In the original version of this article, based on what Stab reported, it was said that McGonagle had to pay a fine and was forced to make a video apologizing. The surfer himself pointed out that the information is not reliable. We apologize to Noe Mar, those involved and our readers.