Save Pavones!
As every surfer knows, waves are a precious resource. Move a rock here, some sand there, and a rifling barreling section fizzles. Build seawalls, dig marinas, frame massive resorts right on the beach and, well, the entire lineup is relegated to memory. It is bad enough when fun local spots are made extinct. Something quite other, though, when a legendary world-class break comes under direct attack.
But let us not tarry. Let us hurry, quick, to Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast and the second greatest left on earth, Pavones. According to locals on the ground, power has been cut to the quaint town and small business are currently being razed to make way for an allegedly illegal resort and marina plus widened road. At issue is the land fronting the wave, which was purchased some years back, officials bribed then etc. but no longer around. Then days ago, and without warning, the bulldozers rolled in, crumbling buildings, mowing a path of destruction, threatening the very existence of the wave itself.
Locals are attempting to bring light to the situation, capturing and posting to social media, trying to bend the government’s ear. The call is not, necessarily, to stop construction forever but rather get a proper environmental assessment that will account for the health of the unique biosystem and the ultra-unique wave out front.
Learn how to help here.
More as the story develops.