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In the rainforest’s shadow, Brazilian surf capital blossoms

A man surfs at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Maresias and the surf towns dotting the coastline are inside the Serra do Mar park, which Sao Paulo state says is Brazil’s largest continuous protected area of Atlantic Forest. It acts as a barrier to the urban sprawl of the Sao Paulo metropolitan area. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A vendor watches surfers at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. The areas consistent waves went virtually unridden until construction in the 1970s of a coastal highway, which surfing trailblazers followed to explore and settle along this coast. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Eduardo Tanimoto carries a surf board on his head as he walks to Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Tanimoto, 52, is a native of Sao Paulo's countryside, and he started coming to Sao Sebastiao to surf when the sport revolved around lifestyle rather than competition. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Eduardo Tanimoto teaches his five-year-old granddaughter Eloa how to surf at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. His daughter, Rayana, caught the surfing bug from him. Together, they opened a small hotel on Maresias beach so she could raise her 5-year-old twin daughters, make a living and get in the water as often as possible.  (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Eduardo Tanimoto, left, walks to the beach for a surf practice with daughter Rayana Tanimoto and five-year-old twin granddaughters Eloa, center, and Ayla, at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Tanimoto, 52, is a native of Sao Paulo's countryside, and he started coming to Sao Sebastiao to surf when the sport revolved around lifestyle rather than competition. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Rayana Tanimoto chooses a surf board to practice with her twin daughters Ayala, left, and Eloa, at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Earlier that same day, Tanimoto and her twins were catching waves, with each taking turns standing on the same board as their mom. Someday soon, her girls hope to enter competitions. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Ravi Hadad, 11, rides a wave during a local surf tournament at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Maresias and the surf towns dotting the coastline are inside the Serra do Mar park, which Sao Paulo state says is Brazil’s largest continuous protected area of Atlantic Forest. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A man surfs in Maresias beach, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. The area's waves went virtually unridden until construction in the 1970s of a coastal highway, which surfing trailblazers followed to explore. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Ravi Hadad, 11, wears sunscreen on her face during a local surf tournament in Maresias beach, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Maresias is ground zero for surfing in a nation that has catapulted itself onto the world stage in recent years. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Surfers enjoy the waves during a local tournament at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Many of Brazil’s professional surfers, collectively known as the Brazilian Storm, originate from this stretch of shoreline. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Luana Reis, 14, is carried atop the shoulders of friends after winning the under-18 category of a local surf tournament in Maresias beach, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Next year Reis aims to contend for the Brazilian women’s title. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Luana Reis, 14, rides a wave during a local surf tournament in Maresias beach, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Reis won won the under-18 women’s title in the tournament. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) View of Maresias beach in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Maresias beach is the hometown of three-time surf world champion Gabriel Medina, and one of the favorite beaches for surfers in Brazil due its great and varied waves all year round. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Rayana Tanimoto teaches her five-year-old twin daughters Eloa, left, and Ayla, how to surf, at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Tanimoto, caught the surfing bug from her father. Together, they opened a small hotel on Maresias beach so she could raise her daughters, make a living and get in the water as often as possible. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
In the rainforest’s shadow, Brazilian surf capital blossoms