Surfers pitch in to help Chile

CURANIPE, Chile – When the earthquake hit last weekend, this surfing hamlet was hosting a competition from its signature point: the rock of San Pedro, splashed with a colorful mural of a surfer and party-goers on the beach.

A week later, young volunteers from Chile and environmentalists from the United States arrived in Curanipe unified in their passion for surfing and a yearning to help this ravaged stretch of coast.

“We’re surfers, but we left our boards and our wetsuits behind: We’ve come here to help,” said Joshua Berry, environmental director of the Save the Waves Coalition, a California-based nonprofit that seeks to protect surf spots across the globe.

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami waves caused vast destruction and loss of life along more than 400 miles of Chilean coast, including Curanipe, where houses were left in splinters, roads buckled and cars were tossed into the water.

Surfers worldwide have forwarded donations after receiving solicitations for aid from concerned groups via Twitter and Facebook, among other forums.

Berry and a colleague arrived Saturday with plans for an international relief effort including the distribution of water, water filters, food and medical services. The group has already raised $50,000, Berry said, much of it through the Internet.

Meanwhile, busloads of young volunteers have been arriving here from Santiago, the Chilean capital, about 300 miles to the north. Many were introduced to the region during summer vacations and surf outings.

“We’ve enjoyed this area, and we have a responsibility to assist it as much as we can,” Rodrigo de la O, an area environmentalist, surfer and former fisherman, told one group of several volunteers. “Just show a lot of heart to the people.”

Chile has emerged in recent years as a world-class surfing destination, winning deep allegiance from enthusiasts.

For surfers ever in the quest for new and exotic locales, Chile has a lot to offer: a picturesque, pine-shrouded coast, huge swells from the southern Pacific and consistent “point breaks,” waves that break evenly and smoothly off the many rocky points, allowing for lengthy and exhilarating rides.

Small towns such as Curanipe, Tregualemu and Buchupureo have emerged as trendy surfing hubs, joining the Chilean surfing capital, Pichilemu, to the north. Surf shops, campsites, restaurants and other facilities have sprung up, providing a boost for the economy traditionally reliant on farming, ranching and fishing.

A quick tour Saturday indicated that quake damage in the area was uneven, but downed buildings, damaged bridges and cut roads were in evidence everywhere. Especially hard hit was Pelluhue, about five miles to the north, where a scuba team searched for bodies in an estuary.