Carlotta's Wake

Carlotta's Wake


Carlotta's Wake | SURFER Magazine
After a devastating hurricane, Puerto Escondido lifeguards begin to rebuild. ... Agua Pesada. Heavy tubes and shallow sandbars in Puerto Escondido....more ...
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“Here is local surfer Oscar Moncada getting the best wave of the day a couple of weeks before the hurricane hit Playa Zicatela and ravaged the entire area,” says Morales. Photo: Morales

“Here the local Lifeguards are assessing the damage done by the storm,” says Morales. “They were debating over what was still usable to rebuild from the wreckage.” Photo: Morales

“Jose Ramirez was one of the first lifeguards in Puerto,” says Glaser. “Jose, along with the rest of the area’s lifeguards, has been responsible for hundreds if not thousands of lives saved in the heaving beachbreaks.” Photo: Glaser

“From 2-foot to 20-foot, Puerto Escondido is as good as it gets as far as beachbreaks go,” says Glaser. “The unique combination of underwater canyons, exposure to large storm systems, and frequent strong offshores in the early morning have earned this stretch the apt title of ‘The Mexican Pipeline’.” Photo: Glaser

“This is how the main tower used to look like before Carlotta,” says Morales. “Nowadays this tower is just a pile of smashed wood in the sand.” Photo: Morales

“The water was so dirty the day after the storm,” says Morales. “The churned water in the left-hander makes it look more like a river mouth than a beachbreak. On the right you see one of the recently destroyed guard towers.” Photo: Morales

“Lifeguards have been a huge support to all surfers and swimmers visiting from all over the world,” says Morales. “David Langer broke his ankle in 2011 and he was helped right away by the boys at the beach.” Photo: Morales

“Before the storm hit, you could see nearly all of the guard towers on the beach from this angle,” says Morales. “Now there’s not a single one standing and people were working in shifts to clean up the beach.” Photo: Morales

As a combination of national pride and offshore wind indicator, the local lifeguards fly the Mexican flag from the tower. Photo: Morales

“Trees were blown over and sent out to the ocean during the high winds and heavy downpour,” says Morales. “It wasn’t long before the swell pushed everything right back to shore.” Photo: Morales