Surfing Takes Brazilian Kids Out of Rio Slum

Marcio Pereira da Silva, right, founder of the Rocinha Surf Association, ASR, is helped by young surfers as they store boards at their headquarters at Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, July 2, 2015. ASR has given free lessons to over 2,000

Boards stand lined up at the Rocinha Surf Association, ASR, headquarters at Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, July 2, 2015. ASR has given free lessons to over 2,000 children from Rio’s shantytowns in the hopes of keeping the boys, who are

In this June 10, 2015 photo, Magno Neves walks in an alley in the Cantagalo slum on his way to the nearby Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “My dream until today is to be a pro surfer,” said Neves, who works as a dog-walker to make ends meet. (AP

In this May 21, 2015 photo, Christian da Conceicao, 11, shows a signed polaroid photo of him and friends with U.S. surfer John John Florence at Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Everyday barefoot boys hustle down the inclined alleyways of the R

In this June 10, 2015 photo, Magno Neves surfs at Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Neves, a 23-year-old from the Cantagalo slum, surfs nearly every day at the nearby Arpoador beach. He discovered the sport at age 8 after a surf teacher spotted hi

A young bodyboarder from Rocinha watches the waves before surfing at Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Everyday barefoot boys hustle down the inclined alleyways of the Rio de Janeiro slums they call home, surf boards un

In this June 10, 2015 photo, Magno Neves dives with his board at Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Neves, a 23-year-old from the Cantagalo slum, surfs nearly every day at the nearby Arpoador beach. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)