The beaches of Rio de Janeiro are part of the Carioca lifestyle and are the setting for many day-to-day activities. Among them, the practice of sports. It is not just about being healthy, well-being and care for the body. Yes, we Cariocas are always very attentive to this too. But it’s especially fun. Practicing sports makes life more enjoyable and, if the practice can happen on the beach, even better!
This article, therefore, brings a short list of the most popular sports in the sea and sands of Rio. Choose yours and practice it year-round in this city where Summer and good weather reign most of your days.
–> If you still do not know the best beaches in Rio, access this link here.
1. Surfing
Surfing began to be practiced between the decades of 1940 and 1950, by Cariocas that glided on the waves of the beach of Arpoador with boards of wood made by themselves. In the ’60s, a carpenter from Ipanema started making boards and marketed them, thus spreading the sport that was known at the time as the “summer sensation.”
As the sport got more popular, the surfers were discovering other peaks in Rio de Janeiro, like the neighbors Devil’s Beach and Ipanema Beach. Plus, as its fans became more experienced, the sport soon also took over the beaches of the West Zone: Barra da Tijuca, Prainha and Grumari.
It is a fact that Rio surfers are the first to take over the sands of the city daily and although Brazil does not have any Carioca representative in the WCT – the World Surfing Men’s Circuit, the city has already hosted 11 stages of the competition, attracting surfers from all over the world to the city.
If you are a surfer, this article here explains the characteristics of each beach in Rio for surfing.
Moreover, because it is so popular, the sport has even got a special bus to take its practitioners to the main beaches of Rio, including Prainha, which is one of the surfers` favorites. All information about the Surf Bus you can find on the official website of the transport, including price, route schedule and operating hours.
2. Frescobol
Frescobol, known as Matkot in English and Hebrew and Racchettoni in Italian, is a typically Carioca sport that has its origin in the sands of Copacabana Beach. This is because it can be said that it was created in the ’50s, when the architect Caio Rubens Romero Lyra, who used to play beach tennis with his friends on the beach, decided to replace his tennis rackets that were being destroyed by the salt air, by wooden ones.
However, despite having its origin in the beach tennis and using wooden rackets like table tennis, the frescobol has nothing to do with these two sports. At its core, is the fact of being a collaborative sport. By definition, there are no winners or losers. What counts is the commitment of each player in not letting the ball fall.
Currently, the point of the frescobol in the south zone of Rio is in Devil`s beach, near Pedra do Arpoador. Two or three players get around to play near the sea, where the sand is firmer. The enjoyment is in playing and freshening up at the same time.
3. Altinha
Altinha (or Altinho) is another sport that has its origin in the sands of Rio. The game was created in the 1960s in Praia de Ipanema. Like Frescobol, it is played on the waterfront, right next to the water, and collaboratively – there are no winners, everyone should help each other.
Players stand in a circle and throw the (soccer) ball at each other with their feet or head without letting it fall to the ground. So it is worth taking advantage of shoulders, head, knees, and feet, on overhead kicks and volleys. The idea is always to keep the ball high – ‘alto,’ in Portuguese (hence the name of the sport).
In other words, Altinha is like a “warm-up” or a “training” for Foot volley that is a much more complex sport. And it brings together three Carioca passions: the beach, soccer, and beauty. But, more than that, it’s playing with the ball with class, creativity, and that ability with the ball that only Brazilians have.
When you walk along Rio de Janeiro boardwalk, you will see several Altinha circles. It’s a great way to have fun, socialize with friends, make new friends (why not?), and still burn a lot of calories. However, the practice of Altinha is prohibited at the water’s edge between 8 am – 5 pm. Within that timetable, it is only allowed on the strip of sand near the boardwalk.
4. Beach Volleyball
A globally known sport, beach volleyball takes over the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca are the favorite points for the practice of the sport, with schools geared towards practicing the sport for all genders and ages.
Copacabana, by the way, is known as the mecca of professional beach volleyball, hosting several times the world circuit of the sport and in August 2016, was the stage of the beach volleyball matches in the Rio Olympic Games.
Although the official games include teams of two people, it is common to find courts with teams of three to four players. After all, the heart of the Cariocas has always space for one more! Do you want to play? Just ask! We always find a way.
Know that there are many experienced players, but here also what is worth is the fun! Practicing is a routine taken seriously, but also one of those very pleasurable. Maybe that’s why Brazil has been standing out in this sport over the last few decades.
5. Foot-Volleyball (Futevôlei)
The foot-volleyball was also created on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro by a group of friends during the ’60s. Accustomed to playing altinha by the sea, one day they were prohibited by the police for disrespecting a law of the time. The group then decided to continue the game near the promenade of the famous Copacabana Beach, where the Beach Volleyball fields were located. Then, It was born the union of football and volleyball, two sports that every Brazilian love.
As in the beach volleyball game, the sport can be played in doubles, trios, or quartets. Each team can give up to 3 touches to the ball, and a player can not play twice in a row just like in beach volleyball. The ball needs to pass to the other side of the net with the help of any part of the body except the arms, forearms, and hands as in football.
The result is a very acrobatic game. For those who have no practice, it can be challenging. Anyone who wants to venture, however, can start training with Altinha. Anyone who does not feel able to try can sit at a kiosk, order coconut water and watch the Cariocas playing it! It is a stunning and fun game with many talented players and watching them is a show aside!
These were the 5 sports chosen by us as being the most popular on the sands of Rio.
Maybe you’re wondering why, after all, we did not include soccer, the national passion, on this list. The answer is simple: soccer is far from being specific to the sands of Rio. The famous “pelada” is present on the beaches, but also in fields and parks scattered throughout the city, in residences and in restrained streets; that is, in any piece of land that the ball can roll. For this reason, it will win a dedicated post.
What about you? Do you have a favorite beach sport? Did you miss any sports on this list? Leave your opinion in our comments section below and remember that if you need help to plan your trip to Rio de Janeiro, you can count on us! Check our Travel Planning Services.
