Tourists chastised, fined after surfing in Venice canal
A pair of surfers were pilloried by local officials and fined after they were filmed zipping through a canal in Venice.
The surfers were spotted Wednesday on the Grand Canal, the city’s main thoroughfare. At different moments they dodged a water-bus and a taxi. One of the surfers fell off their electric surfboard under the Accademia Bridge.
A pair of surfers were pilloried by local officials and fined after they were filmed zipping through a canal in Venice.
Water sports such as surfing and canoeing are strictly prohibited on the canal.
Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of the Italian city, described the two as “overbearing idiots” making a mockery of the city and offered to buy dinner for anyone who helped identify them.
Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate… servono urgentemente più poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica!
A chi li individua offro una cena! pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) August 17, 2022
It’s unknown how the surfers were identified, but local paper Il Gazzettino reported the boards were confiscated and both were fined €1,500 for endangering navigation on the canal. The city is also expected to begin criminal proceedings.
They were also kicked out of the city and their consulates were informed of their activities.
