New Age | Surfers Deal With Towering Teahupo’o

Two-metre-high waves provided an ideal start to the Olympic surfing competition 16,000 kilometres away from the 2024 Paris Olympics in Tahiti, home to the towering Teahupo’o.

When the French island in the Pacific Ocean was first chosen, controversy arose over the construction of an aluminum jury tower on the paradise location.

But after local environmentalists’ fears that the coral reef would be damaged were allayed, the surfing kings donned their wetsuits on Saturday with a mixture of fear and excitement.

And not without reason, as they come face to face with the majestic waves of the Southern Ocean, which, when they crash onto the reef, form the fearsome Teahupo’o.

Loosely translated as “cut off the head” or “place of skulls”, the wall of water is on the map of the top 10 deadliest waves in the world.

“You really have to face your fears, you can’t hide from them,” says Molly Picklum from Australia.

“Teahupo’o is a wave that has made me grow in every way, mentally, physically, emotionally, in daily life and in surfing,” Vahine Fierro, born on a neighbouring French Polynesian island, told AFP.

“I was so excited I woke up this morning with butterflies in my stomach,” Fierro said after winning her heat on Saturday, cementing her position as a top medal contender.

“It’s really special to be able to surf my first Olympics at home,” said the wave chaser who beat Picklum to win the Tahiti Pro Olympic warm-up in May.

The women’s tournament features a wide range of players, including world number one Caitlin Summers and her American teammate Carissa Moore, the reigning Olympic champion, who are also in the running for gold.

This duo, featuring Caroline Marks, dominated their heats.

The men’s category is led by two-time world champion John John Florence. The title is vacant due to the absence of Italian Italo Ferreira, champion of Tokyo.

The Americans look a force to be reckoned with after the opening heats, with Florence and Griffin Colapinto posting the best scores in the men’s event.

Florence, however, took it all in her stride.

“When I get in the water, everything calms down and I start surfing,” said the 31-year-old Honolulu native.

French captain Joan Duru showed her intentions as she easily defeated Australian title contender Jack Robinson.

It was a mixed first day for surfing-mad Brazil at only the sport’s second Olympic appearance, following its debut at the COVID-postponed 2020 Games.

Brazil’s three-time men’s world champion Gabriel Medina, who Teahupo’o described as “my favorite wave in the world”, won his series along with Joao Chianca.

But teammates Filipe Toledo and Tatiana Weston-Webb had to go through a ‘surf-off’ phase.

With waves expected to increase, Chianca said, “We are very excited about the forecast and hope that the best conditions remain and we can start pumping Teahupo’o.”

For some locals, the whole Olympic experience was disappointing. Daily life was made difficult by the heavy police presence, strict access restrictions and the influx of Games officials.

“It is true that it is an impressive event, but we are tired of having to show our pass four times to cover just 500 metres. My greatest wish is for everyone to leave again,” pensioner Romain Taupua told AFP.

Heimiri Afo, a 30-year-old firefighter, said the Olympics had left a clear impression.

“This is really an opportunity to welcome all these countries. But we were never informed about all the restrictions and we don’t recognize our beach anymore, there are barriers everywhere.”

The two finals are scheduled for Wednesday, but could be postponed for a day or two if the predicted bad weather also reaches the surfing paradise.