Griffin Colapinto Says ‘You Can Either Die’ or Have ‘The Best Ride of Your Life’ on an Olympic Surfing Site (Exclusive)

Griffin Colapinto is going for more than just gold.

The professional surfer spoke to PEOPLE ahead of his Olympic debut about the special waves at Teahupoʻo, the infamous Tahiti surf spot that will serve as the surfing venue for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

For those unfamiliar with this spot in French Polynesia off the southwest coast of Tahiti, Colapinto, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world on the WSL Tour, describes it as “one of the most dangerous and rewarding waves in the world.”

Simply put, he tells PEOPLE, “You can die out there or you can have the best ride of your life.”

But for the 25-year-old Californian, who is originally from San Clemente and started surfing competitively at age 13, he says he feels “definitely confident” despite the dangers of the wave. “I’ve been going there since I was super young and I feel like I’m not really scared of those waves,” he explains.

Colapinto even reveals that it’s “definitely one of his favorite spots” because it “suits him really well.” Having “been practicing a lot” leading up to the Games, it’s clear the surfer is gunning for gold — and, of course, the best ride of his life.

World surfing champion Caroline Marks, who will also represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympics, recently told PEOPLE that the Teahupoʻo break is “one of the most intense and terrifying waves in the world,” in part because of the ever-changing size of the waves.

Luckily, Colapinto has a strategy for combating the unpredictability of the big, churning waves that can be as small as two feet one day and as big as 12 feet the next. “I think it’s just being super connected to the ocean and letting Teahupo’o make the decisions,” he tells PEOPLE of what it takes to strike gold.

“That’s one thing for surfers, especially with waves that are popping, is the more connected you are to the ocean, the more things get in your way,” he explains. “And to have an open mind and just be completely comfortable with every possible outcome.”

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This year, helmets have come into the conversation because of the sketchy underwater mechanics at Teahupo’o. The wave forms in deep water and crashes over a very shallow reef, making a wipeout even more dramatic if you crash into it.

While Colapinto says he’s “not sure” he’ll wear one at the Olympics, he says he “definitely thinks people will wear helmets” during competition this year. “If you hit your head on the bottom, (the helmet) will definitely save you and you’d be very happy you wore it.”

With his laid-back, easy-going California mindset, Colapinto also emphasized the importance of “having an open mind” and understanding that “you can either lose the event or win it.” He says, “I think whoever plays to that will probably win the game.”

Surfing is returning to the Olympics after making its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In addition to Colapinto and Caroline Marks, Team USA’s surfing team includes Carissa Moore, Caitlin Simmers and John John Florence.

Carissa Moore made history at the 2020 Summer Games as the first female surfer to win gold in the sport. Both Marks and Florence are making their second Olympic appearances, while Simmers is making her debut.

Both Florence and Simmers are currently ranked No. 1 in the world on the WSL Tour in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively. Marks and Colapinto are currently ranked No. 2 in the world in their respective divisions.

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