Paris 2024 Olympics: Teahupo'o surfing magic - There's something ...

It’s easy to imagine what an Olympic surfing competition in the picture-perfect Tahiti would be like. But to be here and feel the true magnitude of what is about to happen at Paris 2024 is another story.

Since our team of three arrived on the island on 22 August, we’ve been blown away by its beauty, and the feeling of anticipation that engulfs you. Something big is about to happen.

This location couldn’t be more fitting for the greatest show on earth.

With traditional Tahitian dancers greeting new arrivals off the plane, the local spirit touches you instantly. The island, 16,000km from the Olympic host city, is embracing the Games in its entirety.

Here’s our take on the build-up to surfing’s second Olympic appearance, at Paris 2024.

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To say the local Tahitian people are hospitable would be an understatement. Travelling to the venue each morning, every person you pass on the road, from young children to police officers and bus drivers, call out “Ia ora na!” [“hello” in Tahitian] with a big smile.

Kindness runs in the Tahitians’ veins and excitement is clearly building around the Olympic Games here.

“We can’t wait to come and watch the competition. My family are all going to come down and watch,” a local salesman named Ranginui, who gave me a ride after I missed the bus, said.

No one appreciates this excitement more than local Tahitian surfer, Vahine Fierro.

“The support for the French team feels pretty insane. All the support for this event is for Tahitian athletes being in the biggest sports event ever,” she tells Olympics.com.

After winning the Tahiti Pro in pumping surf at her home break of Teahupo’o in May, the 24-year-old is considered Tahiti’s top gold medal hope. She embodies both the Olympic and Tahitian spirit.

“I try to give back. I try to always be kind to whoever comes up to me and even just starting with me. If I'm kind with myself, if I'm happy with myself, I can do that with others.

“I think that comes also from the generation before me that taught me that. I'm trying to just teach that to the younger generation after me. It's a positive reinforcing cycle. It's our ancestors to us, the new generation and then the next generation. And if we can give the best knowledge and the best positive vibes, the energy, the good attitudes, then that’s something good to give to the next generation. That’s kind of my goal,” says Feirro.

Good energy in Tahiti for Paris 2024

The surfing lifestyle and Tahiti go hand in hand. Both are famously relaxed and laid back.

Despite the medal competitions to come, all of the athletes we’ve encountered seem calm, relaxed and content. There’s no doubt the environment is at play here.

Brazilian star Gabriel Media sums it up perfectly:

“It’s always amazing to be here. It’s such a special, peaceful place which holds you and humbles you,” he says.

The two-time world champion is one of the most successful surfers at Teahupo’o, having surfed an incredible six finals over his career here.

Surprisingly, another athlete feeling tranquil is Tyler Wright. The Australian has had her fair share of health challenges in recent years and most recently recovered from a life-changing procedure that required seven screws to be put in her head to widen her upper jaw and increase airflow so that she could breathe more easily.

But even she was feeling tranquil.

“I am feeling as calm as one could be here. It's a wave that I take with a lot of care so I’m just trying to sustain my own energy. And I know there's a lot of things going on externally, but I think it's one of those rare moments in my career,” the two-time world champion says.

Teahupo’o the juxtaposition

Teahupo’o is a fusion of brutal and beautiful.

Riding out on a boat towards the surf break, approximately 500 metres offshore from the main village, sharp pointed mountains tower over the land and sea.

At the foot of the lush green backdrop, small white temporary tents are peppered along the beach front for the Olympic Games. The flags of the 48 surfers competing from 21 nations flutter in unison. Once out in the channel, the sound of the rolling wave takes over.

Athletes are able to train twice a day at designated times in the build-up to the competition. When we headed out, the Brazilian team hit the water. In a scene that could have been scripted in Hollywood, a rainbow appeared on the horizon of a vibrant blue ocean. Yet another reminder that we are in a magical place.

The team’s star is two-time world champion Filipe Toledo, who is hungry to make his mark on the Olympic Games.

“It’s every athlete's dream to do the Olympics and be part of it and get a medal. Now I have a chance to do that. It’s about giving my all I have and not leaving Tahiti with any regrets. That’s all that matters. Give it all I’ve got.

“Tahiti it’s a very special place. Everyone who comes here to Tahiti has the same feeling. I’ve been here many times and it’s always about respect. Respect the place, the people, the wave,” he explains.

Tyler Wright believes the location commands such respect.

“I think if we just look around at it all, it speaks for itself all of the time. How the water and ocean moves - this is a lot different from other places. How deep it is coming onto the reef and then the reef itself. I feel like it demands your attention and your full attention. And I feel it’s your respect too, because I feel like it's a wave where you don't really want to kind of mess around*.*

“Look at the mountains, the river, the ocean, the reef. How the wind moves and works together. It's pretty beautiful.”

Paris 2024 surfing competition

The Olympic surfing event is unlike any other competition they have experienced previously, with national team uniforms, branding regulations, increased security, and notably most athletes are staying on a boat - known as the floating athlete village.

Each day they are taken across to the break or brought onto the shore by boats, wearing uniforms adorned with their nation’s name and the five Olympic rings.

The weekend forecast suggests overhead surf and good offshore winds on Saturday 28 July, and conditions may remain favourable on the Sunday too.

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