After hosting surfing during the Paris 2024 Olympics, the presence of Teahupo’o, Tahiti became a worldwide phenomenon. Folks who had likely never seen any surfing in their entire lives were tuning in from their homes in Nebraska, or Naples, or New Delhi, and beyond. And what they saw was a cast of international surfers, taking on some of the heaviest waves in competition ever…period.
It was historic for the sport of surfing, to say the least.
And now, not even a year since the medals were crowned at Paris 2024, the roaring reef off the tiny Tahitian town is potentially making history once again. Or, rather, one of its best surfers is. During a recent swell, which garnered the rare “epic” rating from Surfline, local boy Eimeo Czermak rode what many are calling the best wave ever paddled into at Chopes. Hit play below; 4:13 mark.
As mentioned in the caption from Surfline, per Chief Forecaster Kevin Wallis, this swell was “the result of a strong but not crazy, eye-popping storm. But what it lacked in strength, it made up for in track and location. It moved almost directly at Tahiti over the last few days and the peak seas only occurred only 1000-1500 miles away. Close enough to create pumping surf, but not bad wind and weather.”
Related: Olympic Surfing: Top 5 Moments from Paris 2024
Tikanui Smith, longtime Teahupo’o local, who witnessed Eimeo’s wave from the channel, called it: “maybe one of the best paddle waves at Teahupoo.” Hard to quantify such a thing, but it’s definitely up there. In terms of sheer perfection, it doesn’t get much better than that. There’s been other, heavier waves ridden at Chopes, particularly when it comes to tow surfing. Namely, there was Nathan Fletcher’s monstrous Code Red mutant. Then, of course, there was Laird Hamilton’s “Millennium Wave,” featured on the cover of an issue from this very publication back in 2000.
Tim McKenna / SURFER
Think we’ll be talking about this wave from Eimeo 25 years from now? Probably not – he (or someone else) will probably catch an even crazier one. Maybe even this season. Stay tuned.