Remember this day. July 29th, 2024. This day will be talked about for years to come. Following two days of decent Teahupo’o for surfing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Day Three provided with proper, nearly maxing-out, certifiably scary swell unloading on the reef. Your grandkids will wonder: “Where were you when Chopes went absolutely bonkers?”
There was a lot of uncertainty when the day began. Whereas the days prior, when the event was 100-percent confirmed to run, there was no firm word on whether the contest was on or off. But then, as the sun trickled its way through the prehistoric-looking Teahupo’o mountain range, and the first glimpses at the waves were locked in, it was clear. It was on. It was pumping. It was about as good as Teahupo’o gets, for that size, and it was going to be an historic day.
Well, half day. With an incoming storm, only the men’s Round Three was completed before an all-out monsoon whipped through the lineup, and the competition was called off for the day. But damn, was it a memorable couple hours of competitive surfing. Once again, remember this.
To help sear this historic day in the recesses of the brain, here’s a full gallery of the action.
[All photos and captions courtesy of Ryan “Chachi” Craig]
Related: Surfing Is the Most Dangerous Olympic Sport; Day Three Proved It
