Compared to its Olympic counterparts in the Paris 2024 Games, surfing is unlike any other sport. Swimming, track and field, basketball – hell, even skateboarding – all these sports have one main thing in common: the same playing field, the same opportunity, for all the athletes. Surfing, because it’s at the mercy of mother nature, is unpredictable.
Perhaps that’s why it took over 100 years since Duke Kahanamoku first pushed for surfing’s inclusion in the Olympics for it to actually happen? Also, perhaps that’s what makes surfing much more exciting than other sports. Of course, though, we’re biased.
Related: Olympic Surfing 101: Everything to Know Before Paris 2024
Surfing’s debut appearance in the Olympics went down in 2021, during the Tokyo 2020 Games. The waves at Japan’s Shidashita Beach were not, well, good. As for an intro of the sport to many new eyes via the Olympics’ reach, it wasn’t a particularly flattering representation of the sport. But this time ‘round, things are different.
Teahupo’o, Tahiti will be the venue for surfing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, breaking a record for being the farthest medal-crowning location away from the host city in history. And good thing, too, because Teahupo’o is one of the most exciting, terrifying, and dangerous waves in the world. But like any surf spot in the world, and unlike other sports, it’s conditions dependent.
Related: Gallery: Unridden Gems During Pre-Olympics Swell at Teahupo’o
(Cue the prayer call, echoing across the surf world, for swell.)
And so, NBC, the home of the Olympics, did a pretty damn good job in profiling Teahupo’o to the masses in the video above. They convey how Teahupo’o works, what makes it special, what makes it so deadly, and why this should be a sport to watch.
Let’s let Michel Bourez, longtime CT surfer and Tahitian surf legend, explain:
“Teahupo’o is one of the best waves, and the scariest waves, you could ever surf. The people need to know that wave is really dangerous. It’s really shallow. You can die out there. Teahupo’o can give you everything and take everything at the same time.”
Related: Olympic Surfing Countdown: Daily Dispatches from Teahupo’o
Chilling. Stakes are high. Cross your fingers for swell.
Stay tuned for continued Olympic coverage in the leadup, and during the event (July 27th-August 5th), as the SURFER team will be on the ground reporting live.
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