Surfers Guillotined in Paris (2024 Olympics)

Sitting at our homestay with Teahupo’o charger Lorenzo Avvenenti, trudging through our coverage of Day One well past our bedtimes, photographer Ryan “Chachi” Craig and I sensed the storm brewing. There were strong winds, squalls of rain, and a looming sense of danger. Sure enough, Lorenzo’s jet ski unmoored from the dock, and started floating away. Chachi rushed into action, threw on a pair of trunks, and dove in to rescue the escaped ski.

But that was just a preview of what was to come. There was word that some wind and weather was on its way for Day Two of competition, and when we woke up at dawn…a tropical torrent.

Was the contest on or off? That was the question at the house, on WhatsApp channels, texts from friends back home watching the broadcast, and the coconut poisson cru wireless. “The wind looks weird,” Chopes legend and coach for Team Japan, Tereva David, told SURFER, “but the wave is still barreling, so I guess it’s on.” And so it was; first up, women’s Elimination Round.

Luckily, the squalls (somewhat) subsided, the wind came and went (many umbrellas unhinged from their weighted foundations, and went flying), and the waves were…well, contestable. It was nothing like the full-day of tubes on Day One; rather, Day Two was grindy to say the least.

Related: Olympic Surfing Day One: Team USA Comes Out Guns Blazin’

Pickles gets chopped

On the women’s side of the event, one of the major matchups of the Elimination Round was Johanne Defay (France) versus Molly Picklum (Australia). Both surfers are well-equipped with the talent to go far in the event, but perhaps in different departments: Johanne with her longtime competitive experience, and time spent at Teahupo’o; and Pickles, well, because she charges.

But someone had to lose. And that unfortunate outcome went to Pickles.

“I’m obviously disappointed,” said Molly. “But at the end of the day, I’m really understanding of my sport and what I do. The waves sometimes play their part, and other times they don’t come. I may be a favorite in the bigger stuff, but I feel like I have the whole range. I love backside surfing whether it’s snaps or barrels, and Johanne was always going to be tough draw, so I was excited for the challenge. I hope surfing stays in it [the Olympics] so that I get another chance.”

As for host country favorite, Johanne, she took home the win and, when competition resumes, she’ll square up against French teammate (and also, local Tahitian darling), Vahine Fierro.

“It was a bit tricky out there with this swell,” Johanne said. “When I found out I was against Molly, I was a little frustrated with how the seeding works. I knew it was going to be a hard heat. You can overthink it all you want, but at the end of the day, you just have to go out there and do your surfing. Here, with this wave, you see people do amazing things, and you’re like, ‘oh that’s so easy! I’m gonna go try that!’ And then, you end up on the reef. [Laughs.]”

Which, actually, on Day One of competition did happen to Johanne. After a wipeout, she emerged from the water with blood trickling down her head. Explaining, she said:

“I went over the falls, and I went straight into the coral. I got four stitches. They did all the tests for concussions, and now I’ve been cleared that I’m good. I’m feeling good.”

Elsewhere, another event favorite, Tatiana Weston-Webb (Brazil) took down Nicaraguan surfer, Candelaria Resano. If you’ll recall, Tati had that perfect 10-pointer from the WSL’s Shiseido Tahiti Pro, a preview of sorts for what was to come with the Olympics at Teahupo’o.

“This round made me think differently,” Tati said. “That experience was a really good one. It reminded me that: it’s not always about getting perfect waves; it’s about making heats. I have confidence out here, but that can be a blessing and a curse. Obviously, I got a really good wave at the CT here. But it’s a contest. Whoever gets the best waves, and has the heat smarts will win.”

In the next round, Tati will face Team USA’s Caitlin Simmers – another mega-matchup between two surfers forecasted by most to go far in this event. Stay tuned.

Related: Gallery: 10 Hours From the Channel at Teahupo’o

Friends on land, frenemies in the water

Heat One of the men’s Elimination Round kicked off with a banger – Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy) versus Kanoa Igarashi (Japan). These two grew up together, they’ve pushed each other competitively, and most of the time, they’re best buds. But this the Olympics. Still friends?

Of course they are.

This time, Kanoa got the win over Leo. But no hard feelings. If anything, the two could commiserate over the challenging conditions, and in Leo’s case, even curse the wave gods.

“It’s not the Teahupo’o we had all hoped and dreamed for,” Leo said. “But you compare this to Tokyo, and I’d take this a million times over. I don’t blame the conditions over my loss. Kanoa surfed a really smart heat as he always does. It was really cool to surf a heat together. We grew up together, and to be surfing in the Olympics together, it was special. I think we both would’ve preferred doing this in a later round, but he was on fire today. May the best guy win.”

Kanoa, ever the professional and silver medalist, came in from the heat with his media game face on. And despite the gale force winds, a few words did get captured via iPhone voice memos.

“The first session we had at Teahupo’o was together,” Kanoa said. “We both started out so bad out there, and we were so scared. I mean, we were 12 years old. We slowly started working on it, slowly got better, and we were always pushing each other. On a day like today, all it takes is one mistake or one right decision to influence the outcome of a heat. Today went my way.”

Regarding their friendship, Kanoa added:

“He’s a brother. We talked about it before the heat, no matter how it goes, we’re both winners. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d be in the Olympics at Teahupo’o together. There’s a special bond between us. I’m the surfer I am today because of him and vice versa. You know, he beat me in ping pong the other day, so I was stoked to get the win this time. [Laughs.]”

Related: John John Florence Talks Olympic Gold Ambitions (Exclusive Interview)

Filipe Toledo claps back at the haters

Leading up to the Olympics, the surf world’s eyes were fixed upon Filipe Toledo. Due to his poor performances at Teahupo’o in WSL events prior, and his decision to take the year off for mental health reasons, many speculated as to how he’d perform. Today, he proved the haters wrong.

In the final heat of the day, as conditions got about as dreamy as a Renoir painting, but with a fading orange sunset and cerulean blue, breathless waves, Toledo faced elimination against Billy Stairmand (New Zealand). It was a slow start to the heat, but it picked up and became one of the absolute bangers of the day. Filipe got a good one, Billy answered back, and then…

Filipe dropped into absolute drainer. The score? 9.67. The second highest score of the day, behind Jack Robinson’s 9.87, and enough for the win and the highest heat total of the day (17.00).

“This is what we dream about,” Filipe said, “surfing waves like this. A little bit small, if I’m being critical. But it was just perfect. When I took off on that wave, and I bottom-turned, I looked at it and I was like, ‘oh shoot…maybe I’m too deep.’ I just was feeling it, though.”

Re: the haters, he continued:

“I don’t really give a shit. I have a life. I have two kids. I have two world titles. So, you can keep saying that shit while you’re sitting on your couch. And I’ll keep winning. But I’ll do it with respect and with humility for everyone. That’s my job, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Related: How to Watch Surfing in the Paris 2024 Olympics

On the next episode of surfing in the Olympics…

With the initial Elimination Rounds wrapped, and Round Three up next, there’s going to be more surfers sent home. But really, the main concern is: What will the forecast look like?

“It looks like we’ll be racing against the potential for rising onshore winds during the first part of the day on Monday,” Surfline is reporting. “Right now we still expect a window of light/variable winds through the first part of the day, before onshore winds pick up through the afternoon. The timing of when that occurs will be crucial.”

As for the word on the sand, most people are saying it’s on for Monday – at least for a potential half-day of competition. Stay tuned to SURFER’s Instagram for the call in the morning.

As for tonight, amidst finishing up our coverage for the day and chomping down yet another heaping plate of poisson cru, Chachi and I will make sure to tie down the jet ski extra tight.