It’s Called the Place of Skulls. It’s the Most Terrifying Venue in Olympic History.

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the Teahupo'o wave in Tahiti, which has been chosen as the venue for the surfing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It highlights the extreme and dangerous nature of this wave, which is considered one of the heaviest and most powerful in the world.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Teahupo'o Wave

1. What are the key characteristics of the Teahupo'o wave?

• The Teahupo'o wave originates from winter storms near New Zealand and travels across the Pacific Ocean, gathering momentum and energy before slamming into the coast of Tahiti.
• The wave's power is amplified by the unique underwater topography of Tahiti's coastline, which features an extremely shallow reef that suddenly drops off into the ocean abyss.
• Teahupo'o is known for its massive, collapsing barrels that can reach heights of over 20 feet and generate a powerful ball of foam that spits out surfers.
• The wave is considered one of the "heaviest" and most dangerous in the world, with a history of serious injuries and even fatalities among surfers who have attempted to ride it.

2. Why was Teahupo'o chosen as the venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics surfing competition?

• Despite being located over 9,800 miles from the French capital, Teahupo'o was chosen as the Olympic venue due to its reputation as one of the most breathtaking and challenging surf spots in the world.
• The decision to hold the event in Tahiti was a surprise, as most expected the competition to take place on the Atlantic coast of France, which has respectable waves but none that can match the exhilaration and primal fear of Teahupo'o.
• The choice to host the event in Tahiti aligns with the Olympic organizers' goal of showcasing the world's most iconic surf locations, following the debut of surfing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

[02] Surfing Teahupo'o

1. What challenges do surfers face when attempting to ride the Teahupo'o wave?

• Surfers must be willing to place themselves at the intersection of an unstoppable force (the wave) and an immovable object (the reef), requiring immense skill and courage.
• The wave's speed and power make it incredibly difficult to navigate, with surfers having only a few seconds to shoot the gap as the wave collapses behind them.
• Attempting to "duck dive" under the wave, as one surfer did in 2000, can be fatal, as the wave's strength can still suck the surfer in and cause serious injuries.
• Legendary big wave surfer Laird Hamilton had to rely on a jet ski to tow him into the wave, just to match its velocity, highlighting the extreme challenges of Teahupo'o.

2. How have the Olympic organizers and the World Surf League (WSL) approached the inclusion of Teahupo'o in the 2024 Games?

• The decision to host the surfing competition in Tahiti was a surprise, as most expected the event to take place on the Atlantic coast of France.
• The WSL, which oversees professional surfing competitions, had previously removed Teahupo'o from the women's circuit in 2006, deeming the wave too dangerous for female surfers.
• However, WSL Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer pushed to have Teahupo'o reinstated for the 2024 Olympics, arguing that both women and men should have the opportunity to compete on this iconic wave.
• The Olympic organizers recognized the unique appeal and challenge of Teahupo'o, with Paris 2024 CEO Tony Estanguet stating that the wave is the "most gorgeous" in the world during the competition's timeframe.