Surfing returns for its second Olympic Games and will be held in Tahiti, a French terrority, to showcase France’s rich and diverse heritage.
Where is surfing being held at the Paris Olympics?
The Olympic surfing competition will take place in Teahupo’o on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. The village annually hosts the Billabong Pro Tahiti surf competition as part of the Association of Surfing Professionals World surfing circuit.
Teahupo’o has a reputation as having some of the heaviest waves in the world, which have a unique form due to a shallow coral reef. It's also renowned for the consistent number of barrels it provides.
How do you pronounce Teahupo'o?
While you'll hear many different pronunciations of the 2024 Olympic surfing venue, such as the commonly used "cho-poo," the correct way to pronounce the legendary surf break is "tear-hoo-poh-oh."
Why are the waves at Teahupo'o so big?
The waves are Teahupo'o are famous for their massive size and perfect shape caused by the sudden transition in ocean depth. Offshore, the reef pass goes from about 300 feet deep to a depth of just three feet extremely quickly, causing the waves to run out and room and fold over themselves. This pushes the waves up to 30 feet high and creates their iconic barreling shape, allowing the surfers to ride along the hollow interior of the swells.
How shallow is the reef at Teahupo'o
The sharp coral reef at Teahupo'o gets as shallow as three feet just below where the surfers will be riding the waves. This makes Teahupo'o one of the most difficult and dangerous surf passes in the world, with only the sport's most elite able to succeed there.
How fast do surfers go on big waves?
On average waves you'd see at your local beach, surfers can sometimes hit speeds of 15 miles per hour. On huge swells like the ones at Teahupo'o, it's possible for surfers to cruise over 20 miles per hours as they glide through the hollow barrels.
Are there sharks at Teahupo'o?
With a depth of over 300 feet just beyond the reef pass, there can be sharks swimming around below the waves at Teahupo'o. However, the surfers are usually not out far enough in the water to encounter the ocean dwellers.
How much will tickets cost?
The surfing competition for the Paris Games will be accessible to the public without charge.