If you’re a surfer, you’re probably already familiar with the legendary swell that breaks off the mountainous southwestern coast of Tahiti known as Teahupo’o as it produces a one of kind wave that acts like a magnet for the worlds best surfers to test their skills and has appeared in countless surf videos and magazines.
While a wave 10,000 miles away from Paris might seem like an unlikely venue for the 2024 Summer Games surf competition, Tahiti is an overseas collectivity of France (collectivité d’outre-mer or COM) which is integrated into the French Republic with a blend of local autonomy.
World renown for its shallow coral reef that produces powerful hollow waves, Teahupo’o will be centerstage from from July 27th through August 5th as 48 surfers (24 men and 24 women) from 21 countries will battle it out to to win gold.
Here’s a breakdown of Teahupo’o whose name loosely translates to “Pile of Heads” or “Wall of Skulls” in reference to a local legend: