Uniqueness of the world-famous surf spot Teahupo’o in Tahiti

Surfers are battling for Olympic gold on one of the world’s heaviest waves. Called Teahupo’o, the wave has unique characteristics that make surfing difficult. At least one surfer has already died. Here’s a look at the wave’s dynamics and the surfing competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The legendary wave “at the end of the street”

Located on the lush, mountainous southwest coast of Tahiti, Teahupo’o is often referred to as “the end of the road” in the surfing community. The nickname is both literal and figurative: The wave is located where the roads end on the island, but it is also considered the crown jewel among surfing destinations due to its remote location, unique features and thrilling rides.

Dynamics of the wave

The formation of the wave is considered a natural wonder: the inclination and shape of the water barrels are caused by the swell of the Southern Ocean, which bends and races along a large, flat reef. The wave starts at a sloping bottom, rushes towards the reef and breaks below sea level.

The left-handed waves are usually between 6 and 10 feet high, but sometimes over 20 feet. The ride is short – lasting between 200 and 300 feet – but extremely fast and intense.

Because of this combination of factors, the wave is considered difficult to surf and has claimed the life of at least one surfer. In fact, the wave’s name loosely translates to “pile of skulls” and warns even the most experienced surfers in the world to proceed with caution.

How the scoring works in Olympic surfing

During the surfers’ heats, a panel of judges scores each wave ride on a scale of 1 to 10 based on a combination of factors such as speed, maneuvers and difficulty. For each ride, the highest and lowest scores are discarded and the surfer is given the average of the three remaining scores.

Surfers are allowed to catch as many waves as they want in a heat, but wave selection can be crucial, especially given the unpredictable nature of the ocean.