The Paris Summer Olympics begin in just a few days, on 26JUL.
But one of the events sure to garner the most television time will be taking place a half-world away in the South Pacific.
The surfing competition for the 2024 Summer Games will be held in Tahiti. More specifically, at a surf break called Teahupo’o, which is located off the west coast of the section of the main island, called Tahiti Iti.
Yours truly stayed in the area early in 2020 and thought it a wondrous area. It’s only about 70 km from the bustling capital of Papeete, but sleepy Tahiti Iti feels like a super-chill, tropical planet.
A local boat captain took my wife and I out for a ride on the water when we visited. We got to watch the surfers at Teahupo’o up close, and also got to admire the wondrous, deep green, spiky mountains in the distance and deep blue water all around.
Tahiti Tourism has put out a couple videos to mark the occasion of the Olympics coming to the islands, one about Tahiti being the birthplace of surfing and the other about Teahupo’o and “the mythical wave.”
It can be a very difficult place to surf, with heavy waves that can really do a body harm if you’re not careful. And it’s hard to be careful when you’re gunning for an Olympic medal.
Many people likely think of Hawai’i or maybe California as the birthplace of surfing. And they’re an important part of the culture, but the first known written record of surfing came when Captain Cook paraded about the islands of Tahiti in the late 1700’s. In 1769, the chief botanist on Cook’s HMS Resolution, one Joseph Banks, put pen to paper and described what he saw in Tahiti one day.
“The shore was covered with pebbles and large stones; yet, in the midst of these breakers, were ten or twelve Indians swimming for their amusement: whenever a surf broke near them, they dived under it, and, to all appearance with infinite facility, rose again on the other side.”
“This diversion was greatly improved by the stern of an old canoe, which they happened to find upon the spot; they took this before them, and swam out with it as far as the outermost beach, then two or three of them getting into it, and turning the square end to the breaking wave, were driven in towards the shore with incredible rapidity, sometimes almost to the beach; but generally the wave broke over them before they got half way, in which case they dived, and rose on the other side with the canoe in their hands: they then swam out with it again, and were again driven back, just as our holiday youth climb the hill in Greenwich park for the pleasure of rolling down it.”
“At this wonderful scene we stood gazing for more than half an hour, during which time none of the swimmers attempted to come on shore, but seemed to enjoy their sport in the highest degree.”
If you’re looking to book clients on a visit to the area after the Games, I’d suggest Vanira Lodge, which has lovely cottages on a hill overlooking the ocean, as well as swimming pools, a nice restaurant and a yoga pavilion. More casual, but possibly in the most beautiful setting on the island, is Bonjouir Teahupo’o Lodge Paradise, where you’ll find units scattered amongst a veritable Garden of Eden and friendly owners.
Here’s a story I wrote for Open Jaw about places to stay and things to do in Tahiti.
