PARIS 2024: Big conditions predicted for start of surfing competition

The surf is building in Tahiti ahead of the Paris 2024 competition, which is due to begin on Saturday 27 July.

And when Teahupo’o starts to hint at what it is capable of, it brings a couple of other things to the famous break: fear and excitement.  

“You’ve really got to face your fears, there’s no hiding out there,” said Molly Picklum (AUS), the World Surf League’s (WSL) fourth-ranked surfer.  

“That west swell brings in a lot more chunk and grunt into the wave.

“I feel like the nerves were coming in today (Tuesday), which is good.” 

Since the start of official training on Tuesday, the one-metre waves have grown.

Forecasts are now predicting big conditions for the start of competition, with overhead waves expected.

That is exciting news for three-time men’s world champion Gabriel Medina (BRA).

“It’s amazing to be back in Tahiti, it’s my favourite wave in the world,” Medina said.

“We’ve been getting waves every day… putting the board on the feet. I feel the big waves are coming, so it’s going to be fun.” 

His teammate Joao Chianca (BRA) agrees.

“We are really excited about the forecast and hope the best conditions stay solid and we get pumping Teahupo’o,” he said.

Picklum and Medina were last here in May for the WSL Tahiti Pro. That competition featured three-metre waves.

Picklum was beaten in the Tahiti Pro quarterfinals by eventual winner and wildcard Vahine Fierro (FRA).

From French Polynesia, Fierro is back chasing glory at her home break for Paris 2024. 

Brisa Hennessy (CRC) got silver in the Tahiti Pro. The consistent Costa Rican is in career-best form and has only missed one top-five finish this world championship season.

“This wave brings so much raw, beautiful energy,” Hennessy said. “I hope I can tap into the mana of Teahupo’o.”

Add world No.1 surfer Caitlin Simmers (USA) and her teammate, five-time world champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist Carissa Moore, into the mix and the depth in the women’s draw is as clear as the waters of Teahupo’o. 

“All the women are facing the Teahupo’o challenge,” Picklum said. “You can see them all show up here and throw themselves over the ledge. It’s inspiring.”

In what should be a superb start to the women’s competition, Simmers, Picklum and Tahiti Pro semifinalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) meet in Heat 4 of the opening round. 

No matter how you analyse the men’s competition, one name keeps appearing at the top of the list: John John Florence (USA).

The two-time world champion is leading the WSL Championship Tour and took silver at the Tahiti Pro, beating Medina in the semifinals.

Supporting his golden credentials is the fact that the man who beat him in May, Brazil’s reigning Olympic champion Italo Ferreira, is not competing at these Games. 

Australia’s two men also feature in the top-five of the WSL Championship Tour rankings – Jack Robinson (No.3), who will compete despite cutting his foot in training on Wednesday, and Ethan Ewing (No.5). 

Ewing knows all about the dangers of a pumping Teahupo’o.

Surfing here out of competition in August 2023, a huge wipe out broke his back. 

“The energy of this wave is like nothing else,” he said. “It’s just so raw and has so much power.”

This is his third trip back since that day, and a Paris 2024 medal would cap his comeback.

“Even now there are still nerves,” Ewing said. “It’s just one of those waves, it’s got big consequences.”

Credits (top to bottom) Ethan Ewing. Image: ISA / Pablo Jimenez. Image: Molly Picklum. Image: ISA / Pablo Jimenez, Ethan Ewing. Image: ISA / Beatriz Ryder, Jack Robinson. Image: ISA / Pablo Jimenez, Tyler Wright. Image: ISA / Beatriz Ryder.