Olympic Qualifier Vahine Fierro Talks Going for Gold on Her Home Turf

A conversation with the hard-charging Queen of Teahupo'o

In just over a year, the surf world's collective eyes will be on Tahiti, as 48 surfers from varying countries will throw themselves over the ledge at Teahupo'o in an attempt to claim gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Among these potential medalists will be none other than 23-year-old Tahitian Vahine Fierro–who will be representing her island nation on her home turf.

A couple of years ago, Fierro–from the island of Huahine–won the award for "Women's Best Barrel" at the 2019 SURFER Awards with this heavy tube. Since then, her name has ricocheted throughout the surf world and has become associated with heavy Chopes caverns. Fierro will arguably be the woman to beat next year, so we caught up with the hard-charging goofy to hear her thoughts on qualifying for the Olympics and the road it took to get to where she is today.

First of all, huge congrats on qualifying for the Olympics! How does it feel?

It's more of a sense of relief [laughs]. I was obviously really happy to qualify, but I was more relieved than happy. It was hard for me to visualize the Olympics without me or a local person in it since the Olympics will be at home. It’s such a unique place and I just wanted to be a part of it. I worked really hard to get that spot and I was really relieved that I was able to clinch it.

It must feel amazing getting to be able to compete on your home turf. Does it give you some confidence going for the gold?

Yeah, it's the wave that gave me the best waves of my life. Even if I had a bad session out there, it always makes me happy, it challenges me, and it pushes me. So it’s been a place that I have a really good relationship with. I feel like I definitely have an advantage, that’s for sure, because I'm able to spend more time there. But the ocean is so unpredictable and the level of talent in women's surfing has been raised a lot so I think being maybe able to adapt when the contest comes around and adapt to the conditions that are happening that day is going to be very important. Being able to get gold in the Olympics will require a lot of adaptation and being present.

What would be the perfect conditions for you out there during the competition?

You know, in July, there’s always a lot of wind, but there’s also a lot of power in July and the swells can get really big. So for me the perfect conditions would be good barrels and with the option to do a turn at the end—that would be the ideal Teahupo'o for me. But like I said, you never know and I’m ready to adapt.

How long have you been surfing Teahupo'o?

Growing up an another island, I didn’t surf that wave when I was younger. The first time I surfed it was when I was 15 and I actually didn’t catch a wave. I didn’t go back out until I was 17. There was big barrier of fear there for me—I didn’t really like the wave.

But in 2019 I went maybe 5 times—I still can count on one hand—and that year I won the SURFER Award for Women's Best Barrel of the Year. After that award, it motivated me in a way and I was like, 'okay every swell in 2020 I’m going to go out, try my best and learn the wave'. I’d say it’s been three good years that I’ve been spending time in the water there now.

Do you feel like your skill level has improved a lot since you really devoted yourself to it?

I really feel like I’m understanding the wave better. Obviously I’m still trying to catch bigger and bigger waves every swell. Besides the size, knowing the ineup, knowing the swells, which waves to catch, I feel like I have so much more knowledge by spending time in the water.

 Do you stay at Teahupo'o when it’s firing?

Yeah, I have a house there now. I decided to have a home there because that's where I do all my training. So my home island is more like a vacation for me nowadays.

It seems like there’s this young generation out at Chopes that's completely ruling the lineup—does being out there with surfers your age who are charging help push you and help you learn more about the wave?

The locals out there are the ones who have helped me read the wave better. All the guys out there, they taught me everything I know—just by telling me to go on a wave or telling me not to go, or not to paddle for that one. Guys like Matehau Tetopata, Matahi Drollet, and Kauli Vast inspire me a lot out there because they’re goofy and they’ve spent their whole lives surfing that wave.

Your whole family surfs too, right?

Yeah, my dad is from San Diego and my mom is Tahitian and they had us kids. My dad taught my mom how to surf and he taught me and my two sisters how to surf. It was routine for us every day after school at 3 PM to take the boat and go surf. I started surfing because of the love I had for my family and how it reunited us after school. I love sharing sessions with my sisters.

Are any of them going out to Teahupo'o with you yet?

Yeah, they’re [Heimiti and Kohai] starting to come out. They’re both still at school so they haven’t spent that much time out there, but they’re coming out when it’s smaller and they’re learning how to read the barrel—if I can help in any way I will.

So you’re on the Challenger Series–how close are you to making the ‘CT?

Right now I’m ranked 8 on the rankings but we’re only going into the third Challenger event in Ballito. I have a quarter and a round 1 so I have to replace a result, but I’m feeling really prepared and ready. In the last two years I missed the qualification by one or two spots so I’m right there.

Was it frustrating getting that close and not making it?

The first year I missed it by one spot and I think I was still learning about myself so I took it kind of hard. But then the last year I took my losses and am applying what I learned to this year.

Would you be the first Tahitian woman to make the ‘CT? 

I will be, yes. I’m so proud of coming from my small islands—I feel like we’re far from a lot of things and it would be an honor for me to represent my family and the local people here on the big stage.

Are you seeing more women surf Teahupo'o lately?

On a local scale, there's definitely a new generation of young girls like Kiara Gold, Kelia Galina, Aelan Vaast, who are out there every day. Every morning they paddle out there with their dads and they put their time in–they are motivating me as well.

There are also more women traveling to Teahupoo and practicing there because the ‘CT event is back. It’s a scary wave and spending time out there is what’s going to make you comfortable—it’s good to see a movement of women coming to surf it more.

What are your plans for this summer and the next year?

This summer I have two Challengers—one in SA and the event in Huntington. Then I’m coming back home and will hopefully get the wildcard into the ‘CT event, then I’ll continue the Challenger Series until November.

Then just staying put at Teahupo'o until the Olympics?

Yeah. Qualifying for the Olympics was just one of my goals and I’ve checked that one off my list, but my list is not completed this year. I still want to qualify for the ‘CT and between that trying to practice at Teahupo'o. It’ll be a busy year but it’s so exciting to progress and be a part of everything.