Olympic Surfing Countdown: Daily Dispatches from Teahupo’o

Hype can be a funny thing. Even if something ends up being good – a movie, an album, etc. – sometimes the cacophony of pre-release praise leads to letdown. But alas, we’re human. We get excited about such things. And needless to say, the hype surrounding the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics and surfing’s second-ever appearance in the Games, going down at Teahupo’o, Tahiti between July 27th and August 5th, is utterly palpable.

So, with the SURFER team – photographer Ryan “Chachi” Craig and Associate Editor Dashel Pierson – on-the-ground covering the leadup to the event, and the contest itself, let’s lean into that hype. We can’t help it; we’re excited; we’re surfers; we’re innately human. Thus, in the days ahead of the actual event, stay tuned here for daily dispatches from the End of the Road.

Related: Olympic Surfing 101: Everything to Know Before Paris 2024

Monday, July 22nd (5 days to go)

"Today had lots of rain and windy conditions for the surfer's practice sessions," reports Chachi. "In the evening the stormy weather mostly cleared and a pretty gorgeous rainbow formed at sunset, which is always a nice end to any day!"

Sunday, July 21st (6 days to go)

"As of this morning, every surfer has arrived to Teahupo'o and the wave and village are fully locked down," reports Chachi. "Boats are designated to different buoys and will not be idling around during the event like the WSL. I've yet to go out on the water but here's a look at the lineup from the beach. Military and police presence is everywhere making sure badges are scanned and IDs checked."

Saturday, July 20th (7 days to go)

Much has been said about the Olympic "village" for surfing's foray in Paris 2024. Obviously, it's not cardboard beds crammed into a dorm room situation. That's not the, um, vibe at Teahupo'o. So, instead, they got a floating village, a cruise ship. Reportedly, not all athletes will be staying on the ship, but some will. Here's a first look at the converted cargo ship docked in the channel.

Friday, July 19th (8 days to go)

Not much swell is currently gracing the reef at Teahupo'o, so, anyone looking for a wave had to look elsewhere on Friday. (Stay tuned for an Olympic surf forecast soon.) "With onshore winds at Teahupo'o," Chachi reports, "the rivermouth was absolutely the place to be this evening and a healthy group of local kids were on it."

Thursday, July 18th (9 days to go)

"This might be the last glassy Teahupo'o lineup for a few days as the predicted onshore flow came on strong just after midday today," reports Chachi. "Before that however, the conditions were immaculate albeit very peaky, more similar to a breachbreak than the heavy reef pass we've all grown to love."

Wednesday, July 17th (10 days to go)

"The wind laid down a bit from Monday and the sun popped out in the morning," reports Chachi. "The lineup was fairly mixed up, south and southwest swell with very low intervals almost had it feeling a bit like a beachbreak. With the games 10 days out and the forecast still uncertain, it's still anybody's guess what the wave will look like during the window. But many athletes are out there every day regardless, to practice in whatever conditions might be contested."

Tuesday, July 16th (11 days to go)

Even though Tahiti is some 10,000 miles away from the official Olympic venue – Paris, France – the tiny village at the End of the Road is still getting the Olympic treatment...for better or worse. The competitors are starting to arrive, the swell is down, but the anticipation is high. “Everyday there are small changes taking place at Teahupo’o as the Olympic staff is hustling to get everything finished before the games," reports Craig. "Today they placed Olympic rings in front of the wave statue which immediately became a hotspot for passerbys snapping photos.”

Monday, July 15th (12 days to go)

"After a beautiful evening on Sunday night," reports Ryan "Chachi" Craig, "Monday was as postcard, picturesque as you'd imagine Tahiti to be. With barely a breath of wind, the head high surf was awfully inviting as a series of Olympians rotated through the lineup. Water clarity was 10/10, which made the reef seem mere inches away in photos, especially as seen from the drone. Here's Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy, trimming above the reef."

Sunday, July 14th (13 days to go)

"The swell dropped even further today," reports Ryan "Chachi" Craig, "but it was sunny skies for much of today and playful surf for some new Olympians to practice in. Buoys were also placed (and then removed) outside of the surf break, likely a test run to ensure they line up with camera angles. Looks like Monday will be more of the same with a possible bump in southwest swell for the morning session."

Saturday, July 13th (14 days to go)

As mentioned before, the Olympics are a machine. They come to town, they take over. And such is the case even with an event (surfing) happening nearly 10,000 miles away from the host city (Paris) in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (Tahiti). And so, well, the Olympics changes the landscape a bit. See all those tents through the haze of a squall on Saturday? Yeah, those typically aren't there. But they will be for the next couple of weeks; and so will we. Stay tuned.

Friday, July 12th (15 days to go)

Teahupo'o from above. This view gives a glimpse into the field – ahem, gladiator's pit – unlike those typically seen from a boat in the channel. Still swell, still warm-up sessions going down on Friday, July 12th. But look at that arena: lush and looming mountains, the new tower, and the main attraction...ferocious, treacherous tubes over an unrelenting reef. Get ready.

Thursday, July 11th (16 days to go)

Some might call this a "warm-up day" while others might feign a stomach bug and hide under the sheets until Chopes returns to something mere mortals might even consider to attempt. Regardless, the locals shined during a pre-event swell – to the shock of literally nobody at all – including Kauli Vaast, seen above, who will be representing France in the upcoming event. For more, check out the full gallery of locals going full send on this day. Foreshadow for the event?

Related: Tahitian Locals Shine As Teahupo'o Flexes For Olympic Warmups

Wednesday, July 10th (17 days to go)

A tour of the on-the-ground Olympic site, as seen from Ryan "Chachi" Craig's iPhone. It's a known fact that, when the Olympics come to town, lots of things change...especially new infrastructure. This has been met with controversy, particularly since the locals (and visitors) wish to preserve the natural beauty of this remote Tahitian region. This was especially true with the new judging tower. But, maybe some changes aren't so bad. New bridge, for example?