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 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?