How Teahupo'o Came to Fame
Cover Image: ©WSL/Ed Sloan
Teahupo’o (pronounced chop-pu) is one of the heaviest, craziest, and most iconic waves known to the surfing world. This gem breaks off the southwest coast of Tahiti, right outside the small town of Teahupo’o, where the paved road ends and the dirt road begins. As a freak of nature and hydrodynamics, "chopes," heaves itself onto a shallow reef creating a picturesque barrel and potentially deadly wipeout. Here is the history of how this wave came to fame.
Discovery
Surrounded by reefs and atolls that produce incredible surf, Tahiti has been a destination spot for travelling wave chasers since the 1960s. Despite a heavy surf presence, natives and those who passed through only watched the swells at Teahupo'o until the 1980s.
The first recorded account of a surfer paddling out and daring to ride this wave was local Tahitian Thierry Vernaudon in 1985. He and a few friends made the 15-minute paddle out to ride the waves at Teahupo'o. Their session was the unspoken start to a legendary wave in the surf community.
In 1986 two adventuring bodyboarders, Mike Stewart and Ben Severson happened upon this break. They were so stoked on the wave and shared their experience with their fellow bodyboard buds, sparking whispers in the surf community about this secret wave with incredible potential for some insane rides. Teahupo'o slowly became a destination for the toughest of the bodyboarding world.
Rise to Fame
The first time the break received serious attention was in 1997 when it became a destination on the ASP world tour. Despite the spot's reputation for top-notch surf, the competition ended up a disaster. There were no waves, bad weather, and an accident that lead to an expensive mishap with the ferry they had rented for the Beach Marshall. All in all, they lost money, nearly went broke, and left Tahiti vowing never to come back.
A year later in 1998, the Tahitian government called up the ASP and asked them to come back to Teahupo’o. After some serious convincing and a promise to pay back all they lost in the last competition, the ASP agreed to return. Unfortunately, upon arrival, they again found terrible conditions.
Halfway through the competition, when everyone was ready to give up and go, Teahupo’o turned on. Daybreak came with 12 ft waves that contained more energy and power than was ever expected. The ASP judges and officials stood on the beach, mouths open, debating whether to send their surfers into these monster tubes.
Lucky for us they did, and needless to say, the competition continued and brought with it footage, stories, and fame that put Teahupo’o on the map for the surf community.
Pros and adrenaline craving wave chasers flocked to the break. The famous 2000 Millenium Wave surfed by Laird Hamilton was surfed at Teahupo'o, and the late Andy Irons earned the title the King of Teahupo’o after winning the 2010 Billabong Pro in Tahiti.
Today
Today Teahupo’o remains a destination for surf competitions and adrenaline junkies looking for a wave of a lifetime. This unique break brings challenge, fear, stoke, and much more.
Here is a video of our very own Jamie O’Brien surfing a monster barrel at Teahupo’o while on fire!
Did reading about this Teahupo’o inspire you to hit the waves. Get one on one surf coaching from fire barrel rider, Jamie O’Brien, on the Jamie O’Brien Surf App here.
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