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Wednesday, July 31 marks the fourth day of the 10-day Olympic surfing window at the Teahupo’o venue in French Polynesia. The competition has been paused since unfavorable conditions arrived on the afternoon of Monday, July 29, causing a delay in the women's round 3 event.
The event has experienced a range of weather conditions, with Monday morning’s massive waves during men’s round 3 becoming a historic moment in surfing competition.
Olympics.com interviewed International Surfing Association (ISA) president Fernando Aguerre at Teahupo’o, located 9,000 miles from Paris, the host city for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, to discuss the current conditions and upcoming scheduling plans.
After announcing another hold on Wednesday morning, Aguerre emphasized that this is “the basics of any surfing competition — you’re on standby.” Despite the delays, he noted, “There’s a palpable excitement when you walk around here. Even the surfers who are out of the competition are mingling with those still in it.”
He added, “Everyone can take a breather and recover, especially after the intense conditions on Monday. The wipeouts were severe; wiping out here is a different experience compared to anywhere else.”
Aguerre also expressed relief that there have been no major accidents, stating, “When you see a surfer going over the lip and hitting the reef, it’s a relief that we haven’t had any serious injuries. Protecting the athletes is our top priority, followed by the competition.”
The decision on whether to begin women’s round 3 will be announced at 5:45 p.m. Tahiti time on Wednesday, July 31 (5:45 a.m. Paris time on Thursday, August 1).
Once the competition resumes, it will continue with women’s round 3, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the bronze and gold medal matches.
The 10-day surfing window is open until August 5—check out the full schedule here.
On the Art of Surf Forecasting at Teahupo’o
Teahupo’o is renowned for its challenging surf forecasting. “In this part of the world, weather and wave patterns shift rapidly,” Aguerre explained. “It’s akin to being out in the open seas. This is part of the thrill of surfing—it’s not purely scientific. It’s a blend of science and art; it’s about forecasting, and we rely on experts who understand these conditions exceptionally well.”
The competition has been delayed because, according to Aguerre, “the conditions aren’t optimal. The strong winds have caused a swell that is disrupted and choppy. It often takes hours, or even a day or two, for the swell to settle and become consistent, which is what we need for the competition.”
“It’s similar to fishing—you never know when the fish will bite. Anything related to the ocean has this unpredictability,” Aguerre remarked.
Despite the difficulties, Aguerre added, “It’s been an incredible competition so far. Hosting the surf event in Tahiti is a monumental effort for everyone involved. But ultimately, I believe we’ve made the right choices.”