Dropping in on Tahiti’s Teahupo’o Surf Pro

Dropping in on Tahiti’s Teahupo’o Surf Pro
By admin


Tahiti Tourisme Australia is enjoying that time of the year when every August, a very big wave literally swamps the tiny Tahitian town of Teahupo’o, more than quadrupling its population with the world’s best surfers and their travelling caravan of fans, media and sponsors.

This year is no different, with surf legends like Kelly Slater and Adriano de Souza lining up for more than $500,000 in prize money in the 2014 Billabong Pro. 

Almost half of the competitors are Australian’s including recent Tahiti champions Adrian Buchan and Mick Fanning and hot contenders Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson and Nathan Hedge.

Tahiti Tourisme Australia director Robert Thompson said the Billabong Pro always attracted plenty of tourists to Tahiti but this year’s big swell was causing a boom for the local tourism industry with flawless three to five metre waves curling over the famous break.

“A strong surfing bond existed between Australia and Tahiti and even when Teahupo’o wasn’t in competition mode there were always lots of Aussies itching to take on the monster wave,” Thompson said.

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Photos: Sean Scott

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