general information

Over the past decade no one location has received more attention from the surfing world than that of Tahiti’s awesome Teahupoo, (pronounced chow-poo). No matter how much footage you’ve seen of Teahupoo, when you see it with your own eyes at triple overhead plus, you will be absolutely awestruck.

It takes approx half an hour to paddle out to Teahupoo from the beach, it’s best to do it with someone who knows what their doing the first time. Alternatively, you can pay for a boat ride out to the break. When it’s small Teahupoo is a perfect wave, an average surfer can surf out here in waves 6 foot (double overhead) and below, and not be out of there depth. But be assured, if you hit the bottom, you will bleed.

Once the waves reach 8 foot (triple overhead) it’s a whole new ball game. It breaks a bit further out, and water drains off the reef as the waves stand up turn into the thick lipped monster we’ve all seen in the magazines. At this size it is more a surge of water folding over on the reef than a conventional wave, there is no back to the wave- other than the entire Pacific Ocean. 

At 8 foot plus (triple overhead) courage is not enough, Teahupoo is an extremely difficult wave to surf, you must be a highly skilled experienced surfer to even stand a chance of making a true Teahupoo barrel. 

To make the drop at big Teahupoo you need to take off under the lip, in other words, you need to put yourself in a position where you can’t pull back. Once you’re on your feet there’s no time for long drawn-out bottom turns, draw your line, and hold your nerve. Usually you wouldn’t drive your board down the line; the wave will push you through, but be careful not to be drawn too far up the face of the wave. If you manage to get spat out of the tube and into the channel, look up to the heavens and say thankyou to God. 

Teahupoo is located on the south coastline of Tahiti’s main island, and is fed by swell travelling up from the Southern Ocean. Swell direction can change things dramatically at Teahupoo, basically the more easterly the swell direction, the better.

Tahiti is a beautiful place, a true paradise. When staying at the village of Teahupoo your only option is to live with one of the local families, they will also cook for you, costing approximately US$20-25 a night. Finding somewhere to stay is exceptionally difficult when the world tour arrives in April, catching a wave during this time period is hands down impossible.

Beer isn’t cheap in Tahiti, expect to pay excess baggage for boards when leaving.

To simply sit in one of the boats and watch cavernous blue 10 -12 foot (four to six overhead) Teahupoo barrels explode on the reef is an experience no one would forget, surfer or not. This is one surf spot that lives up to the hype.

BT