Surfing the Seine? Why Olympics event will be held at Tahiti and not near France

There will be no surfing on The Seine at these Games, with the ocean event set to be held in Tahiti. Here’s your quick guide to the event.

Australia’s Jack Robinson during day two of training prior to the Olympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

As the world’s best athletes descend on Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, there are a select few who will begin their quest 15,000km away.

There will be no surfing on The Seine at these Games, with the ocean event set to be held in Tahiti, in French Polynesia.

More specifically, on the surf break of Teahupo’o, a renowned spot guaranteed to test the world’s best surfers on their quest for gold.

Interactive guide to Teahupo’o: The Tahitian surf break that looms as Paris Olympics’ most perilous event

Australia's Molly Picklum shows how it’s done during a training session. Picture: Getty Images

It won’t be a walk in the park, with some having become unfortunate victims of the coral reef just under the surface - with devastating effects.

Former world tour surfer Bede Durbidge went so far as to warn an athlete “could die in the Olympics”.

WHY IS THE EVENT IN TAHITI?

You don’t need a map to figure out the 48 surfing athletes are on the other side of the globe to the bulk at Paris Olympics.

Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, and sits about halfway between Australia and California.

The decision aligns with organisers’ aim to “spread the Games across France” and offers the chacne to “engage French overseas territories and their communities in the Olympic Games”.

Tahiti is in French Polynesia, and with Teahupo’o being one of the world’s premier waves it presented an undeniable opportunity to showcase a new edge to the Olympics.

Ethan Ewing will be out to impress as Australia chases its first surfing gold medal. Picture: Getty Images

WHY IS TEAHUPO’O FEARED?

Teahupo’o has a reputation like no other: it is feared, yet respected, by the world’s leading and most experienced surfers.

Nathan Hedge is the Australian who boasts the most experience at the famous left-hand break.

Hedge, 45, has spent a total of 25 years mastering one of the heaviest waves on the globe and said surfing the monster barrels – sometimes standing more than seven feet tall – put you inches from death.

“You actually feel like you are fighting for your life,” Hedge said.

WHEN WILL SURFING BE HELD?

The first heats are scheduled for July 28, with eight heats each for men’s and women’s competition in round 1.

The medals are slated to be contested on July 31.

But, such is the nature of the sport - and surfing’s dependence on uncontrollable factors - August 1 to 6 are set aside as reserve days. It’s an event best checked each morning

WHO IS REPRESENTING AUSTRALIA?

Tyler Wright, Molly Picklum, Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will become Australia’s fifth through to eighth surfing representatives after the event’s debut in Tokyo.

Coach Glenn Hall and Molly Picklum look on during training. Picture: Getty Images

The ‘gifting of the fins’ was conducted ahead of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event in April, as the quartet received trophies designed and crafted by Indigenous artist Melissa Brown.

Australia claimed bronze at Tokyo, and are chasing gold with a team which includes a two-time world champion (Wright), WSL championship Tour winners (Picklum and Robinson, the latter of whom won the WSL Tahiti Pro last year) and a world No. 2 who has proved he can match it with the best (Ewing).

Interactive guide to Teahupo’o: The Tahitian surf break that looms as Paris Olympics’ most perilous event

WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES?

Brazil’s Gabriel Medina and Hawaii-born American John John Florence are the big favourites, followed by Robinson, with Ewing also among the WSL’s top five.

Griffin Colapinto (USA, WSL’s No. 2) will also be a threat in a strong field.

The WSL’s top four - American duo Caroline Marks and Caitlin Simmers, Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy and Picklum - lead this field.

French representative Vahine Farro can also not be overlooked.