‘I’m a little scared’: Olympics surfing competition to be held at Teahupo’o

Olympic chiefs have given the go-ahead for their surfing competition to be held at one of the most dangerous waves on the planet.

The International Olympic Committee has approved the Teahupo’o surf break on the island of Tahiti as the site of the 2024 Paris Olympics surfing competition.

Located 15,000km away from the French capital in the South Pacific, the French Polynesian island is home to one of the heaviest waves in the world.

The World Surf League holds an annual event at the wave for its men’s competition but it is one of two heavy barrelling locations — along with Pipeline in Hawaii — where women do not compete.

Olympic organisers will likely attempt to hold women’s heats on days when the waves are smaller but if a big swell rolls through there could be carnage.

Australia’s seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore signalled a warning when Teahupo’o was first suggested as an Olympic location last year.

“I’m a little scared for countries where surfing isn’t their strongest point,” Gilmore said. “If someone qualifies and then they get thrown out at solid Teahupo’o, that’d be scary. But I think that’s because I’m deep down really scared for myself.”

Matt Wilkinson wipes out at Teahupo'o in 2011. (Photo by Steve Robertson/ASP via Getty Images)

“I think the women on Tour nowadays are really capable of surfing wave like this — maybe not on the big day, but on the smaller days I think they would have a lot of fun,” added Tatiana Weston-Webb.

The island in the Pacific Ocean was picked in December as the preferred option over rival beaches on the French mainland in Biarritz, Lacanau, Les Landes and La Torche.

The IOC approved on Tuesday the move at its executive board meeting.

The move to Tahiti is one of the longest distances between an event and the host city at any Olympic Games.

The 1956 Melbourne Olympics equestrian competition was held in Sweden’s Stockholm due to quarantine laws in Australia.

Tahiti was also the preferred choice of the International Surfing Association. “We are delighted that the IOC Executive Board has approved the Teahupo’o site in Tahiti for the organisation of the surfing competitions and Place de la Concorde for the urban sports events,” said Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet in a statement.

An unforgiving wave.

“This marks another milestone with our ambition to deliver spectacular and sustainable Games that will offer a unique experience for athletes.”

Surfing will make its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games. The surfing events will take place on four days within an eight-day window at Shidashita Beach, 60km north of Tokyo.

— with AAP