TEAHUPO'O, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Thursday, August 10, 2023) - The holding period for the penultimate stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT) season, the Shiseido Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, will open tomorrow at Teahupo'o, Tahiti. As the last stop of the season ahead of the Rip Curl WSL Finals, this will be the last chance for a small group of surfers to clinch their spots in the WSL Final 5, as well as provisionally qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be contested at this very location in less than 12 months time.
Teahupo'o Expected to Test The Best For Final Stop of 2023 Championship Tour
With decent waves forecasted from the opening day of the window, competition is likely to get a start tomorrow at Teahupo'o, a location widely regarded as the heaviest and most intimidating stop of the CT schedule. Coming out of deep water and breaking on a shallow shelf, covered in sharp coral, Teahupo'o offers competitors a short, intense ride where all scoring potential is found inside the barrel. It is a wave that not only tests the surfers' skill and finesse inside the tube but their commitment to paddle over the ledge and into one of the heaviest waves on the planet. Making it to the end of the wave at Teahupo'o could be the best ride of a surfer's life, while falling short can result in a massive wipeout. All of this will make for an exciting crescendo to the 2023 CT season.
Olympic Qualifiers Headline at Teahupo'o Ahead of Paris 2024
After a five-year hiatus from Tahiti, Teahupo'o standout John John Florence (HAW) has returned to one of his favourite spots on the schedule in search of his first win since Pipeline in 2021. Although he has almost provisionally qualified for the Olympics, the two-time World Champion sits just outside the WSL Final 5 and hopes to lock in a spot at the Rip Curl WSL Finals for the first time in their short history.
"I guess I forgot how good this place is," Florence said. "How good Teahupo'o is and the people, the vibe. I imagine it's like what Hawaii would have been like back in the day. It's such a powerful place both in and out of the water. I'm keen to focus on how I'm going to surf and just try and relax and enjoy my time here. Not focus on the people around me on the rankings. The goal is to be in the Finals for sure and to try and win this event. I've always wanted to win here so that is my goal for this year and I know if I do well here I'll end up in the top 5."
Johanne Defay (FRA) has provisionally qualified for her second Olympics and already has eyes on a big result at her home games. As the only full-time French representative on the women's Championship Tour, Defay is renowned for her ability in hollow left-hand reef breaks and will be one to watch when competition commences at Teahupo'o.
"Tahiti is a special place for me because although it is so far from France it feels like home," Defay said. "It's a magical place and I love how much the people are connected with the ocean. I've struggled with an injury this year but I am on top of this now which feels really good. Because I can't make the Top 5 I have less pressure on me which is great. I feel like having less pressure at this event could help my performance so we will wait and see. I'm just enjoying surfing without the stress for now but am feeling in the best shape I have all year so I'm excited."
Carissa Moore (HAW) and Filipe Toledo (BRA) both come into the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro holding the yellow Leader jerseys and will need a solid result to hang onto the top spot heading into the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Neither surfer has progressed past the Quarterfinals in Tahiti, so they will be looking for career-best results this week at the ‘End of The Road' especially to build confidence ahead of the 2024 Games. Right behind them holding onto the third spots on the rankings are American World Title hopefuls and Olympic Team qualifiers Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Caroline Marks (USA) who are both standouts at Teahupo'o and will be hoping for the highest ranking possible when they go into the Finals at their home break of Lower Trestles in San Clements, California.
Injury Update: Ethan Ewing and Bettylou Sakura-Johnson Withdraw - Replaced By Tahitians Mihimana Braye and Aelan Vaast CT competitors Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) have both withdrawn from the event due to injury. Ewing sustained a back injury while warming up at Teahpo'o earlier this week while Sakura-Johnson is continuing to recover from a shoulder injury she suffered during the Corona J-Bay Open in South Africa last month. Ewing will be replaced by Mihimana Braye (FRA), who is the next highest Tahitian on the Challenger Series rankings. Sakura-Johnson will be replaced by Aelan Vaast (FRA) who is the highest Tahitian on the regional Qualifying Series Rankings.
Wildcards and Trials Winners Fly Flag For Tahiti Joining Mihimana Braye (FRA) and Aelan Vaast (FRA) in the main event will be event wildcard Kauli Vaast (FRA), who will look to back up his runner-up finish from last year with another big performance this week at his home break along with fellow Teahupo'o standout Vahine Fierro (FRA). Trials winner Matahi Drollet (THT) will be one to watch after an incredible performance in the Trials and round out the draw as the fifth Tahitian in the event, the biggest representation in the event's history.
WSL Acknowledges First Nations Communities
Today, and every day, we honor and acknowledge Indigenous and First Nations communities all over the world. From California to Australia, Hawai'i to South Africa, we are committed to deepening these relationships globally and uplifting Indigenous and First Nations voices. To learn more about how WSL has collaborated with Indigenous and First Nations coastal stewards this year and is committed to continuing this crucial work, read the article in honor of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
WSL Tours and Competition team will make a call on the opening day of the window tomorrow, August 11, at 7:00 a.m. TAHT for a potential 7:30 a.m. TAHT start.