July 29th was a historic day for the surfing events at the Paris Olympics.
It was the third day of the tournament, and Round 3, featuring the top 16 athletes, was on standby.
The forecast had indicated a high likelihood of worsening winds and the event being canceled, but by 6:15 AM (1:15 AM Japan time), clean conditions were confirmed and the competition proceeded.
Although the swell was not particularly strong at that moment, it intensified suddenly from the southwest as the event commenced.
Just as the heats were about to begin, a formidable Teahupoo wave, known as the West Bowl, appeared.
In reaction to this unexpected change, the athletes competing in the first half of the heats quickly altered their surfboards.
“It was thrilling to witness how rapidly the waves transformed. The energy shifted dramatically within about 30 minutes. We had prepared with 6’1 and 6’2 boards, but once we got out there, we realized we needed 6’4 and 6’6 boards, so we all scrambled. Coaches were rushing to retrieve them.”
American Griffin Colapinto described the situation that morning:
There was a nine-point exchange and a series of perilous wipeouts, with several surfboards suffering damage.
It was a momentous day filled with many contests at Teahupoo, a breathtaking yet fierce wall of water formed by a natural phenomenon known as a slab.
Reo Inaba: From wipeout to victory
We start with the results from the Japanese national team, “Surfing Japan,” with all athletes advancing to Round 3.
The first to compete in Round 3 was Reo Inaba, the sole Japanese representative to win steadily from Round 1. He faced Filipe from Brazil, who had scored 9 points in Round 2 the day prior.
Initially, both surfers carefully selected their waves, but after a series of unsuccessful rides, Reo Inaba attempted his first run, only to experience a powerful wipeout that broke his surfboard in half. He was promptly rescued by a jet ski and went around the reef to acquire a replacement board. Perhaps the sudden baptism by Teahupoo invigorated him, as he returned smiling to his coach, Itsuki Tanaka, to retrieve a new surfboard and exchanged a few words with him.
After returning to the lineup, Reo Inaba remained composed and selected a medium-sized barrel, scoring a 3.17. Filipe’s first jump resulted in a good barrel with a grab rail, but he was ejected by a foam ball just before exiting, and his board broke again.
In contrast to Reo Inaba, Filipe appeared discouraged after returning to the lineup and made several poor wave selections, while Reo Inaba managed his second barrel and advanced to the quarterfinals with a total score of 6.00.
In the quarterfinals, he will face Alonso Correa from Peru, who defeated South Africa’s Jordy Smith.
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
Tied for 9th place in his second Olympics
Kanoa Igarashi faced the top favorite to win, Gabriel Medina from Brazil.
In the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, Kanoa was pushed back until the latter half but managed a remarkable comeback with a high, full rotation air at the end. However, at Teahupoo, which presented waves entirely different from Shidashita, he never got a chance until the end.
Early on in this heat, Gabriel was completely engulfed in a deep barrel typical of Teahupoo, and after breaking through, he spread his arms wide to signal for 10 points, taking the lead with a score of 9.90, his highest thus far. He continued to show no signs of slowing down, seemingly seeking revenge for the Tokyo Olympics, making successive barrels for a total score of 17.40.
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
Meanwhile, Kanoa suffered a freefall wipeout in the middle of the competition. He failed to catch any promising waves in the latter half either and was left with a combination score, which led to his elimination. His second Olympic Games concluded in a tie for 9th place.
After the heat, both surfers were smiling and congratulating each other like true sportsmen.
Gabriel remarked,“I’ve gotten 10s here a few times, so I knew I’d get it this time. The waves were just perfect. Losing at the Tokyo Olympics really hurt because I was so close to medaling. Kanoa beat me then, and now I got my revenge. I’m happy I was able to beat him.” This was his comment after defeating Kanoa.
Gabriel will compete against fellow Brazilian Joao Chianca in the quarterfinals.
Connor and Ethan’s Deadly Battle
Connor O’Leary competed against Ethan Ewing from Australia in the final heat of Round 3.
Once this heat began, the wind worsened, making it a life-and-death struggle.
The game started roughly with low scores, and participants wiped out each time they were picked up by jet skis and returned to the lineup.
In the middle of the race, despite the adverse weather and rain obscuring visibility, Connor executed a flawless barrel, with seaweed caught in it, scoring 8.00 and taking the lead.
In the latter half, Ethan seized a set in a necessary 5.51 situation and executed a barrel with a grab rail. He found an exit and scored 8.67 to turn the tide of the match. Just before the end, Connor needed a 6.18. With Ethan having priority, both he and Connor took off in that order, but both experienced dangerous wipeouts, and the heat concluded.
Connor tied for 9th place in his first Olympic appearance.
Many were moved by his fearless approach to the challenge.
Players from Host Country France Will Compete in the Quarter Finals
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
In the quarterfinals, Joan Duru, who has been impressively performing as a dark horse at the Paris Olympics, was matched up against local competitor Kauli Vaast.
Joan had the first challenging battle of the day against Alan Cleeland Jr. from Mexico in Heat 4, scoring 9.10 and 9.03 for a remarkable total of 18.13, the highest score achieved thus far.
Both surfers encountered massive waves, but Joan’s barrel was deeper and longer.
“I’m really excited to be here. I’m happy for the France team. We’ve made progress. I’m proud of the team, and we’re good friends. It’s an honor to represent France here.”
The Mexican Dedicated to Big Waves
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Surfing athletes from 21 countries are competing in the Paris Olympics, with six nations – Canada, China, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Spain – making their debut.
Alan, Mexico’s only competitor, had an experience he will cherish forever in his heat against Joan.
“We just wanted to tackle waves of this magnitude, so I maintained my focus and attempted to ride the big waves. I caught some enjoyable waves, and it felt great. I rode three waves that showed potential, and I’m grateful to be here representing my country. I demonstrated to everyone that I am capable on these waves and wanted to prove it. I’ve dedicated my entire life to big waves and have spent a lot of time in the ocean. Now I have the chance to truly showcase that to the world and share the platform with such incredible surfers. It feels fantastic to be able to put my name on this stage.”
“So many people have reached out to me, shared their stories, and said things like, ‘I’m supporting Alan for my flag!’ even though they know little about surfing. It’s wonderful to have such amazing support from my country, and I’m grateful for all the good people cheering me on. It’s an honor, and more. Being able to share this moment with my dad and the entire team has been a long time coming, and it demonstrates that hard work and dedication can take you further than you imagined. It shows that if you have a dream and pursue it, you can definitely achieve it.”
The Most Amazing Event of My Life
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
The anticipated matchup between Jack Robinson (AUS) and John John Florence (USA) was surprisingly uneventful, concluding with Robbo’s victory. However, the previous heat, where Gabby almost achieved a perfect score and the crowd erupted in excitement, was followed by the clash between Joao Chianca and Ramzi Boukiam, which became the highlight of the third day of the tournament.
Joao from Brazil, who recently recovered from a near-fatal incident at Backdoor, recorded three 8-point scores for a high score of 9.30. Ramzi from Morocco increased his scores with two 7-point and one 8-point score, finishing with 9.70. This illustrates just how intense this heat was.
No one can fault Ramzi for losing by just 0.30 points.
“I’m quite disappointed right now, but I’m happy with my performance. I did my best with the opportunity I had. This was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced. I was confident that with these waves, I could bring the gold medal back to Morocco. It was truly on another level.”
「Joan and I were like, “Let’s have fun, brother.” Ever since we started training at Teahupoo, we’ve been saying, “What if we compete on big waves?” Today, we took turns riding the waves, laughing and saying, “Brother, this is the moment. Look at that wave! It’s gigantic!” I knew this was the moment we’d been waiting for. Great heat, great barrels. Competing with one of the best surfers in the world was a dream. He didn’t need it, but we both wanted one last ride on the wave. Even though I lost, I can confidently say this was the best event of my life.”
The first call for the fourth day of the tournament will be at 6:15 AM local time on July 30th (1:15 AM Japan time on July 31st)
Due to the influence of a low-pressure system, severe storms are expected to occur over the next two days, July 30th and 31st.
ISA Paris 2024 official website:https://isasurf.org/event/paris-2024/
Photo: ISA/Tim Mckenna
(Kukai)
▼Paris Olympics Surfing Special Page
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On July 29th, a historic day dawned for the surfing events at the Paris Olympics, captivating fans and athletes alike with thrilling performances amid the powerful waves of Teahupoo.
The third day of the tournament saw the top 16 surfers on standby, with early forecasts predicting worsening wind conditions that could have jeopardized the day’s matches. However, by 6:15 AM local time (1:15 AM Japan time), pristine surfing conditions were confirmed, leading to an unexpected and exhilarating turn of events.
As the heats commenced, the ocean displayed its might—initially calm swells abruptly transformed into challenging waves, reminiscent of the notorious “West Bowl” at Teahupoo, renowned for its beauty and danger.
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
In a response to the sudden change in wave conditions, many athletes swiftly modified their gear. “It was exciting to see how the waves changed so quickly… We needed 6’4, 6’6 boards,” exclaimed American surfer Griffin Colapinto, highlighting the quick adjustments necessary to tackle the evolving surf.
The day was marked by fierce competition, where a nine-point exchange showcased spectacular rides interspersed with dangerous wipeouts, demonstrating the fierce nature of the Teahupoo waves—a venue buzzed with both admiration and fear.
Reo Inaba: From Wipeout to Victory
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Leading off for “Surfing Japan,” Reo Inaba advanced through the rounds impressively, representing Japan with tenacity. Up against Brazil’s Filipe Toledo, who had previously tallied an impressive 9 points, Inaba encountered early challenges including a catastrophic wipeout that shattered his surfboard. Enduring the ordeal with commendable spirit, he retrieved a replacement board and returned ready to compete.
Reo’s focus paid off, as he maneuvered through complex waves to score a 3.17 on his first successful run. On the contrary, Filipe struggled, with multiple misjudged wave selections leading to his elimination, while Inaba surged ahead to the quarterfinals with a total score of 6.00, showcasing the depth of talent from the Japanese team.
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Kanoa Igarashi: Tied for 9th Place
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
Kanoa Igarashi faced a tough challenge against Brazilian surf icon Gabriel Medina. Unlike the previous Tokyo Olympics where he made a stunning comeback, Igarashi struggled against the powerful Teahupoo waves. Medina quickly capitalized on the wave conditions, executing skillful barrels with impressive scores, ultimately posting a total of 17.40.
Despite Igarashi’s valiant efforts and a heart-pounding freefall wipeout, he finished in a tie for 9th place, displaying sportsmanship as he congratulated Medina after the event.
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Connor and Ethan’s Deadly Battle
Photo: ISA/Tim McKenna
In a nail-biting final heat, Australia’s Connor O’Leary faced off against Ethan Ewing. From the outset, challenging weather conditions tested both surfers’ skills. Early phases were marred by wipeouts; however, O’Leary emerged victorious with a spectacular barrel scoring 8.00, showcasing immense skill under pressure.
As the heat progressed, Ewing responded with precision, executing a well-timed barrel to score 8.67, narrowly clinching victory against O’Leary as both competitors entered a harrowing final stretch filled with wipeouts. Ultimately, O’Leary finished tied in 9th place, leaving a mark with his thrilling, fearless performance.
Photo: ISA/Tim McKenna
Local Talent Shines: France’s Quarter Finalists
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
French surfer Joan Duru emerged as a surprising dark horse, overcoming challenges with stunning performances. In a high-stakes heat against Kauri Vaast, Duru executed deep, lengthy barrels, posting dual scores of 9.10 and 9.03 for a total of 18.13 — the day’s highest score.
Duru said, “I’m really excited to be here… I’m proud to be representing France,” echoing the sentiment of a nation rallying behind its athletes.
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Alan Cleland Jr.: A Heartfelt Journey
Photo: ISA/Beatriz Ryder
Competing representing Mexico, Alan Cleland Jr. faced insurmountable odds but took every moment in stride, confirmed by his emotional sharing post-heat: “I’ve dedicated my life to big waves… showing that I can do it on this stage feels incredible.” Cleland’s dedication and resilience exemplify the spirit of competition at the Olympics.
An Event to Remember
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
The heat between Joao Chianca and Ramzi Boukiam illustrated the competitive intensity of the day, illuminating exceptional athleticism across the board. Despite a narrow loss, Boukiam reflected on the experience positively, considering it among the best events of his life in the face of fierce competition.
As the Paris Olympics surfing events continue, anticipation builds for the next call on July 30th, with weather conditions expected to create new challenges for surfers and spectators alike.
Quality coverage of the event can be found at the ISA Paris 2024 official website.
Photo: ISA/Pablo Jimenez
Photo: ISA/Tim McKenna
(Kukai)
▼ Paris Olympics Surfing Special Page