Teahupoo

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Teahupo'o (or 'Chopes as it is sometimes called) is a deadly reef break. It is mainly left-breaking, but the outer reef also creates right breaks that surfers must be cautious of when paddling out. Teahupo'o is also renowned for the consistent number of "barrels" it delivers. It is a rewarding location and is widely regarded as being on the 'must-surf' list of every enthusiastic surfer. However, only experienced surfers in peak physical condition should attempt Teahupo'o; heavy waves combined with a shallow shoreline can result in serious injuries and even death in a wipeout.

Bodyboarding pioneers Mike Stewart and Ben Severson surfed Teahupo'o in 1986 and it soon became an underground spot for thrill-seeking bodyboarders. Few professional surfers rode Teahupo'o during the early '90s and it was only in 1998, at the Gotcha Tahiti Pro, that Teahupo'o became widely recognized as having some of the heaviest waves in the world. [ [http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=925 Surfline, Surfing A-Z: Teahupoo] Retrieved April 30, 2007] On August 17, 2000 Laird Hamilton is credited with surfing the heaviest wave ever ridden, documented in the film "Riding Giants". In 2003 the late Malik Joyeux successfully rode one of the largest waves ever ridden.

Keala Kennelly was the first woman to tow-surf Teahupo'o in May 2005, getting a 10-foot barrel ahead of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest. ["Tracks" magazine, August 2005, ISSN 1032-3317.]

This challenging break has been conquered by many top windsurfers, including Jason Polakow and Levi Siver. Jeremie Eloy, Julien Sudrat and Yannick Salmon were the first kitesurfers to ride Teahupo'o in September 14th 2006.

References

External links

* [http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/teahupoo.cfm Teahupo'o History] at [http://www.surfline.com Surf Line]
* [http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?land=Tahiti&surfing=2263&travel=Teahupoo Teahupo'o Surf Travel Info and Pictures] at [http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?land=Tahiti&surfing=2263&travel=Teahupoo GlobalSurfers]
* [http://www.surfline.com/mag/features/teahupoo/index.html Teahupo'o Travel Guide] at [http://www.surfline.com Surf Line]
* [http://surfermag.com/photos/potpourri/2000-2002/index18.html The famous "Surfer" magazine cover of Laird Hamilton riding The Wave at Teahupoo, 17 August 2000]
* [http://www.tim-mckenna.com/porfolio-gallery-1-teahupoo.html Another set of photographs of Laird Hamilton riding The Wave at Teahupoo, 17 August 2000, by Tim McKenna]
* [http://www.tropic-island.net/gallery/img.php?id_
]
* [http://tim-mckenna.com/trips-20060920-122650.html?cat=Teahupoo+%26+Kite photo gallery showing kitesurfing on Teahupoo]