Current Status and Weather Impact
As of Wednesday, 31 July, we are on day four of the 10-day Olympic surfing window at the Tahitian surfing venue of Teahupo’o in French Polynesia. The competition has been paused since the afternoon of Monday, 29 July, due to unfavorable conditions, delaying the women’s round 3 competition.
Historic Waves and Competition Delays
Monday morning saw massive waves during the men’s round 3, creating an event that will be remembered in surfing history. However, the varying weather conditions have caused delays.
Insights from ISA President Fernando Aguerre
Olympics.com spoke with International Surfing Association (ISA) president Fernando Aguerre at Teahupo’o, located 9,000 miles from the Paris 2024 host city. Aguerre emphasized the unpredictability of surfing competitions, saying, “This is the ABC of any surfing competition — you're on standby.” Despite the delays, he noted, “There’s an excitement you can feel when you walk around here. Even the surfers who are out of the competition are hanging out with those still competing.”
Safety and Recovery
Aguerre highlighted the importance of safety, especially after the intense conditions on Monday, which included many wipeouts. “It’s not the same to wipe out anywhere in the world as to wipe out here,” he said. “When you see a surfer going over the lip and falling on the reef, we’re happy we haven’t had any major accidents. Protecting the athletes is our priority, and then comes the competition.”
Upcoming Schedule
The decision on whether to start women’s round 3 will be made at 5:45 p.m. Tahiti time on Wednesday, 31 July (5:45 a.m. Paris time on Thursday, 1 August). Once the competition resumes, it will continue with women’s round 3, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the bronze- and gold-medal matches.
Surfing Window
The 10-day surfing window runs through 5 August, giving athletes and organizers time to adapt to the weather and ensure a safe and exciting competition.