See: The Tahitian Wave That Shattered Australian World Title Hopeful Ethan Ewing’s Spine!

“Almost no one who was present knew about the accident.”

As reported yesterday, the Australian world title hopeful Ethan Ewing shattered two vertebrae while warming-up for the Tahiti Pro at Teahupoo, which begins in two days.

Ewing, who is twenty four, was rated second in the world coming into the event and had not only secured his spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the surfing to be held at Teahupoo, but also in the Finals Day showdown at Lower Trestles in September.

At around nine-thirty in waves described as “six foot, sold, west and proper” Ewing wiped out and was shuttled to shore on a jetski.

Keale Lemos, who filmed the wave, said Ewing’s wave, nothing special, a smallish insider, “didn’t get any attention and we didn’t notice any rescue either. Almost no one new about the accident until the news arrived a little later.”

The twenty four year old from North Stradbroke Island famously won the Bells Beach event this year 40 years after his late mama had won the women’s there and was considered a considerable chance to wrest the world title from small-wave wizard Filipe Toledo.

If Ewing doesn’t make it to Finals Day, waiting period September 8 through 16, only four surfers will compete for the title.