If you cannot give me three facts about this surfer, you must watch Road to Teahupo'o.
If you cannot give me three facts about this surfer, you must watch Road to Teahupo'o.

Surf fans scramble to meet new Olympians day after final tickets punched

Homework time.

The 2024 Paris Olympics just very well might be the pinnacle of competitive professional surfing. The highest of highs and now under five months away. Teahupo’o is, of course, one of the most stunning waves on the planet and will provide a fabulous stage for heroes and heroines to shine but the surf fan has some homework before the torch is lit.

Namely, who are Cody Young, Alan Quinones, Lucca Messina, and Bill Stairmand? Oh we are familiar with the World Surf League stars and starlets, the Jordy Smiths and Carissa Moores, and will be happy to see them shine but the Olympics are custom built for upsets and imagine our embarrassment when, sitting on couch with aunts and uncles, watching the action when one of them asks, “Who’s Sol Aguerre?

Faces growing hot and red whilst we attempt to mumble something that sounds reasonable while not knowing even though surf fandom has a very low bar.

Shameful.

Thankfully, the legendary filmmaker Paul Taublieb is here for us. The Emmy-award winner has just dropped Teahupo’o Surf Camp: Road to Paris 2024 on the Olympic channel. The 40-minute documentary follows hopefuls as they head to Teahupo’o in order to be coached by local Tahitian Tereva David. There, they train, surf and share their backgrounds etc. Essential and especially when the eyes of aunts and uncles are burning holes.

Enjoy here.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Join the discussion

Your comments are still here. Every one of them.

Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.

Unclaimed
Handle
Comments
Posting since

Connect Disqus to reveal.

Subscribe
Notify of
56 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Surf Ranch Bro

What’s the Olympics? https://media3.giphy.com/me…

Rocks local

Gorilla the prophet with the truth. Moonlit beaches and empty lineups…those were good times. All for the pool migration.

Noncompetitor

Is the Love Boat still happening in the Chopes channel?

Dogsnuts

He’s a kiwi.
He fucks sheep.
He will work for less and harder too.
His cuzzy’s play some mean guitar.
When his dad is driving blazed he drives like dussssss 🛞 👀 🛞
Xox

Low wide stinkbug stance

He will whinge about not being able to vote in another country’s elections.

Cuntry Singer

Olympics in LA in 2028. Surfing will really shine then, I mean imagine gold medal surfing at Topanga or El Porto. Maybe go fund me funding for Palm Springs, or Kellys botched development in teh Coachella valley happens now? Really show the world how incredible the symbology of a bunch off zeroes ala Olympic symbol really does add up to just that, zeroes.

tim_nelsen

haggerty’s had a pool…saltwater lagoon was near the deli? PV Drive…

Pauly Matt War-Shore
Michael Flatlately

Wow. Have you got this in high res? Actually, no bother, it’d probably look even more skux all pixelated. Might dust-off the ol’ inkjet. The back of my core cupboard door could do with a change.

Happy Camper

this is t-short and hoodie material.

you need to print one of these on the front of your red lifeguard speedos

tim_nelsen
Happy Camper

deep pit bucket hat.
for the man’s man who likes getting deep in dark water barrels

tim_nelsen

concusses…period~

Michael Flatlately

The ‘t-short,’ interesting.

Happy Camper

T-back shorts are all the rage.

you should apply for the gig of painting the old Te Whakaputanga o te rangatiratanga o Niu Tirene on all those La Femme Kiwi, well fortified, dairy plump cheeks that gonna be chilling in the channel.

Michael Flatlately

I had to google that. The second bit, not the T-backs.

Internet Technician - Level 5

Lucca Messina was on the CT for 1 year and Billy Stairmand is a long-suffering QS warrior who once beat Slater in a heat at Margies. And I don’t even call myself a surf-journalist nor run a weekly surf podcast.

@surfads

I was very happy to learn about Sol Aguirre

Internet Technician - Level 5

likewise 🙂

Capt Sensible

Sitting back watching as the surf media and industry leaches all transition to fans of the Olympics, just like they did with the pools , what a bunch of kooks not an original thought amongst the lot of them.

AI (for ever) .

Is it worth running the Wsl in a Olympic year?
I mean who wants be crowned a champion at 2 ft trestles when you have a gold Olympian at teepoo!?!

Kinda downsizes the Wsl to irrelevant doesn’t it

Sellme fitzgobbins

Like the world champ being decided in a one day contest, surfing again stikes out on its own with the way Olympic athletes are chosen ….Should be the best surfers from each country , not who wins a contest in Puerto Rico. Stupid

Michael Flatlately

Negative

Damaged kiwi

Just missed out. it’s impressive Billy qualified 2 in a row

Sean Connery

Wake me up when its over.

Firelipe Torpedo

Alan has a good chance of taking home a medal if it’s serious teahupoo on offer.

Jin

How to offend every kiwi BG reader

Shane Durian

Not offended.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Billy surprises by sneaking through a couple heats – Billy would be used to threading backhand tubes at the Ledge

Also wouldn’t be surprised if he bombs tho

Jin

Oh, he will bomb for sure.

But I’m still insulted

Mapski

Searching for Siqi Yang.

Low wide stinkbug stance

AKA Kelly’s Chinese Girlfriend. Don’t be surprised if “she” paddles out for her heat with a bald head and strangely familiar style.

ricmatic

The labyrinth to get there is the easy part.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Still gotta paddle over that ledge

tim_nelsen

the wave pool basin has designed contours that shape the man-made waves. just add greenery. and of course mice&men. or is that the dead reef?

ricmatic

The Grapes of Wrath Pro

tim_nelsen

The Tour Plane With The Band…needs a cover shot~ and a one hit wonder! and a Safe& Sane Landing…on a brazzi landin’ strip…

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….

tim_nelsen

Pismo. Morro. Steamer. Trestles? all have offered horsesback rides…

Michael Flatlately

Of all the things you’ve written that have left me outraged, that caption has just topped the lot. I’m blind.

Chas Smith

You have to give me 4 facts now.

Michael Flatlately

I’ll give you eight – 8 x NZ national champion.

Michael Flatlately

EIGHT! I’m shrill.

Chas Smith

It’s the beauty of the Olympics. Regional heroes finally get known where it matters. USA! USA! USA!

Michael Flatlately

Although it’s Bill’s second Olympics. And about his 22nd year on the QS.

Sean Connery

22nd year?! How many gofundme’s is that I wonder?

Damaged kiwi

What a battler. Pretty impressive how he’s still going. Hopefully he has a good go on the QS this year

Michael Flatlately

Sean, that was Ricardo Christie who did the gofundme, not Billy. Know your kiwi.

Sean Connery

Must have family money

Michael Flatlately

More information than you need, or were expecting, and it’s the type of thing I’d normally reserve for ol’ mate Gil, who can’t get enough kiwi facts, but, Bill – I believe – is from very humble stock. About as grass roots as you get. And the poor bugger has had to deal with a lot of family tragedy.

Abscessed Llama

Lost his mum and younger brother as per the short film. The guy can sit at my dinner table anytime..

Sean Connery

Well shit. I think I will just go let myself out now.

tim_nelsen

but we still luv our x-pats? hardly…

Rocks local

… but is he sponsored by Jack Link’s??

Low wide stinkbug stance

With his name he’d surely be sponsored by Bailey’s ladders?

Andy C

Which is the competitive equivalent of 1 Surfest Win

astro

Sad, but true … but given that most kiwis don’t give a rats arse about comp surfing it’s not surprising that most pros have to head to Aus to get somewhat skilled.

deeks

He’s on the alpacino coffee today for sure

tim_nelsen

nobody punches tickets anymore. we use scalpers~


56
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x