New Olympic Tower Rejected by Teahupoo Locals
This morning, a new video was released by Matahi Drollet who's spearheading opposition to the Paris 2024 Olympic tower at Teahupoo.
You may recall the original $5 million Euro alumimium tower with all mod cons was knocked on the head, replaced with a "sober" version of the same. However, that tower, despite being a compromise, would still require 12 new footings and 56 new holes which is an unacceptable burden on the reef according to Matahi Drollet.
Pressed for time, the latest rejection puts pressure back on Olympic organisers. Also, if Instagram comments are to be believed, there's a growing discontent about the silence from competing surfers.
Lorenzotahiti: "To all the surfers surfing the Olympic choose wisely which side you’re on."
Kevinwalshy: "Why not pressure the surfers that are competing in the Olympics to boycott it to put a stop to this?"
Connerhats: "All the teams need to boycott till they do it right."
Northshorechevy: "Hoping all invitee participants, sponsors and vendors boycott this event."
Aria_jorg: "Athletes should #boycotttheolympics this is outrageous for three days of competition to destroy such an invaluable piece of nature."
Alicia_dean: "Surfers who have qualified for the Olympics need to boycott it..."
The next move by the IOC will see whether the Olympics are staged at Teahupoo or at Taharuu, the black sand beach on the road to Teahupoo.
Comments
Crickets. Taharuu and Flippy can win!
Matahi telling it like it is.
Would be nice if if the corporate world of surfing who soley benefits from their riders pushing product from the place, spoke up in support of the local area they have been happy to use for the continuing success of their team.
To have the guts to take a sensible stand. Do they have the guts or does the product and revenue of their business model out strip the rights and wishes of every day Tahitians at the end of the road.
Plenty of class surfing and media has come out of that place over the years. With many doing well from it's beauty and gifts it has provided them. Be a great time for modern surfing to stand up, (but can it).
Despite locals expressing concern of the conduct of this issue and all it represents.
Has the reef and local concerns been left out in the quest for money and olympic mc dallions from the top riders who regularly surf it and companies of the sport who are all to happy to benefit regardless of impact. Nothing like false greenwashing and mc dallions in the name of profit and progress.
Quote:
Pressed for time, the latest rejection puts pressure back on Olympic organisers. Also, if Instagram comments are to be believed, there's a growing discontent about the silence from competing surfers.
Lorenzotahiti: "To all the surfers surfing the Olympic choose wisely which side you’re on."
Kevinwalshy: "Why not pressure the surfers that are competing in the Olympics to boycott it to put a stop to this?"
Connerhats: "All the teams need to boycott till they do it right."
Northshorechevy: "Hoping all invitee participants, sponsors and vendors boycott this event."
Aria_jorg: "Athletes should #boycotttheolympics this is outrageous for three days of competition to destroy such an invaluable piece of nature."
Alicia_dean: "Surfers who have qualified for the Olympics need to boycott it..."
The next move by the IOC will see whether the Olympics are staged at Teahupoo or at Taharuu, the black sand beach on the road to Teahupoo.
Many a companies rider benifit from tahiti but are they going to raise their voice, for whats right or just continue riding the free gravy train at teahupoo's cost? Olympic hopeful or not.
Tahiti never needed or wanted this.
Tahiti don't need this tower, it dosen't fit, But the corporates, or pirates cant see it. Mauruuru for tahiti and well spoken Matahi and team.
Agree with the above - surely now is the time for the elite surfers and their corporate sponsors to stand up and boycott the destruction of the reef and/or the event.
A reef, they have bought into the public eye and profited from for more than 20 years. What are you waiting for, now is the time to act.
Imagine the WSL turning up 5 years from now for a contest on a denuded reef, set within a staving village - what are you going to do then, claim there was "nothing we could have done' - come on.
Show some pluck; elite surfers, the surfing industry, and your corporate vehicles. Be the change you want to see.
Yeah well said mate.
I remember “discovering “ the place
(Yeah I know, but it did feel a bit like that!)
Late 1980s
Nobody out never saw another surfer
A beautiful village in an outrageously beautiful setting.
Sure has sold a LOT of merch since then.
Maybe this one is worth taking a stand on
Lots of corporates, insta boys & babes talk the talk, but…..
Yippee > I'm envious of your "discovery" - except I would have been gazing out to sea at the enormity of the task of riding those waves!
Since writing the above I have contacted the CEO of the state body that runs the WSL contest here and asked could he contact the WSL, given he is a "partner" and therefore may have some influence, in response he said:
1. Thanks for contact re the issue - the issue has been created by the ISA ( international surfing assoc ) who is linked to the International Olympic Committee who have wanted to build a better tower - hence the result.
2. The WSL are not involved in this as they continue to use the local made tower built 20 years ago.
3. Unsure what can now be done about it given construction is well and truly underway.
That sounds like a hopeless scenario to me? Unless some real power-brokers in surfing's corporate world stand up and be counted. Come on, who are you? Where are you?
RR
Pro surfers speaking out against the WSL or IOC ? , dont think so . Cant they just plant some reef when there .
Only if they all pick up two pieces of plastic each as well
If Kelly spoke out in support of the locals, i am sure the IOC would acquiesce very quickly!
Hard to imagine in the current climate of job insecurity for pro surfers and semi-pros that anyone would dare speak up and bite the hand that feeds.
Yeah, that’s why it’s called courage.
To do the right thing, while fully understanding that your decision may incur costs, injury or worse.
I still don't understand why given the quality of waves in France, why it has to be held in Tahiti.
Yes I get the "ultimate challenge" aspect - but really?
Atlantic goes flat for months some summers......
Time of year.
Flat in summer.
The initial protest should be against the whole idea of surfing as an Olympic sport...then, at such a place like that. The whole thing makes me sick with frustration really. And personally I'm so far removed from this garbage.. you could judge it from a boat there. Where's Kelly?...get involved GOAT
"Doesn’t make sense to need such a giant tower for a 2 days event one time. Give the money to local infrastructure in the town for all the damage done from changing the river that caused floods earlier this year. The judges can get on that tower. Or rebuild the frame on same footing." Kelly Slater
Am I being cynical if I think the Goat's weighing in because it's very unlikely he'll get a guernsey?
Maybe it's time for the WSL (who claim to have environmental credibility) to stand up and back the locals.
Interesting to consider the timeline on that remarkable wave. I am no expert, but the first I saw of it was in a magazine maybe 2 decades or so ago, with (I think) Joel Fitzgerald and maybe Poto or another local surfing what at the time looked truly extraordinary, at 8-10' - the power and majesty of it, from the hair-raising drops to immense barrels. That was then, and as per usual, the break wasn't named. Since that time, of course, it has become, deservedly, one of the most famous breaks on Earth, attracting all the big names and wanabees from all over. The reef itself clearly has incredible water flow, so the localized pollution of all the water craft and humans, their sunscreens and personal waste should be dispersed, in line with the old (discredited) adage, dilution is the solution ... Putting a substantial structure on the reef will cause localized damage, minor in the grand environmental scheme of things, but not so minor in respect of the cultural beliefs of locals. But from a devil's advocate perspective, have they brought this onto themselves in publicizing the spot (not only them of course)? I seem to recall a somewhat similar situation re the Cortez Bank, when originals (who had publicized their dare-devil exploits) were upset when large numbers of crew descended on it subsequently. A similar fate is suffered by all famous surf breaks these days, given the many millions of surfers, wealth, and an often undeserved sense of entitlement to do whatever one pleases. In respect of the Olympics, if the comp does happen there, maybe the judges could view the competition remotely, via cameras, as the rest of us do? Unlikely I know ...
Think more than the tower, the locals might be getting cold feet over the whole event.
I've surfed plenty of waves that were unknown or small exposure only to have the pro's or ct make em exposed/crowded.
pretty sure teahupoo will gain far too much exposure or this whole mess.
Kinda funky asking the surfers to boycott .
The spokes person is sponsored by a New York investment capital company...
.....................
"pretty sure teahupoo will gain far too much exposure or this whole mess." For sure. The spectacular beauty of the place is gonna make millions of Olympic viewers want to go there. Surfers or not.
Plenty of pro's and ex beneficiaries who won't be surfing the olympics and have surfed it allot could be saying something to add support to a sensible cause.
And on the other hand we could hear from the local contingents who agree publicly in favour before Olympic progress continues. Always two sides of the coin but the sway from the recent articles and above protest is that the locals are against it.
And that should be of importance. So often it's been unbalanced in the way professionalism and ethical conduct play out not just in surfing but all commodified sports. The olympics is no different. Big bucks to be made. Pro's to corporations benefit well above most locals and their best interests often. It shouldn't nor need be this way. If they are happy to benefit as much as they do, they should be listening to the voices being raised. I'm not against pro's comps,or the olympics I just think it could be implemented a whole lot better in regards to the issues at the end of the road.
?si=GEao1L-BfAlyjcd4"The three values of olympism are excellence, friendship and respect. they constitute the foundation on which the olympic movement builds its activities to promote sport, culture and education with a view to building a better world."
https://olympics.com/ioc/olympic-values
It is wise to be cautious allowing any bureaucracy to manage any project, without effective community consideration, consensus and sustainability based on ecological science.
Not so far away in time or distance.....from Tahiti
"France conducted 193 nuclear tests from 1966 to 1996 at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia, (including 41 atmospheric tests until 1974), that exposed the local population, site workers and French soldiers to high levels of radiation."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/09/france-has-underestimated-...
May be one of the the best left hand reef breaks wave in the world is now 'permanently' radioactive (est. radioactive half life of 14,000 years).
The Centre d'expérimentation nucléaire Français de Muruoa
https://moruroa-files.org/fr/investigation/battle-for-compensation
"The establishment of long-term radiological environmental monitoring systems in French Polynesia was established in 1962. However, few scientific publications are available concerning the groups of radioactive exposure to fallout and the long-term effects of these nuclear tests, in particular on the health of the Polynesian population and trained civilian and military personnel"
https://www-inserm-fr.translate.goog/expertise-collective/essais-nucleai...
Fangataufa Atoll nuked by a 2.6 Megaton blast
22°16'48.2"S 138°45'50.1"W
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yJHnoKt7GEnq9BQ3A
quesion, whats gonna cause more short, medium, long term damage to the reef. heavy jetski and boat traffic now seen at 6ft swells or the viewing pad? i guarentee its the former... these blokes cant have their cake and eat it too. pull all use of skis and boats in the channel and then ill buy into this contradictory roundabout
Haha, I was just about to pen the same, 'you can't have your cake and eat it too'.
Im just baffled at how shocked and outraged people are.
LOL.
Tails from The Tube by Shaun Doherty.
6:38am 16th Aug 2013 Teahupoo ASP
Story is about about "The Rock Eater"
The Game is Toss the Rock out into the Lagoon & The Rock Eater returns it to yer Feet...go again...
Not said but...presumably the next rock toss seems to hit something trivial & rolls along...
The Rock Eater snags and slobbers a Thin Black Cable in his mouth...Dumb Dog...initially comical!
Sorry! Not tbb's story to tell...safe to say the Teahupoo Cable Guy has Kittens.
https://www.surfer.com/features/billabong-pro-tahiti-day-1-2013
GOAT & Pros / Big Wigs support groundswell protest against new Olympic Judging Tower...
Gets real blurry from there on in...
Kelly : "Doesn't make sense to need a giant tower for a 2 days event one time.
Give the money to local infrastructure in the town for all the damage done from changing the river that caused the floods earlier this year. The judges can get on that tower. Or rebuild the frame on same footing."
Reads as 6 of one or half a dozen of the other ...hedging one's bets ~ 2 Bob each way!
Result was as expected...
Kelly's ambiguous retort was naturally misconstrued as both opposition & support for new tower!
Bonus Lucky Dip will surprise a few...
Olympics organizing Committee Prez Tony Estanguet Aug 2022 Teahupoo Pro Surf Safari.
After a Post Comp Teahupoo surf - Tony climbs up into deserted Judges tower to inspect it for himself!
tbb is just confirming the Olympic Prez callin' the shots > knows the said wooden tower inside out...
https://www.lequipe.fr/Adrenaline/Surf/Actualites/Tony-estanguet-conquis...
* WLS often run twin towers on this Reef
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7oMWcQbB-aQ/TkklEd6-wZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/btDrTVUUO...
https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/rx10m4_20180...
* 2 or possibly 3 towers have previously been wiped out during Teahupoo Comps
CJ Hobgood : They tried this aluminium tower back in the day, turned to a birds nest after first Big Swell.
https://www.surfer.com/trending-news/teahupoo-locals-peacefully-protest-...
2008
http://www.cookiesound.com/2010/01/teahupoo-tahiti-judging-tower/
2011
*https://www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Surfing/Cleanup-at-Chopes-Judges-tower...
Dodgy non approved Olympic River Dredging & Foreshore works compound natural degradation.
https://www.shutterstock.com/shutterstock/photos/1512115226/display_1500...
Compared to neighbouring Valleys ...Teahupoo watershed is denuded of Native Vegetation
Hastening flooding with each deeper cut Lagoon channels to fuel the wave.
Mega floods now further undermining the shoreline & cracking the reef.
Perhaps cabling the New Tower to the Shore may knit it all together to wrangle a few more Comps.
Endangered town ramps endangered wave endangering the town...Olympic ideal wedding.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1794609/tahiti-villagers-say-barge-for-olympic...
It's official. The tower has the go ahead, against all local concerns and wishes.
This is straight out fcked. How!??
Fuk the olympics. Surfing has nothing to do with it.
Send em packing Chopes locals. Bring the Biff. Grrrr!
I reckon things are about to get interesting.
When has a local surfing population ever been over run and heavy handed by an outside entity that weren't surfers themselves and hoped to utilize the said locals prime commodity.
This is going to get very interesting.
Precedents galore. Every pro surfer needs to boycott this shit. Otherwise they're complete sell outs.
Popcorn!!
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1143089/end-controversy-surfing-...
Yay the olympics. So good, even Hitler took to the stage to open them one year.
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-olympics-berl...
Detach from this bullshit surfing...
I repeat....EVERY PRO SURFER NEEDS TO BOYCOTT THIS SHIT.
I hope you lot are listening. Now's the time to choose between your own personal fame and glory and what it really means to surf and be connected to the ocean and all that comes with it.
This is a line in the sand. Where do you stand?
I'm with the Tahitian surfers on this one who are making a moral stand, but more than that, a stance based on eons of understanding their reef, it's rhythms, it's wildlife that survive off it, and their own spiritual connection to it.
But a moral stance none the less. If it's so easy to take what you want without permission, where does it end.
Fk the olympics. Stick your shotput and flatwater goatboating where the sun don't shine.
No place for surfing, the sport of Kings/Queens and outcasts.
Storm in a tea cup
Where was all this rhetoric when ripcurl admitted to making shit in North Korea in slave conditions that we were happy to buy
As I said before, don’t agree with the tower but seems just convenient to call out the olympics
Bustard if you say you don't agree with the tower, then who do you call out that's not an inconvenience??
Since it does seem to be the olympics that want to bully their way in, i'd assume they'd be your starting point.
As for ripcurl, comparing a completely different situation that has zero to do with the topic is a shit way to mount any argument.
To be built just in time for the WSL CT event. What a surprise.......
The wozzle is just as complicit in this thing as the IOC imo.
Fark the lot of them.