The swell that hit Teahupo’o at the end of April was very hyped up. Surfers from all over the world packed their tow boards and booked tickets to Tahiti in preparation. Nate Florence was one of them, along his brother Ivan, Eli Olsen, and Koa Rothman. The usual North Shore big wave guys, you know?
And while the swell didn’t live up to the sizable forecast — some sites were calling for 18-20 feet — it sure didn’t disappoint.
“Today was mind-blowing,” Nate said, standing in the grass as the sun set on the day. “The locals were holding it down. They always do. They were out there when the tow waves came. The whole crowd is scratching… like no one is paddling for it. No one wants a piece of it. The locals are on those waves.”
Unfortunately, however, the next day brought some serious bed news. After a deluge of rain, the tiny town at the end of the road was decimated by flash flooding. Cars were washed into the lagoon, houses were torn from their foundations, and many in the community are struggling. If you can spare a few bucks, here’s a link to donate and help them out.
