Tahiti’s waves are a matter of ‘life or death’ for Olympic surfers
NPRTahiti’s waves are a matter of ‘life or death’ for Olympic surfers toggle caption Ben Thouard/POOL AFP NPR is in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. This is the second Olympics to feature surfing — with Hopkins and others beginning on the weekend — but it’s the first time competitors are riding waves that are a matter of “life or death,” according to professional big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara. “When it’s getting big, it’s the heaviest wave in the world for me and the most perfect wave in the world,” Tahiti's Kauli Vaast told olympics.com. “It is something that brings out the best in you and makes you grow as a person.” toggle caption Ben Thouard/Pool AFP So far, the waves haven’t caused any real issues for surfers in the opening days of competition.