The 2024 Olympic venue for surfing is Teahupoʻo, the infamous break off the coast of Tahiti, which is 9,000-plus miles away from Paris Ed Sloane/Getty Images The surfers are not competing in Paris, but rather 9,000-plus miles away. After at the 2020 Tokyo Games, the highly-anticipated water sport is making its return to the Olympics, but this year, surfers are going head-to-head at a venue infamously deemed "the heaviest wave in the world." Surfers will compete at , a world-renowned surf break known for its and breathing-taking surroundings just off the coast of its small and quiet fishing village on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.
The wave is machine-like, pumping out picture-perfect barrels that are dream-like for any surfer. However, it's equally consequential due to the shallow reef beneath it. Team USA surfer — who's currently ranked No.
2 in the world on the WSL Tour — describes it as "one of the most dangerous, rewarding waves in the world." He previously : "You could either die out there or you could have the best ride of your life." Related: , reigning world champion surfer who's also repping Team USA, told PEOPLE Teahupo’o is "one of the most beautiful, incredible waves" but also notes "it's also one of the most in the world," too.
Since the surf venue is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you may be wondering what the Olympic Village equivalent is for the surfers competing in this year's Olympics. While they aren't residing with the rest of .