The World Surf League (WSL) is currently in Tahiti, French Polynesia, for the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro event, where the top surfers in the world are competing. Griffin Colapinto, who is currently leading the Championship Tour rankings, and John John Florence, a legendary surfer close behind in third place, are both focused on the upcoming Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti, where they will represent the United States in the men’s division. While Colapinto is trying not to think too much about the Olympics in order to avoid creating expectations, he is using his time in Tahiti to focus on the waves and breaks he will face during the competition. He acknowledges the importance of gaining experience at Teahupo’o, a tricky break, to build confidence and improve his skills.
Colapinto describes the unique challenges of surfing in Tahiti, particularly at Teahupo’o, where the reef is split in two, creating different breaks depending on the size of the swell. He emphasizes the importance of spending time in the water to familiarize oneself with the waves and work on positioning. Florence, with previous Olympic experience, utilizes recorded notes to document his equipment preferences for specific conditions, a practice he will continue in Tahiti. Despite the recent arrival of his first child, a son named Darwin, Florence is focused on performing well in the WSL event in Tahiti and moving up in the rankings.
While Colapinto and Florence may be rivals in the water during the WSL event in Tahiti, they will soon become teammates as they prepare to represent the U.S. at the upcoming Olympic surfing competition. They plan to share their experiences and knowledge gained from surfing in Tahiti in hopes of achieving success for their country. Colapinto emphasizes the advantage that local surfers have at Teahupo’o due to their familiarity with the wave, making it essential for him to gain as much experience as possible before the Olympics. Florence, on the other hand, focuses on analyzing his equipment choices and taking notes to optimize his performance in varying conditions.
For Colapinto and Florence, the focus is not only on the current WSL event in Tahiti but also on preparing for the Olympic competition that will take place at the same location. Both surfers are determined to make the most of their time in the water, learning from the challenging breaks at Teahupo’o and refining their skills. Despite being rivals in some competitions, Colapinto and Florence recognize the importance of working together as teammates to represent the United States and hopefully secure a successful outcome this summer. As they continue to compete in Tahiti and beyond, they remain dedicated to honing their craft and striving for excellence in the world of professional surfing.
