Live on Red Bull TV: World’s Best Surfers Battle Huge Teahupo’o for Lexus Tahiti Pro
The stage is set in French Polynesia as the Lexus Tahiti Pro, the 11th and final stop on this year’s Championship Tour, delivers jaw-dropping action at Teahupo’o – the iconic break that will host the 2024 Paris Olympic surfing event. With places in the WSL Finals in Fiji on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
This year, fans can enjoy something new – the first-ever French commentary for a CT event, provided by Tahitian legend Michel Bourez, exclusively on Red Bull TV.
Opening Day: Power, Passion, and Perfect Tubes
Day one of competition roared to life with the men’s Opening and Elimination Rounds. The wave’s trademark thunderous barrels tested every surfer’s skill, grit, and courage.
The biggest story belonged to South Africa’s Jordy Smith, who clinched his spot in the WSL Final 5 in dramatic style. Facing elimination against local wildcard Teiva Tairoa, Smith produced the day’s highest score – a 9.50 – on a wave that demanded late-drop commitment, precise barrel navigation, and raw power.
“I’m just fcking stoked, bru!”*
His post-heat interview summed it up perfectly:
Local Hero Kauli Vaast Steals the Show
Event wildcard and reigning Paris 2024 Olympic champion Kauli Vaast made his hometown proud with a flawless 16.33 heat win, securing his place in the Round of 16. At a wave that has shaped his career, Vaast once again proved that he’s one of the most dangerous competitors in Tahiti.
The Race for the WSL Final 5 Heats Up
Brazil’s Ítalo Ferreira, the 2020 Olympic champion, kicked off the event with a confident heat win to tighten his grip on a Finals berth. Meanwhile, Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS), and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) kept their Finals dreams alive with strong performances.
For Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), a surprise defeat by local wildcard Mihimana Braye has left his Finals hopes hanging by a thread.
A New Era in Surf Broadcasting
The Lexus Tahiti Pro will run from August 7–16, with every heat streamed live on Red Bull TV. Finals day will be historic, featuring French-language commentary for the first time on a CT event, with Michel Bourez offering expert insight into every critical moment at “The End of the Road.”
As the world’s best continue to chase their spot in Fiji, Teahupo’o has once again proven why it is considered one of surfing’s most revered and feared venues. The women’s competition will kick off as soon as the remaining men’s Elimination Round heat concludes.
📺 Watch it all live on Red Bull TV
