Special coverage of Olympic surfing on DUKE is presented by the International Surfing Association, The Island Surf Shop, SurfCycled, lineup, Swellboards, ALAS, Capi Bar, Quality Surfboards y Ramp 4 Kids  

Olympic surfing is not going to be on 20-foot waves surfed tow in, that is already known, you know it by looking at the extended forecast and without looking at it.

An Olympic medal changes the life of a professional athlete forever. Just ask Italo Ferreira. It's not just the economic incentive given by the country but also contracts with sponsors and a huge etcetera.

The medal itself, the honor of winning it is as big as the moon, there is no need to explain it.

And Kauli Vaast is one of the favourites. He knows every reef corner at Teahupoo, he rides switch on the wave, he does whatever he wants.

Do you need to risk your neck on that crazy wave? No. Of course not.

It is understandable that he likes it and that he wants it, and that precisely because he is one of the favourites, he controls all the elements better than anyone else. But he is taking unnecessary risks in the face of a competition that could change his life forever.

The French Olympic Committee failed yesterday by letting him do that, and so did everyone around Kauli.

A sprain, a blow, a scratch can end up affecting the performance of one of the favorites in the test.

Surfistically, what I'm saying is crap. Yes, it's true. The sea was huge and the boy had faith enough to go on the bomb.

But from a sporting point of view and looking at the young Tahitian's long-term career, it seems prudent. Very prudent.

 

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DUKE's presence in Tahiti to cover Olympic surfing is also possible thanks to Xavier Aguirre, Philippe Demarsan, Pepe Gelos, Chifle Pérez del Castillo, Juanja Vargas, Zinka Mendoza Josefina and Tomás Barbé, Mónica Ugalde, Pilar Aguerrebere, Edu Fernández and Wilma Ehni.