TEAHUPO'O, TAHITI -- As the heavy, barrel-shaped waves of Teahupo鈥檕, Tahiti 鈥� where the Paris Olympics surfing competition is being held 鈥� crashed in the distance, another, smaller surf session was underway just off the shore.
鈥淕o, go, go!鈥� one lanky teenager with sun-bleached hair yelled in French to another, sitting on their surfboards in the ocean. 鈥淎llez, allez!鈥�
Seconds later, whoops and whistles of approval from other young surfers in the water and parents sitting on the beach filled the air, as 14-year-old French Polynesian surfer Kiara Goold cruised along a four-foot-high (1.2-metre-high) wave, smiling.
It's a sight locals and visitors to Tahiti would not have been able to see until recently, 38-year-old French Polynesian professional surfer Michel Bourez said.
鈥淏ack in the day, there were no kids surfing,鈥� said Bourez, who first hopped on a board as a teenager.
While Teahupo'o has been a coveted destination for surfers from around the world for decades, it's only in more recent years that local surf culture and talent among younger generations began to develop across Tahiti. With two French Polynesian surfers included in the 2024 Olympics, the surfing community expects local interest in the sport to grow.
Locals said Bourez has been a steward in the development of local surfing talent and culture in recent years. Partly driven by the lack of resources he had when starting out and then finding success in his own career, Bourez said he began training talented young local surfers he spotted across the island's shores.
鈥淥therwise, all the knowledge that I gained during all these years will be gone 鈥� and for no reason," Bourez said. "We have to give back to the local community and surfers.鈥�
Goold is one of the young local surfers Bourez has mentored. Growing up in French Polynesia, Goold said she has spent time on the ocean since before she could remember, but only got serious about surfing around age 8.
鈥淚 challenge myself by doing things that maybe I don't want to do,鈥� she said. That means hitting the gym and surfing when the waves are really big. "I just try to train really hard.鈥�
Goold said she feels it's paid off: she's traveled internationally to compete and won youth tournaments at home in French Polynesia.
But most days, she can be found with other young surfers along the shores of Tahiti, catching waves and playfully competing against each other.
鈥淲e keep pushing each other,鈥� Goold said with a laugh. 鈥淲e just hang out, and it鈥檚 super fun.鈥�
The inclusion of two French Polynesian surfers 鈥� Vahiné Fierro and Kauli Vaast 鈥� in the Paris Olympics also has been a major boost for the promotion and development of local surfing, Bourez said.
鈥淭hey've become kids' idols here," he said.
Fierro and Vaast know they have inspired young local surfers.
鈥淭his is the best thing in the world, because I was them a couple years ago," Vaast said after winning his second round heat. "We try to do our best, to give the best energy, the best personality for them. We try to be the best example possible.鈥�
Vahine, who was the first Tahitian wild card to claim a victory during the World Surf League at Teahupo鈥檕, said the shift in surfing culture for French Polynesian women has been especially noticeable.
鈥淚鈥檝e really seen the change, whether it鈥檚 out here at home, or on the beach breaks. There鈥檚 almost as many girls as men, and it鈥檚 really cool to see," Fierro said.
While Goold plans to have years of surfing and competition ahead of her, she said she already knows what she will say to the next generation of French Polynesian surfers who might come asking her for advice.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to say, 鈥楩ollow you dreams 鈥� the only thing you can do for now is work really hard and stay positive. Have fun.鈥欌��
