Reigning Olympic champion Carissa Moore said she was “thrilled” just to be a surfer after the Paris Games venue in Tahiti put on a perfect day of surfing for the world’s biggest sporting audience.
Teahupo’o, which translates as “Wall of Skulls”, started the surf event off pretty well on Saturday, but turned the dial up to 10 on Monday, with some of the best conditions ever seen in competition.
“I don’t think as surfers we could have asked for more in the early days of these Olympics – it really showed what this wave can do and what surfers can do,” the American told Reuters after surfing with some local kids . and a handful of professionals on a playful beachbreak near the main event space.
“It also just showed how much skill you have to have as a surfer, as an athlete. Not just the commitment and the fearless factor, but the endurance and then like – you know, you survive.
“There’s the very real factor of serious injury. I don’t know of many other sports where you actually save yourself on the field like that.”
While successful rides ended with surfers being spat out of giant tubes into a flotilla of media and spectator boats, those who disappeared were quickly picked up by marine patrol experts on jet skis and sped back into line.
“These guys were able to push themselves the way they did because these (rescue) guys were coming in so quickly. It was extremely impressive,” he added.
The event was postponed before the women’s race began on Monday as a storm disrupted the lineup and a lay day, or rest day, was set for Tuesday due to conditions.
Moore said the losses suffered by fellow Team USA surfers John John Florence and Griffin Colapinto in the men’s third round were heartbreaking, but the team appreciated Monday night as everyone digested the historic day.
“They were great sports last night. They encouraged the women in the team and brought good energy for us,” said Moore, who will face South Africa’s Sarah Baum in the third round when competition resumes, possibly on Wednesday.
“Well, yes, it was a shame, but it’s amazing – deep love for these two.”
Moore, the Olympic gold medalist in surfing’s debut at the Tokyo Games, has taken the year off from the professional world tour and plans to take time off and may want to start a family once this event is over.
On Monday, he was just a surfer like everyone else.
“I was just really excited to be a surfer yesterday. I mean, I’m biased, but that has to be the coolest sport in the Olympics, especially here.”
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