Do we need surfing in the 2024 Paris Olympics this bad?
I’ve long been critical of surfing and the Olympics. I’ve never understood this need to be validated by the supposed ultimate in sport. Surfing is enough for me. I’ve also long been skeptical of all this drilling into reefs we do at surf contests….but let’s save that debate for another day because there is important info to relay from Matahi Drollet on what’s happening regarding this extremely controversial new aluminum tower the Olympic committee is building over the reef at Teahupoo for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The quick (and distressing) of it is that during a year-end press conference, Tony Estanguet, the Paris Olympics Chief Organizer, dismissed the ISA’s alternative solution to building the new judging tower at Teahupoo saying: “We respect the decision that was made almost unanimously locally to continue launching these construction work.” — essentially condemning the reef to death by aluminum pole impalement.
Please watch this latest video from Matahi Drollet below. He perfectly breaks down the situation facing him, his family and community and provides important context to consider and how we can help:
A while back I got to make some core memories with a group of friends in Tahiti on the “Trip of a Lifetime” project we did with the WSL and Expedia.
We bunked up with Jacko Baker, Billy Kemper, Laura Enever, and Connor O’Leary and toured through Tahiti with Matahi Drollet and other locals as our guide through the majestic islands.
We surfed, dove, ate, drank, and experienced a side of Tahiti that few get to see, a peek into the locals way of life. You come to realize that life around Teahupoo is centered around the reef. We even spent one day with the Coral Gardeners getting educated on the importance the reef plays in the ecosystem and the amazing work they’re doing to restore the coral that’s dying.
You can watch the series here: Trip of a Lifetime
Photo courtesy of Surfline.
The bottom line: Drilling into the reef at Teahupoo runs the risk of causing irreparable damage to the entire ecosystem there. Matahi Drollet has been the man on the forefront of what’s going on and has been doing one hell of a job informing the surf community all around the world of what’s been happening.
“Our ancestors put this [the reef at Teahupoo] into our hands, and for me, my mission is to bring what our ancestors put between our hands to the future generation. I just think it’s not okay to watch people from outside come into our playground, the place where we go fish, where we get our food from and just fuck up everything for two days of [surf] contest.”—Matahi Drollet
Please please pleasure sign this petition on Change.org to help save Teahupoo and stay close to Matahi’s IG for more information on how we can help. We’ll be sure to relay any information we can.—Brandon Guilmette
Main image of Matahi Drollet from SURFACE by Ben Thouard
