TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti — Local surfer Kauli Vaast advanced to the semifinals at the Olympic surfing competition at his home break of Teahupo’o on Thursday, but heartbroken and tearful teammate Vahine Fierro bowed out, going down to countrywoman Johanne Defay.
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina was clinical in finishing the run of his teammate Joao Chianca, as was Australia’s Jack Robinson as he triumphed over fellow Australian Ethan Ewing in often difficult conditions.
Alonso Correa continued his powerful performances for Peru with a win over Japan’s Reo Inaba in the other quarterfinal.
After winning the Tahiti Pro at the same incredible venue in May, Fierro had high hopes to make the podium.
“Good job to Johanne, she’s a very strong competitor,” Fierro said after losing with a low-scoring two-wave total of 7.54 out of 20 to Defay’s 9 points. “The conditions were tricky. I was able to find barrels, but I just fell, I wasn’t able to make them and that’s what cost me the heat.”
Fierro took a Jet Ski back to shore via the small spectator zone at Teahupo’o, where the home fans showed their appreciation.
“I would like to thank all the crowd, all the people that supported me from far and from close. It warms my heart so much. Whether I win or lose, they were there and it’s very special,” she said before getting a long hug from family.
Vaast, however, kept Tahitian hopes alive as he beat countryman Joan Duru, mixing powerful turns and catching the best of the rare tubes on offer.
Medina had Chianca on the ropes early, while Robinson came from behind to snatch the lead and eventual victory from Ewing, setting up a mouthwatering semifinal with Medina.
An Olympic surfing judge from Australia was cut from the panel scoring the competition after a photo circulated on social media showing him posing with Ewing and the team manager.
Women’s quarterfinals got underway, with world champions Tyler Wright of Australia and Americans Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks coming up, along with the dangerous Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil and Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy.
Waves were still somewhat jumbled after 2 1/2 days of competition were lost to stormy weather, with good tubes few and far between.
Delays due to poor conditions are completely normal in surfing competitions, with organizers having a 10-day window to run four days of heats — though picking those days is not always easy.
The swell is forecast to drop before a small bump up on Saturday, making it a possible day to find the medalists.
Organizers could decide to endure a nail-biting wait for better waves that might arrive in time for the last possible day of competition on Monday.
Tahiti’s Teahupo’o delivered some of the best conditions ever seen for a competition for the men’s Round 3 on Monday, before strong winds ripped through the lineup.
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
