Gilbert Teave

Eimeo Czermak vs. XL Teahupo’o!

On Wednesday, May 7th, Teahupo'o saw the first very solid swell of the season. It was very big, right on the line between paddle and tow, with both crews giving it their collective best. Turned out local Eimeo Czermak snagged the wave of the day, paddling -- arguably one of the biggest waves ever caught without a ski. Longtime local Tikanui Smith, who watched from the channel, said, "maybe one of the best paddle waves at Teahupoo." And we believe him.

The swell itself, according to chief forecaster Kevin Wallis, was "the result of a strong but not crazy, eye-popping storm. But what it lacked in strength, it made up for in track and location. It moved almost directly at Tahiti over the last few days and the peak seas only occurred only 1000-1500 miles away. Close enough to create pumping surf, but not bad wind and weather."

Wallis offered some more telling intel: "Perhaps the most interesting thing was the swell period — not long, 15-16 seconds, with the shorter swell period, which meant that the even the largest waves were at least somewhat approachable for the paddle crew. And Eimeo paddled into one of the biggest waves I’ve ever seen at the End of the Road."

*Worth noting: Surfline's EPIC rating only happens a few times per year, when the forecast team -- not the models -- deems a swell truly special.

Filmed by: Tim Pruvost, Kim Mean, Boris Martinet
and Blaise Booth

Edited by: Nick Liotta
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CHILDREN OF TEAHUPO'O (FULL MOVIE) Gilbert, Tahurai & Tim Mckenna Guardians and Olympic Witnesses

AN EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTARY.

Lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on the island of Tahiti, lies a village that's home to one of the world's most beautiful waves - Teahupo'o. Facing mystical mountains covered in a wild and luxuriant jungle, the perfect wave of Teahupo'o wraps around the reef to create a powerful tube that attracts the best surfers on the planet.

Photographer Tim Mckenna has been documenting this paradise for over 25 years. From Laird Hamilton's Millennium Wave to WSL competitions, the locals pushing the limits, and the upcoming Olympic Games, he has been a privileged witness to Teahupo'o.

Alongside all the big names in surfing, he has seen the emergence of a generation of local kids who have come to tame this mythical wave. Among them are Tahurai Henry and Gilbert Teave.

Aware of how lucky they are to have grown up in this paradise, they dedicate all their energy and heart to preserving the place and passing on their culture to future generations. They are the guardians of the temple, the heirs of the village. They are the children of Teahupo'o.

OXBOW is proud to present CHILDREN OF TEAHUPOO, a 36-minute film produced by Showcast.

Massive Waves in Tahiti: Mayday Weekend at Teahupo'o

For four days over Mayday Weekend, Teahupoo did some amazingly beautiful and occasionally horrifying things. Here’s the entire Surfline Swell Story, documented from all angles and with behind-the-scenes interviews from those who were lucky enough to experience this very special run of surf. Surfers include: Matahi Drollet, Lorenzo Avvenenti, JB Prunier, Matehau Tetopata, Mihimana Braye, Enrique Ariitu, Felix Bourgoin , Gilbert Teave, Raimana Van Bastolaer, Balaram Stack, Andrew Jacobson and Cam Richards.

Through the Lens of: Tim McKenna, Manea Fabisch, Mike Prickett, Jeremiah Klein, Lea Hahn
Edited by Ryan Ray

Watch the Teahupoo live cam:

A Locals-Only Session at Maxed-Out Teahupo'o Tops Clips of the Month for May