Surf’s up as Olympians expect Tahiti to pump on day one

[Pelican Press 0]

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Surf’s up as Olympians expect Tahiti to pump on day one

Molly Picklum knows there’s no hiding from the fearsome Teahupo’o swell that’s building nicely for an immediate start to Olympic action in Tahiti.

The *********** surfer, back in the French Polynesian territory after facing a three-metre swell there in May, reckons the big waves are coming again.

Surfing will make a second Games appearance, albeit on the other side of the world to host city Paris.

Picklum, Tyler Wright and men’s duo Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will all fancy their chances of adding to the bronze Wright’s brother Owen won in Tokyo three years ago.

“You’ve really got to face your fears, there’s no hiding out there,” fourth-ranked World Surf League talent Picklum said ahead of a likely start in overhead conditions on Saturday.

“That west swell brings in a lot more chunk and grunt into the wave.”

Robinson, world No.3 and one of the world’s best big-wave surfers, has been cleared to compete after cutting his lower leg on the fin of board in a midweek wipeout.

Current world No.5 Ewing broke his back while surfing out of competition in Tahiti last year, but recovered in time to progress to the WSL final pairing.

“The energy of this wave is like nothing else,” said Ewing, who is back for the third time since that incident.

“It’s just so raw and has so much power.

“Even now there are still nerves. It’s just one of those waves, it’s got big consequences.”

The field is stacked, with ********* world No.1 Caitlin Simmers and five-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion Carissa Moore back again.

Gabriel Medina will surf for Brazil. Hawaiian John John Florence is leading the world series and beat Medina in the Tahiti semi-finals.

So flush is Brazil with surfing talent that defending Olympic champion and recent Tahiti Pro winner Italo Ferreira didn’t make the team, beaten to a spot by Joao Chianca.

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