You’ve seen the carnage of Day One… now welcome back to Teahupoo, where the slab of slabs refuses to let up. Day Two dawned with the reef still alive, the swell still massive — only now the conditions were cleaner, sharper, and more perfect than ever.
Local Teahupoo prince Matahi Drollet put on a masterclass, towing into mutant bombs alongside powerhouse Lucas Chumbo, with a stacked crew of Tahitian chargers — Kauli Vaast, Lorenzo Mateia Hiquily, and Gilbert Teave — pushing deeper and faster into the pit.
The world’s best weren’t sitting on the sidelines either. On the eve of the WSL comp, Griffin & Crosby Colapinto, Leonardo Fioravanti, Seth Moniz and Italo Ferreira all tested themselves against the beast. The Hawaiians were out in force too — Koa Rothman, Eli Olson, Kala Grace, Barron_Mamiya and Tiger Doerner — all locking into giant, heaving caverns.
And just when the tow frenzy peaked, the paddlers struck back. Rising talent Jacob Turner led the charge, proving the future at Teahupoo is just as fearless as the present.
On the ground, we hear from legendary lensmen Ben Thouard and Ted Grambeau, and straight from the source: a battered Matahi Drollet, with his brother Manoa recounting the day’s wildest moments.
As Tahitian icon Vetea David put it best: “Having seen and surfed out there for 30 years, that was in the top 10 days — some of the biggest XXL swells ever at Teahupoo.”
This is Liquid Thunder: Part 2 — Teahupoo at its most perfect, most dangerous, and most unforgettable. Enjoy. Tim Bonython
