Surf Tahiti - Quick Facts
LOCATION: French Polynesia
POPULATION: 185000
NATIONALITY: French Polynesian
LANGUAGE: French, Tahitian
CURRENCY: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (lah de dah)

Tahiti is one of the most beautiful and exotic places in the Pacific. It is an amazing place to visit for anyone but an incredible one for a surfer. The island really is a paradise, tropical clear water, great beaches and a laid back island lifestyle.

Tahiti Surf Spot Map

If you have read and surfing magazines over the last few years you will undoubtedly have seen pictures of one of Tahiti's great waves - Teahupo'o. Nicknamed Chopes and pronounced Cho-po, it's a big wave spot that is now host to the annual Billabong Pro Tahiti, part of the ASP World Tour. It's a monster of a wave producing incredible barreling waves, and Tahiti is just full of waves like this.

If you are serious about surfing the Tahitian waves are really going to give you a good test. You will also probably have more barrels in your time here than you will have in the rest of your surfing life. Surf training will be essential before you arrive, as will multiple surfboards and surf insurance.

There are two surf seasons in Tahiti and these are from November to March (Summer) and April to October (Winter). The swells from the north come during the summer season and are often 8ft when Hawaii is 15ft. Winter is generated from big southerly storms from Antarctica and New Zealand. The shores are pounded with surf and there are spots that can handle all swells.


Tahiti is also a place with tremendous untapped potential, and exploration will be rewarded with some real gems. Boat trips are the order of the day but can be costly. Just check out the Tahiti Surfing Conditions table below.

Surfing Tahiti - The Good
Barrels
Crystal Clear Tropical Water
Lots Of Quality Surf Spots
More Barrels!

Surf Tahiti - The Bad and the Ugly
Difficult Access
Expensive

Tahiti Surfing Conditions

Click the link for some background (non surfing related) information on French Polynesia

A medical kit for surfers ;)