TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti – Cracked helmets, stitched skin and concussion checks were part of the Paris Olympics surfing competition as surfers battle it out in the treacherous waves of Teahupo’o, Tahiti, in search of gold.
Although the competition had big waves and drops, surfers said it was thanks to the water safety patrol – a team of highly skilled local workers patrolling on jet skis, helping to operate boats and constantly assessing ocean conditions from a tower. of observation – that they were able to enter the heavy barrel-shaped waves with more confidence that they will emerge unscathed.
O Teahupo’o waves it can be deadly, having claimed the life of at least one surfer. A jagged coral reef lies just below the ocean’s surface, often extremely close to where the waves break and within sight of surfers.
“It’s super dangerous. People don’t realize it’s the most dangerous place in the world… so I’m just happy to be in one piece,” said Australian surfer Jack Robinson after his third round victory. “It’s crazy. There are some huge waves out there.”
While there have been no serious injuries to date during the Paris Olympics surfing events, several athletes have received stitches, bloody scratches or large bruises in their heats.
And there were many occasions in the competition when surfers were pulled from the water or reef by water safety patrollers on jet skis.
“They’re like guardian angels,” said French Polynesian surfer Michel Bourez, who has surfed Teahupo’o for years and competed in the Tokyo Olympics. “They also put their lives on the line to come rescue you.”
Jet ski patrols are just a small part of water safety crews’ duties, according to safety officials.
Each day begins with a staff briefing on the ocean conditions that day. As the competition progresses, the water crew is in constant contact with a water patroller in the tower, who is positioned in the ocean near the wave.
Workers constantly watch ocean conditions, whether it’s changing wind direction, changes in underwater channels or the impact of the tide on waves, said Puatea Ellis, 42, a water safety worker at the Paris Olympics in Tahiti.
“I need to constantly keep my focus on people, because if people are scared, they panic. And then an accident is more likely to happen,” Ellis told the Associated Press.
Water safety patrol assistance can also be strategic in beating heats, as it is not uncommon for powerful waves to carry surfers away from where waves can be caught during limited heat periods, said the president of the International Surfing Association. Surfing, Fernando Aguirre.
“If you need to paddle back, it will take 15 minutes,” said International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguirre. “Then you will run out of time and out of the competition.”
The water safety patrol also helped others in the water – such as camera operators broadcasting the competition – stay safe, even helping them search for lost equipment in the strong waves.
“Water safety isn’t just for surfers,” said Ellis. “It’s my job to keep everyone safe.”
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This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
