A 13 Year Old Just Beat Tyler Wright In Tahiti

I debated not writing this article… 

Y’know the old maxim — if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t write a whiny dispatch on a digital surf publication. 

What goes up, must come down. 

If yesterday was a drop of nostalgic LSD at a tropical beach rave, today was like getting waterboarded in the basement of Epstein Island while Joe Turpel and Kaipo point and laugh as you fight for air. 

Eight heats, not a single heat total over 8 points. 

“These next few days are gonna be tricky,” said photographer Ryan ‘Chachi’ Craig yesterday, when I called him in his temporary abode in the town of Teahupo’o. “These shorter period, 6 or 7 foot swells can be stuck in between the inner and outer ledge. When it’s like that, the lineup is all spread out and it’s really hard to find where to sit.”

Tricky indeed. 

TLDR:

• Yolanda Hopkins doesn’t look scared, cruises past Steph Gilmore by virtue of packing closeouts
• Bella Nichols upsets local favorite Vahine Fierro
• Nadia Erostarbe rides best wave of the day for a 6.17
• Youngest CT surfer ever beats Tyler Wright

Though it was the same wind as yesterday, Teahupo’o appeared more wind affected today — probably because there was far less energy in the water. No unruly tow sets and no wily west bowls to fold the ocean over itself. 

Long lulls, shifting takeoff spots, and 40 minute heats made the broadcast feel like watching the microwave count down from 12 seconds because you’ve already committed.

Though I didn’t envy their position today, the commentators’ analysis of each wave ridden sounded like an endless loop of corporate designers comparing different shades of beige.

Steph somehow came into her heat against Yolanda Hopkins as the underdog, and Yolanda’s willingness to simply pack closeouts earned her the win. Steph got a 2 and a 1 for doing turns, YoYo got a 3 and a 1.7 for pulling into barrels and not coming out.

Valid.

Though she flitted around the lineup comfortably, local talent and previous Teahupo’o CT winner Vahine Fierro couldn’t find a backup for her 5.33 — the second-highest score of the day. In the last few minutes of their match, Bella Nichols collected a decent-enough tube and vanquished the local favorite. 

The only compelling storyline of the day was 13-year old Kelia Gallina — the second-youngest surfer ever to surf in a CT, joining… herself, who was the first-youngest surfer to surf a CT last year. 

Kelia lost last year in the first Elimination Round to Gabriela Bryan, but didn’t make the same mistake this year. Though she didn’t find a proper barrel, she did a better job of it than Tyler Wright. 

“I was gonna make a joke about how Tyler’s board looks, but I won’t,” laughed Britt Merrick on the broadcast. 

In her post heat interview, Kelia shouted out her new puppy. She said she’s been wanting a puppy ‘for her whole life.’ So like, a month and a half. She then ate some ice cream on the beach in a pink hat. 

Gamble Ramble:

The real storyline of today? Mikey didn’t miss a betonline.ag shot. (But he did fail to capitalize on Isabella’s +400 odds). 

Women’s R1

$50 on Yolanda at +180 to win $90 WON
$50 on Erin at -160 to win $31 WON
$50 on Nadia at -125 to win $40 WON
$50 on Kelia at -115 to win $43 WON
$20 on Brisa at +120 to win $24 WON
$20 on Alyssa at +100 to win $20 WON
$50 on Anat at +120 to win $60 WON

Men’s R3
$10 on Al Cleland at +300 to win $30
$50 on LOB at +200 to win $100
$50 on Joao at -130 to win $38
$180 on George at -180 to win $100
$40 on Miguel at +185 to win $74
$50 on Barron at -140 to win $36
$10 on Connor at +200 to win $20
$50 on Jack at -125 to win $40 

Women’s R2
$50 on Sawyer at -150 to win $33
$40 on Nadia at -150 to win $27
$50 on Anat at +145 to win $73
$40 on Kelia at +160 to win $64
$30 on Luana at +105 to win $32
$20 on Brisa at +200 to win $40

Day 4 earnings: $308
Event earnings: $501