How Many Pros Would Make This Drop?

There are a handful of heavy waves that never seem to get boring. Shipsterns, The Right, The Box, Pipeline, etc.

All of these waves feel intriguing, partially because each set does something different. They’re unpredictable, so when you open the Youtube video or Instagram clip, you don’t know what you’re gonna get.  Maybe someone scorpion-ing over a double step in the face, or coming out of a triple-spitter into Gums.

Chopes is different. It’s one of the only waves that seems to perpetually impress simply on the basis of perfection. Every time you open a clip of the End of the Road, you mostly know what to expect — the usual camera angle with the usual suspects hurtling through the most cookie-cutter tube this side of the Surf Ranch. 

Still, you can’t peel your eyes away.

It’s hardly even June and Teahupo’o has already served up an all-you-can-eat buffet of swells. This latest edit from Matahi Drollet shows he’s been gorging himself. Over the course of a week, he gets more square footage of tube than a typical pro gets in a lifetime. Perks of being a local at one of the girthiest waves on earth.

Oh yeah, and this alleyoop.

Refreshingly quiet on camera and candidly excited about catching fish, Matahi is a lovable protagonist.  Also, Shane Ackerman has a cameo reminding us that he’s still a fucking loose unit.

When you’ve got 15 minutes, take your time, sit down, and appreciate a bit of humble Tahitian talent powering through Polynesian perfection.