Mick Fanning, Lake Teahupoo - Stab Mag

Live Now... Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

182 Views

Mick Fanning, Lake Teahupoo

Stagnation and leisure have a tendency to breed unrest and alcohol abuse. While that’s not been the case for Mick Fanning, who has spliced the past seven days at Lake Teahupoo with UFC on Playstation three, ping pong tournaments against Ace Buchan, Matt Wilkinson and Jay ‘Bottle’ Thompson and alone time with his book, fears remain for the rest of the top 45. As idyllic and tropical as Teahupoo might be, they ain’t lying when they call it the “end of the road.” Without waves detonating on the reef, place gets reeeeal quiet. The speck of a village consists of around four local huts dispensing food at the river mouth that feeds into the reef at Teahupoo (these pop up especially for the event). Across the road is what some might call a restaurant and others a rickety house, which serves chow, beers and hosts a dude singing reggae on a cheap keyboard some nights. If western clubs, restaurants and nightlife are what you’re after, it’s a 45 minute drive to Papeete – too far for most pros. Thus when surfers are confronted with a week of flatness, minds can start to go inwards. In 2009, your author was present for a seven day lay off between rounds one and two. Despite the discovery of a wave up the point offering six foot A-frames, tales of debauchery continued to abound. Howls and laughter could be heard late into the night out on the point at Chopes, accompanied by the unmistakable scent of singed Ganja. Rumour had it a Hawaiian and Brazilian tour surfer even found themselves engaged in a physical altercation. – Jed Smith

full frame // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Brian Bielmann
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Stagnation and leisure have a tendency to breed unrest and alcohol abuse. While that’s not been the case for Mick Fanning, who has spliced the past seven days at Lake Teahupoo with UFC on Playstation three, ping pong tournaments against Ace Buchan, Matt Wilkinson and Jay ‘Bottle’ Thompson and alone time with his book, fears remain for the rest of the top 45.

As idyllic and tropical as Teahupoo might be, they ain’t lying when they call it the “end of the road.” Without waves detonating on the reef, place gets reeeeal quiet. The speck of a village consists of around four local huts dispensing food at the river mouth that feeds into the reef at Teahupoo (these pop up especially for the event). Across the road is what some might call a restaurant and others a rickety house, which serves chow, beers and hosts a dude singing reggae on a cheap keyboard some nights.

If western clubs, restaurants and nightlife are what you’re after, it’s a 45 minute drive to Papeete – too far for most pros. Thus when surfers are confronted with a week of flatness, minds can start to go inwards.

In 2009, your author was present for a seven day lay off between rounds one and two. Despite the discovery of a wave up the point offering six foot A-frames, tales of debauchery continued to abound. Howls and laughter could be heard late into the night out on the point at Chopes, accompanied by the unmistakable scent of singed Ganja. Rumour had it a Hawaiian and Brazilian tour surfer even found themselves engaged in a physical altercation. – Jed Smith

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

Waffle House meltdowns, OBX secret sessions, and the worst way to try an air reverse.

Feb 7, 2025

International Crime Syndicate Steals Millions From California Surfers, Gets Caught By Local Vigilantes

Victims include: Taro Watanabe, Reef McIntosh, Tyler Gunter, and 'Snapt' creator Logan Dulien.

Feb 6, 2025

Attrition at Pipe: Six Specialists Eliminated After Grueling Day At Lexus Pipe Pro

Moana Jones-Wong, Erin Brooks, Vahine Fierro + other big names axed.

Feb 6, 2025

Big Idea, Small Budget, And A High Level Of Danger?

Who’s Stab gonna call: Miles Pitt.

Feb 5, 2025

The Story Behind Sammy Pupo’s Backdoor-Inflicted Shiner

“Everything went blurry and for 15 minutes, I was stumbling around, barely able to walk…

Feb 5, 2025

Once A Pipe Master, Always A Pipe Master

Robbie Page stars in Oxbow's 'Walkabout'.

Feb 4, 2025

Born or Built? The Psychology of Confronting Heavy Waves

Nurture in nature with Shane Dorian, Carissa Moore, Al Cleland, and CJ Hobgood.

Feb 3, 2025

SEOTY: Albee Layer Stars In ‘Pure’, Rants A Little, And Reveals His Post-Surfing Career Path

Plus, the one that got away.

Feb 2, 2025

Jah Bless: More Rasta Freesurfing Clips

Point break porn ft. two Dead Kooks ‘Yin Yangs’.

Feb 2, 2025

The 2024 Eddie Winner On Addiction, Jail Time, And His Long Road To Glory

The Stab interview with Landon McNamara.

Jan 31, 2025

Watch: Postcards From Motel Hell Pt 3 – The Ireland Section

Wade gets stuck in another cave, Craig breaks his hoof, Haz and Lowe get minced…

Jan 31, 2025

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 2

Strip club weddings, phallic haircuts, Gorkin flips, and cavorting with sharks.

Jan 31, 2025

The First Score Of The 2025 Championship Tour Was A Tube… By Edgard Groggia

Not as good as it gets, but much better than we deserve.

Jan 30, 2025

“The Machine Makes The World Spin. Rage, Fear, Oppose – We’re All A Part Of It.”

Lucas 'Skywalka' Godfrey stars in 'Fear The Machine'

Jan 29, 2025

It’s Time For A New Rivalry In Surfing

Can the next-gen of women deliver the conflict every sport needs?

Jan 28, 2025

Three Weeks On: The Aftermath of the LA Wildfires

An ode to a city that won't stay down.

Jan 28, 2025

How Surfers Get Paid: Season 2, Episode 6

The high price of authenticity — Craig Anderson’s knee doesn’t bend.

Jan 27, 2025

Dave Wassel’s Pipeline Secrets Every Surf Investor Should Know

How to make money on betonline.ag.

Jan 27, 2025
Advertisement