“One Wave, Then Straight to the Hospital. Worth It” – Kevin Bourez’s Brutal Ride at Teahupo’o
Teahupo’o isn’t just a wave—it’s a proving ground. One of the most dangerous and deceptive waves in the world, it demands everything from those who dare. And on May 7, 2025, it demanded a dislocated shoulder from Tahitian charger Kevin Bourez.
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The 31-year-old brother of former CT standout Michel Bourez paddled into the legendary break at first light, launching with his team into a strong southwest swell. With Michel sidelined by a neck injury, Kevin took the spotlight. Moments later, he was rolling into a west bowl so deep and heavy that even the locals were signaling its intensity.
“I let go of the rope 10-20 meters before the people paddling,” Kevin explained. “As I did the bottom turn, I saw everyone with their hands up. I was like wow, this is super west.”
The wave was huge, hollow, and shifting toward the beach. Kevin stayed on his back foot, holding his line as the section detonated behind him. “The noise inside Teahupo’o is incredible,” he added. “When the lip hits the ocean surface, it’s a massive boom.”
Kevin made it through the heaviest part of the barrel, but just as he thought he was safe, the spit caught him. “The whitewater hit my back foot and I lost balance… I fell and hit my shoulder badly. I actually dislocated it.”
He was pulled from the water by a quick-thinking friend on water patrol who noticed Kevin didn’t surface properly. From there, it was straight to an ambulance, and surgery followed days later.
Despite the injury, Kevin entered the wave into the 2025 Big Wave Challenge and didn’t second-guess the cost:
“It was one wave. But worth it. Teahupo’ois no joke.”