Jack Robinson, Matahi Drollet and Koa Rothman Brave Thunderous Teahupo’o
The Southern Pacific swells that hit Tahiti earlier this month produced some of the heaviest waves seen in recent memory, and the highlights are still surfacing. On August 5 and 6, Teahupo’o became the stage for a mix of calm preparation, raw power, and fearless surfing.
Jack Robinson’s trip began quietly with fishing, family dinners, and relaxed evenings in Tahiti. But once the swell arrived, everything shifted. Robinson, along with a host of world-class surfers, faced the dark, cavernous barrels of Teahupo’o at its most unforgiving.
Cameras, as always, were close at hand. Filmmaker Tim Bonython, known for documenting swells from Nazaré to Jaws, was right in the danger zone, perched just offshore to capture the action. He described the second day as a true showcase: local standout Matahi Drollet delivered a masterclass, towing into massive, mutant waves alongside Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca, with Tahitian chargers like Kauli Vaast, Lorenzo Mateia Hiquily, and Gilbert Teave pushing the limits.
The world’s elite surfers joined in too. Griffin and Crosby Colapinto, Leonardo Fioravanti, Seth Moniz, and Olympic champion Italo Ferreira tested themselves against the notorious reef. Hawaii’s contingent—Koa Rothman, Eli Olson, Kala Grace, Barron Mamiya, and Tiger Doerner—also locked into some of the session’s heaviest tubes. Amid the tow frenzy, the paddlers fought back, with rising star Jacob Turner showing that Teahupo’o’s future is as bold as its present.
Fearlessness defined the North Shore duo of Koa Rothman and Eli Olson, who made the most of both days. Eli snagged a standout wave that even caught Griffin Colapinto off guard, while Koa managed one tow wave he later called one of the best of his career. After their dawn patrol tow session, they returned in the evening for the paddle battle, and then hit the water again the following morning—proof that at Teahupo’o, it’s nearly impossible to walk away when the waves are firing.