Photos: Teahupo'o Flexes Ahead Of 2024 Tahiti Pro

Zander Morton
·4 min read
<em>Griffin exiting an absolutely dreamy one at Chopes</em><p>Ryan Miller</p>
Griffin exiting an absolutely dreamy one at Chopes

Ryan Miller

If Ryan Miller isn't the hardest working man in surfing, he's definitely close.

So, when a special run of swell popped up for Teahupo'o 10 days before the beginning of the waiting period for the 2024 Shiseido Tahiti Pro, Miller dropped everything at home and changed his entire itinerary. Red eye flight, zero sleep, straight into the channel at Chopes at daybreak for day 1. After going hard all day, Miller still downloaded, edited, and emailed over a special selection of images during his very first night in Tahiti. His email read, simply: "Straight off the plane into 12 hours straight at Teahupo'o. So exhausted I can’t even type a coherent email. Tomorrow straight back at it and I couldn’t be more excited."

The following few days, the photos kept coming. They went from good, to great, to holy shit you've got to see these.

After day four, Miller came up for air just long enough to reflect on the wild run of waves, and to caption some of his favorite moments, which we've curated below.

"These past four days have been one of the most intense runs of swell I’ve ever seen in my lifetime," recalls Miller. "I’ve definitely seen one-off days better than this, but the quantity of energy in the water over a four day period has been unparalleled. This place, the culture, the mountains, the deep water into shallow reef waves...all of it really brings out an extra level of positivity in my spirit. It creeps up on me every time and I am thankful I have been able to experience it."

All photos and captions by Ryan Miller

Griffin just a split second away from getting the wave of his life or getting sent through the lagoon. Fortunately for everyone involved it was the former. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Griffin just a split second away from getting the wave of his life or getting sent through the lagoon. Fortunately for everyone involved it was the former.

Ryan Miller

I secretly love it when a few waves go unridden as it allows me to capture these timeless images of the wave all by itself. After all it is the main event. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
I secretly love it when a few waves go unridden as it allows me to capture these timeless images of the wave all by itself. After all it is the main event.

Ryan Miller

Scrambling to the shoulder when a freight train rolls through. Only the second best feeling to making a massive barrel is making it over the top of one of these without getting cleaned up. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Scrambling to the shoulder when a freight train rolls through. Only the second best feeling to making a massive barrel is making it over the top of one of these without getting cleaned up.

Ryan Miller

[Above and below]: Carissa Moore has an Olympic Gold medal, 5 world titles, a great family and is still ticking off accomplishments with the wave of her life at Teahupo'o. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
[Above and below]: Carissa Moore has an Olympic Gold medal, 5 world titles, a great family and is still ticking off accomplishments with the wave of her life at Teahupo'o.

Ryan Miller

<p>Ryan Miller</p>

Ryan Miller

When Jesse Mendes is in the commentators booth you can rest assured he knows what he is talking about regarding the wave at Teahupo'o. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
When Jesse Mendes is in the commentators booth you can rest assured he knows what he is talking about regarding the wave at Teahupo'o.

Ryan Miller

Kauli Vast has got to be one of the most well-rounded surfers out there. He goes from looking this good at maxing Teahupo'o to looking equally good doing airs on the Challenger Series.<p>Ryan Miller</p>
Kauli Vast has got to be one of the most well-rounded surfers out there. He goes from looking this good at maxing Teahupo'o to looking equally good doing airs on the Challenger Series.

Ryan Miller

This was such a special moment to witness between Matahi Drollet in the barrel and Eimeo Czermak on the shoulder. Guys that grew up surfing together sharing a small moment. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
This was such a special moment to witness between Matahi Drollet in the barrel and Eimeo Czermak on the shoulder. Guys that grew up surfing together sharing a small moment.

Ryan Miller

The Hawaii flight only runs on Saturday and is usually a huge pain to get there for a swell or a contest. For Mana Chandler, this swell window fell right in between two Saturdays and he made the jump easily. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
The Hawaii flight only runs on Saturday and is usually a huge pain to get there for a swell or a contest. For Mana Chandler, this swell window fell right in between two Saturdays and he made the jump easily.

Ryan Miller

There it is, the aluminum tower that sent shockwaves through the surf world earlier this year. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
There it is, the aluminum tower that sent shockwaves through the surf world earlier this year.

Ryan Miller

Griffin Colapinto in the best place to be when a tow set rolls through the lineup. Here he is, safely on the shoulder looking into the pit. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Griffin Colapinto in the best place to be when a tow set rolls through the lineup. Here he is, safely on the shoulder looking into the pit.

Ryan Miller

Griffin again, this time just barely scratching over a monster set while paddling back out. Last thing you want to do after wiping out is take another one of these on the head. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Griffin again, this time just barely scratching over a monster set while paddling back out. Last thing you want to do after wiping out is take another one of these on the head.

Ryan Miller

Matahi Drollet, laughing his way through his four millionth time getting spit out of a Teahupo'o barrel.<p>Ryan Miller</p>
Matahi Drollet, laughing his way through his four millionth time getting spit out of a Teahupo'o barrel.

Ryan Miller

Balaram Stack flew in for the swell, broke all his boards, left plenty of skin on the reef, and made a few screamers as well. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Balaram Stack flew in for the swell, broke all his boards, left plenty of skin on the reef, and made a few screamers as well.

Ryan Miller

Tatiana Weston-Webb, making it look easy out there, when it's definitely not. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Tatiana Weston-Webb, making it look easy out there, when it's definitely not.

Ryan Miller

Eimeo Czermak is the smoothest surfer out there every swell. Zero wasted body movements. Even jumping from the top ropes this guy is smooth. He popped up out back just a second later. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Eimeo Czermak is the smoothest surfer out there every swell. Zero wasted body movements. Even jumping from the top ropes this guy is smooth. He popped up out back just a second later.

Ryan Miller

Molly Picklum has really been putting in the work out there and it shows in how it has paid off. <p>Ryan Miller</p>
Molly Picklum has really been putting in the work out there and it shows in how it has paid off.

Ryan Miller

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