The Olympic surfing competition at Teahupo'o in Tahiti was put on hold on Wednesday due to challenging conditions following a recent storm. Organizers announced the event is expected to resume at 7 a.m. (1700 GMT) on Thursday, beginning with the women's round three and potentially progressing into the quarterfinals for both men and women. The storm had previously provided exceptional conditions for the men's round three on Monday before deteriorating due to strong winds that continued through Tuesday.
The situation highlights the difficulty of forecasting waves and weather on an isolated island in the South Pacific. Initially, organizers considered pushing forward with the women's round three amidst 15-foot stormy waves at one of the world’s most hazardous surfing spots. However, they quickly reversed this decision, opting to cancel the competition for the day, creating an anxious wait to conclude the event and determine the medalists.
Organizers acknowledged that running a half-day of competition on Wednesday would have allowed them to crown the medalists by Thursday. Thursday was anticipated to offer the best conditions remaining within the waiting period that ends on Monday. With just one and a half days of competition left, it seems more likely that the event will finish over the weekend, though this remains uncertain. Kevin Wallis, head of forecasting at Surfline.com, expressed doubt about seeing a repeat of Monday’s exceptional conditions.
When the competition resumes, the women’s round three will feature Australian world champion Tyler Wright against Israel's Anat Lelior, followed by a match between local favorite Vahine Fierro and Johanne Defay. In the men's quarterfinals, France’s Kauli Vaast will face Joan Duru, Brazil's Joao Chianca will compete against Gabriel Medina, and Australians Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson will battle for a semifinal spot.
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