The Paris Olympics committee was adamant about holding the surfing event in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia. The locals showed their utmost irritation to the debated decision for the chances of destruction to nature. The sangfroid surfing destination was on the brink of facing a tumultuous effect on the unrivaled flora and fauna. The year-long tightrope ended in a kerfuffle where IOC continued with the destination choice but with a less tight noose. However, one surfing legend continued to perspicuity in all those happenings. 

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That legend, Kelly Slater shares an immovable memory with the place, nothing short of a tradition. Recently, the Instagram community remained a spectator to one episode from that memorable encounter. 

A visual treat that is worth revisiting 

On January 6, surfing videographer Nathaniel Meyer shared an ultimate glory run of Kelly Slater in the surfing venue of the upcoming Olympics, Teahupo’o. The lotic piercing was enough to keep the person in awe as in the IG post, he captioned, “Not sure I’ll ever film anything as impressive as this ever again. Stoked I was there”. Soon after the WSL legend appeared on the occasion to re-share the story, remembering the occasion and the place. Soon the actual post was flaunted on IG as part of a video share, revealing the occasion as one of the WSL heats Kelly appeared in. 

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Many times, Kelly Slater expressed his longing for the unmatched barrels that are quite normal in Teahupo’o. In an interview given to the World Surf League, King Kelly clarified that the shallow barrels in the place were enough to entertain the surfers and audiences. As per him, the reefs are the main trailblazer there which keeps producing drastic changes in the swells. So, an ultimate merry-go-round surfing is possible in Teahupo’o. Eventually, those were the same reasons keeping the Olympic committee overwhelmed by the venue. However, their decisions didn’t please the surfing GOAT. 

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Teahupo’o to host the Olympics, but Slater is unhappy

In Teahupo’o ‘the end of the road’, Kelly Slater holds five WSL wins, seven 10-pointers, and two 20-point heats. But for the decisions of the Paris Olympics committee, the coral reefs that Kelly Slater termed as the main go in the venue faced a destruction scare. The dismal situation went deep when Kelly Slater slammed the construction decision in the place of old structures there. 

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Read more: “Sad To See What Happened”: Kelly Slater Left Devastated As Calamity Strikes an Iconic Surfing Spot

“Doesn’t make any sense to need such a giant tower for a 2 days event,” was his part of the insurrection against the Paris Olympics committee’s judgment. He further added,” Give the money to local infrastructure in the town for all the damage done from changing the river that caused floods earlier this year.” However, Kelly Slater’s Paris Olympics participation is still in the dark. But his remembrance added layers to the venue. 

Watch this story: Rare Sighting- Grey Whale Spotted Near Popular Surfing Area

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Prasun Chakrabarty

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Prasun Chakrabarty is a Senior Writer in the Olympic Sports division at EssentiallySports, where he covers track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and other Olympic disciplines. A seasoned journalist with three years at the company, Prasun's extensive knowledge and passion for track and field were evident from day one. With years of connections and research already established, he brought a unique edge to the ES Insights and Trends Desk. He has since become a key voice in the company's Olympic sports coverage. His star coverage includes World Athletics Indoor Championships, USATF Outdoor Championships, and reporting live from the U.S. Marathon Trials. His expertise earned him a special invitation from the Paris City Council to cover lead-up events ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Over time, his stories have sparked real-world impact. His piece on athlete mental toughness drew praise from Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott, while a feature on winter sports caught the attention of Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who engaged with it publicly. His reporting has made its way into Wikipedia, where editors have cited his work as a trusted source on Olympic sports. Being an alum of the Journalistic Excellence Program (JEP) and an active member of the ES Think Tank, he’s part of the team driving the site’s long-term coverage strategy.

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Bhujaya Ray Chowdhury