Eimeo Czermak Vs. XL Teahupo’o!

On Wednesday, May 7th, Teahupo'o saw the first very solid swell of the season. It was very big, right on the line between paddle and tow, with both crews giving it their collective best. Turned out local Eimeo Czermak snagged the wave of the day, paddling -- arguably one of the biggest waves ever caught without a ski. Longtime local Tikanui Smith, who watched from the channel, said, "maybe one of the best paddle waves at Teahupoo." And we believe him.

The swell itself, according to chief forecaster Kevin Wallis, was "the result of a strong but not crazy, eye-popping storm. But what it lacked in strength, it made up for in track and location. It moved almost directly at Tahiti over the last few days and the peak seas only occurred only 1000-1500 miles away. Close enough to create pumping surf, but not bad wind and weather."

Wallis offered some more telling intel: "Perhaps the most interesting thing was the swell period — not long, 15-16 seconds, with the shorter swell period, which meant that the even the largest waves were at least somewhat approachable for the paddle crew. And Eimeo paddled into one of the biggest waves I’ve ever seen at the End of the Road."

*Worth noting: Surfline's EPIC rating only happens a few times per year, when the forecast team -- not the models -- deems a swell truly special.

Filmed by: Tim Pruvost, Kim Mean and Blaise Booth
Edited by: Nick Liotta
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