Meet Vahiné Fierro: A Polynesian surfer in love with nature who dreams of an Olympics at home
The French surfer is hoping to secure a ticket for Paris 2024 at the ISA World Surfing Games 2023 in El Salvador. The rising star was born just 200km away from Tahiti where the surfing competition will be held during the Paris Olympics.
Surfing
Vahiné Fierro has a dream.
Making waves at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 where the surfing events will be held in Teahupo'o on the island of Tahiti.
This iconic venue is less than 200km away from her native island of Huahine in French Polynesia where she was born and raised.
The rising French star still has a place in her southern Pacific Ocean homeland and visits it on a regular basis when she is not away competing internationally.
Fierro feels that the archipel represents everything she is.
This is where she has matured as a person and an athlete
“I like simple things and I think we can see that in my surfing style because simple things are usually the most natural. In a way, it’s how I live”, she said to Olympics.com in 2022.
Fierro is currently competing at the ISA World Surfing Games 2023 in El Salvador where she is hoping to secure the only quota spot available for a female European surfer.
Vahiné Fierro: How it all began
Vahiné Fierro began surfing at the age of two. Even though she showed great skills early on, it was not until her teenage years that she fell in love with competing.
“I’m from another island, Huahine, and there are only reef breaks,” she said about the type of waves in Teahupo’o. “But I didn’t want to compete at that time. […] I left my island and I moved to Tahiti at the age of 14. I was in a boarding school there at Papara, where there is a surfing section with a beach break in front of the high school. This is how I began to surf under competitive conditions.”
Fierro has made a name for herself becoming junior world champion in 2017 and winning team gold with her country at the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games.
She has fond competitive memories of Teahupo’o as well as she finished 3rd at the Championship Tour (CT) event there in 2022.
Who would not fall in love with Tahiti?
“The mountains surrounding the place are mythical, and it's only when you are over here that you’ll feel it. It’s unexplainable, you have to be there to feel the energy. It’s called 'mana'. […] If you look for perfection, you’ll find it in Teahupo’o.”
ALSO READ - Top facts about the Olympic surfing venue at Teahupo’o, Tahiti
French Polynesia: A place to reconnect
Vahiné Fierro often comes back to French Polynesia to recharge her batteries. She loves the healthy lifestyle and takes advantage of what nature provides.
“In big countries, we buy everything and we don't pay attention. We go to the store and it's pretty easy. I really like fish and sometimes I go spearfishing but I don't have much time. So I buy from local fishermen, " she said. "I have my own vegetables and fruits in my garden. When you grow vegetables, when you do the picking yourself, you are more in the moment, you pay more attention to what you put in your body. You pay more attention to everything you do. It's simple things, you are becoming magnificent."
Fierro attempts to preserve and nurture her relationship with the elements and nature wherever she goes.
“I like to go hiking. Everywhere around Tahiti, even when I travel. In [metropolitan] France, there are beautiful hikes in the South-West, I like to go there. I like snorkeling too. I like it. It's a workout, but it's more because I love being at the bottom of the water. You don't think about anything, you have to stay calm. Freediving, hiking and foiling... Everything that is somewhat related to nature.”
ALSO READ - How to qualify for surfing at Paris 2024