Olympic Channel launches new documentary “Teahupo'o Surf Camp: Road to Paris 2024” - Watch now for free
The original documentary following the inspiring journeys of seven Olympic hopeful surfers in picturesque Tahiti is available to watch on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app now.
Surfing
Seven hopeful surfers aspiring to achieve their Olympic dreams are the inspiration behind the Olympic Channel’s newest original documentary: Teahupo'o Surf Camp: Road to Paris 2024.
The athletes congregate at the legendary Teahupo’o surf spot in Tahiti, which will host surfing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Coached by local surf legend Tereva David, these talented wave riders push their limits to master one of the most challenging and notorious waves in the world, Teahupo'o, known for its power and difficulty.
The forty-minute documentary features Billy Stairmand (New Zealand), Cody Young (Canada), Lucca Mesinas and Sol Aguirre (both Peru), Leilani McGonagle (Costa Rica), Alan Cleland (Mexico), and Tiara Van Der Huls (Netherlands).
Take a closer look at the surfers lives as they undergo rigorous training, personal growth, and the challenges at a camp organised by the International Surfing Association (ISA).
The documentary is available to watch now for free on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and on the official Olympics apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
Kiwi surfer Billy Stairmand was one of the competitors in surfing's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
While he didn't make it out of the heats, the 34-year-old placed huge importance upon that experience, and has secured a quota for the Paris 2024 Games.
“It’s an awesome feeling (competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics) and achieving that goal is one of my favourite moments of my career," Stairmand says on Teahupo'o Surf Camp: Road to Paris 2024.
“This was my first time coming to Teahupo'o which was an amazing trip. I feel like I learnt a lot and I can’t wait to come back for the Olympic Games.”
Leilani McGonagle also competed at Tokyo 2020, and in doing so became the second person in her family to compete at the Olympics after her grandfather, Peter McGonagle, who represented Great Britain at water polo at Melbourne 1956.
However, Cosa Rican Leilani struggled to deal with her emotions after the event.
“The first time around I wasn’t really sure what to expect in terms of what it meant to be on that magnitude of stage," she said.
“I went through a really hard time after Tokyo with post-Olympic depression. Your body has been through so much that it doesn’t know how to process the emotions that you’re feeling.
“Coming to this camp has definitely ensured that I’m on the right path to Paris 2024.”
Costa Rica's Leilani McGonagle paddles in the waters of Paris 2024 Olympic surfing venue Teahupo'o, Tahiti, while filming for Olympic Channel’s newest original documentary: Teahupo'o Surf Camp: Road to Paris 2024*.*
Elsewhere, Mexico's Alan Cleland is hoping to make his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 after securing an Olympic quota.
“Throughout my life, growing up in Mexico, everybody just looked at me like ‘You’re crazy dude, you’re not going to be anything. Look at where you’re coming from. Surfing is not a thing’.
“At the end of the day you just want to prove yourself.
“It means so much to have the opportunity to represent your country and represent who I am, especially on a wave like this because I love big waves.”
"As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024."