The crystal clear waves of Tahiti’s Olympic Surfing Beach may seem like paradise from the comfort of your couch, but drama beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean is making this year’s surfing competition more dangerous than it could have been.
On the other side of the world from the competition venues in Paris, Olympic surfers live and compete in the village of Tchoupo, which ominously translates to “Wall of Skulls.” The wave is considered one of the heaviest (surfer slang for big, fast and dangerous) in the world, and for years many of the world’s best surfers thought it was unsurfable. The combination of a powerful barreling wave and its proximity to a shallow, sharp reef can be deadly. Five people have been killed in Tchoupo, according to a report. The Washington Post. and it is I was injured Dozens more.
Olympic kayakers wear helmets and life jackets as they tackle rapids on man-made courses. Water polo players wear earplugs. The most accomplished dressage athletes don helmets for their ballet-like performances on a flat field. But most surfers who face Mother Nature’s most fearsome forces don’t wear much more than a rash guard. Why?
The rules established by International Surfing Association Although the International Sports Association (ISA) does not require Olympic athletes to wear helmets, the ISA statement People are advised to wear protective headwear in preparation for the unusually dangerous conditions in Paris this year. Falling into the water might not be that scary, but the real danger in Choupo comes from the coral reef. Just below the Tahitian surfers (not usually visible on TV coverage) are colonies of coral that can cause serious damage, especially if hit from behind by the inertia of a 12-metre wave.
Ultimately, the helmet issue is up to the players. And unfortunately, in 2020 study Published in International Review of the Sociology of Sport The show “Helmets Are Not Cool: Surfer Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Protective Headgear” found that many people don’t believe helmets are necessary, and that surfers believe “uncomfortable” helmets “hinder their surfing performance,” according to the survey. [surfing]” and may seem “uncool” in a sport where appearances matter. But as the researchers write, there is evidence that head protection is essential for safety, as the study notes that “head-related injuries account for a significant proportion of surfing injuries.” And head trauma can have serious short- and long-term consequences, including concussions, seizures, and dizziness. Not to mention the risk of drowning, as the study authors point out.
Most surfers don’t wear safety gear during training, so it’s natural that they wouldn’t want to change anything on the most important day of their careers. But the circumstances of this year’s Olympics might make some athletes reconsider. French surfer Joanne Defray fell headfirst into the coral on her first training wave on July 28. She escaped a concussion but required four stitches, she said. USA Today. She was wearing a helmet competition She will be graduating on August 1, and it’s probably safe to assume she’ll be wearing the hat for the remainder of her stay in Tiaupo.
