This is the story of Teahupoo as seen through the eyes of world-renowned photographer, Tim McKenna. The wave named after “the Village at the End of the Road” on the island of Tahiti has become the centre of the surfing world since its recognition as the planet’s most beautiful but most dangerous.

Back in the mists of time, surfing enjoyed its first golden age in the Polynesian islands. No-one knows for sure when it first started. The Hawaiians called it He’e Nalu, “wave-sliding”, and as the royal families dominated this popular pastime, it became known as the “sport of kings”. Cook’s arrival in 1778 brought with it the influence of the outside world and Polynesian culture was radically diluted and transformed. Surfing, discouraged or even forbidden by the missionaries, was lost in places like Tahiti and elsewhere went into rapid decline, reaching near extinction by the end of the 19th century.

1900 a.d. In Hawaii, where the memory of surfing had always remained alive, it enjoyed a true renaissance, mainly due to the efforts of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the semi-divine prophet of modern surf. Jack London witnessed this revival and helped to popularise it.
2000 a.d. Surf became a planetary sport thanks to world media coverage of waves like Teahupoo. The invention of tow-in surfing brought the big waves within reach and the dangers involved in surfing these monsters were finally exposed to the wider public. With this increasing worldwide interest, fuelled by the Internet, surfing exploits were lifted onto a different and more exalted plane.

Surfers straddle the waves and their legends straddle both centuries. This unusual reef break lies offshore from the tiny fishing village of Teahupoo where the road running down Tahiti’s southern peninsula comes to an abrupt end. At the dawn of the new century, in August 2000 it became, within a few hours, the most famous wave in the world. On that day, the Hawaiian big-wave legend, Laird Hamilton, surfed the “Millennium Wave”, the most terrifying and beautiful wave ever ridden.

Every historic event requires its witness. The photographer, Tim McKenna, was there to capture the images of Hamilton’s exploit. These immediately became part of surfing legend and revealed to the wider public what is probably the purest and the most spectacular of all sports.

In the calendar of the World Surfing Championships since 1999, Teahupoo is the wave most feared and respected by surfers the world over. Although unknown to the general public ten years ago, this wave is now a superstar, the heroine of twenty or so films and more than 200 magazine covers worldwide. The live transmission of the Billabong Tahiti Pro in May each year produces more than a million and half Internet hits per day, spread over 40 countries.

In his book Teahupoo, Tahiti’s Mythical Wave, Tim McKenna shares with the reader ten years of his photographic archives devoted to the danger and beauty of this fascinating wave - ten years of perfect waves, competitions, triumphs and dramas, human adventures and superhuman exploits, often recounted by the athletes themselves: Laird Hamilton, Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Manoa Drollet, Raimana Van Bastolaer, Vetea David, Malik Joyeux.

Permanently based in Tahiti, Tim McKenna has immortalised all the historic Teahupoo days and photographed the Monster from all angles - from boats and helicopters, from in, as well as, under the water! The book contains more than 170 images depicting the unique beauty and brute force of this rare phenomenon. It is an ode to the perfection of nature and the courage of man.

The Authors:

Tim McKenna
Born in Sydney in 1968, his youth spent on the coast of South West France, Tim knew from an early age that the ocean would be a constant source of inspiration in his life.
Leading figure in extreme sports and travel photography, he has inspired his generation by revealing the sheer beauty of the elements through images capturing the most spectacular sporting performances in extraordinary settings. His work, which has appeared in countless publications and advertising campaigns, is the product of twenty years of travel across the globe, often pioneering new destinations. Although now living with his family on the island of Tahiti, Tim still tours the world but has assigned
himself the principal task of capturing the magic of Polynesian life.

Guillaume Dufau
Born in Dax, France in 1974, Guillaume discovered surfing at the age of twelve on the beaches of South West France. In 1997, after completing his studies in journalism, he joined the editorial team of Surf Saga magazine and a year later, at the age of twenty-four, became its editor. He then moved on to become the
editor of the monthly magazine, Surf Session, in Biarritz. He subsequently produced many articles while travelling to the four corners of the globe.
Guillaume Dufau and Tim McKenna have worked together for almost ten years and have a deep acquaintance with and respect for each other’s work.
In 2000, Guillaume published the book ‘”Sessions de rêves” (éditions Surf Session), then contributed both to “Surfeurs de tube” (éditions Pimientos) in 1998 and ‘”Vagues, le fabuleux spectacle de l’océan” (éditions Hermé de la Martinière 2004), published also in the U.S under the title ‘Perfect Waves, The Endless Allure
of the Ocean’ (Abram , 2005). He is also a senior reporter for “Thalassa Magazine”.

Preface by Jack McCoy world-renowned director

The Editors
Au vent des Iles
Immeuble Renvoyé
Mamao - Papeete
BP 5670 - 98716 PIRAE
Tahiti
Polynésie française
Tél. : (689) 50 95 95
Fax : (689) 50 95 97

E-mail : mail@auventdesiles.pf

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English
TEAHUPOO
TAHITI'S MYTHIC WAVE
Format cm 34.5 x 24
Pages 192 pages in color
Edition 2007
ISBN 978-88-544-0309-3
Brand White Star Publishers®
NEW 2007
Hardcover with jacket

Italian
TEAHUPOO
La mitica onda di Tahiti
Format cm 34 X 23.5
Pages 192 pages in color
Edition 2007
ISBN 978-88-540-0742-0
Brand Edizioni White Star®
NEW 2007
Hardcover with jacket