TTL_BOOK_v8 30.07.25 - Flipbook - Page 35
BEYOND THE FRAME
Surfer and photographer Kirvan Baldassari remembers
how “growing up as a surfer in Tahiti, Teahupo’o was
always the most special place on the island.” He says “it’s
where surfers push their limits and water photographers
capture the raw beauty of the ocean”, adding that “the
waves, the energy, and the challenge make it a place [he’s]
always drawn to”, no matter how many times he goes. For
Kirvan, Teahupo’o is “more than just a wave – it’s home.”
He says that the energy of the place is unmatched and that
locals call it the “mana: something you don’t just see, you
feel it.”
Teahupo’o is a world famous surf spot on the island of
Tahiti in French Polynesia. The name Teahupo’o can be
translated as “wall of skulls” or “broken skull”, due to its
shallow coral reef and often extreme sur昀椀ng conditions.
Coral reefs such as this one are biodiversity hotspots and
play a vital role in coastal protection, food security, and
the cultural identity of the local community. Teahupo’o
is considered to be one of the world’s most spectacular
waves, and holds a sacred signi昀椀cance in Tahitian culture.
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