5 Perfect 10s From Teahupo’o Contests of the Past

The Shiseido Tahiti Pro presented by Outerknown is just about to fire the starting gun. It’s one of the best events on the tour, especially when the conditions are what the spectator wants to see.

Sure, the nature of the game means that sometimes a great swell won’t land during the waiting period, but when a great swell does… for my money, there’s not a better event to watch. With that said, here are five perfect 10s from Teahupo’o contests through the years, in no particular order. Fingers crossed that things line up and we get to see Teahupo’o at its finest in the coming days.

1. Matty McGillivray’s 10-Point Ride in 2022:

The South African surfer just about flipped himself upside down on this Tahitian monster. It was in a heat against Griffin Colapinto, and it was one of the best waves of the entire event.

2. Nathan Hedge’s 10-Point ride at the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2014:

Back in 2014, Nathan Hedge got a wildcard into the Teahupo’o event. Everyone knew he would be one of the best in the lineup, but he made double-sure of it with the first 10-point ride of the day.

3. Kelly Slater’s pair of 10-Point rides at the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2016:

When it comes to big, hollow waves, Kelly Slater was — and still is — pretty much impossible to beat. Back in 2016, he proved it by scoring not one perfect wave, but two.

4. Owen Wright’s 10-Point ride at the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2014:

Owen Wright might be the biggest charger the WCT has ever seen. One of them, anyway. When it was huge and hollow, Wright was in his element. And in 2014, it got really huge and hollow.

5. CJ Hobgood’s 10-Point ride in Tahiti in 2015:

CJ Hobgood, like Slater and Wright, excelled in waves of consequence. When Teahupo’o is doing its thing, it’s nothing if not that. This wave, though, was more of a magic trick. He was just as shocked as the fans when he blasted out of this one.

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