Tim McKenna Releases Photographs of Teahupo’o Reef After Olympic Judging Tower Installation

Photographer Tim McKenna was one of the first sources to give the world a look at Teahupo’o’s new judging tower last month — the “scaled-down” version of the original plan to erect an aluminum tower replacing the old wooden one that was used at the location for years. Now, McKenna’s providing anybody who’s followed the months-long controversy a look at the reef it’s all been built on.

Those opposing the tower sounded the alarm on its potential for harm to the reef, projecting that the construction itself could permanently damage corals and cause irreversible harm to the natural environment in the future. A wave of bad publicity for Olympic organizers and even pleas from a research group that had mapped the reef didn’t stop Paris 2024 officials from putting up the new structure but it did influence the entity’s choice to revise the original construction plans.

Now that the tower is standing there isn’t much to do but keep a watch over the reef and hold officials accountable if issues arise. That can come with simple images and footage from the reef itself. As McKenna put it, his footage of the tower back in March brought a wave of “misinformed” commentary. He provided some context and information hoping it would help those watching from the outside.

One picture shows a birds-eye view of the structure in an area with minimal coral.

“It’s a flat shelf with small spread out coral heads and a few bigger rocks covered with coral,” he explained. Assuming construction and reassembly for contests doesn’t damage sections of the reef, this should be a positive.

“No need for all this #olympicbashing,” he explained further, having pointed out that he was neither pro or anti-tower throughout this process. “Teahupo’o will protect itself. Teahupo’o is the birth place of Mana. If Teahupo’o does not want the Olympic Games we will have flat surf with heavy rain and maramuu winds for the event. If Teahupo’o does not want the tower an XXL swell will take it down. If Teahupo’o wants the Olympics it will put on the greatest show on earth.”

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