Paris 2024 Olympics - Surfing - Men's Gold Medal Match - Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia - August 05, 2024. Kauli Vaast of France reacts after riding a wave during the gold medal match. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
TEAHUPO'O, Tahiti (Reuters) - Local hero Kauli Vaast said he was ready to go to war to win an Olympic surfing gold medal at his home break - for his family, for all Tahitians and for France.
Vaast got off to an ideal start in his final against Australian Jack Robinson on Monday, threading a long but familiar Teahupo'o tube for a near perfect 9.5 out of 10.
"I knew that one, I would make it if I just have enough speed. I just went all in and tried to make the speed that I wanted to have, and I made it, so I was so stoked," he said.
Robinson followed with a slightly smaller version and came out after the wave spit a blast of water and air into the channel to score a 7.83.
Vaast quickly got another excellent score, an 8.17 for a tube followed by some searing turns to total 17.67 and leave the Australian chasing a near perfect score as the ocean went quiet for the remainder of the heat.
"But against Jack, it's something scary because he can throw a big score, he just needs two seconds. So it was scary for 15 minutes," Vaast said.
"If a wave came and he got the score, I would be ready to get the score ... It was just like war and I was ready for it."
Vaast grew up in Teahupo'o and has caught some of the best waves of all-time at the perfect reef pass, so his win was met with wild celebrations on spectator boats and on shore.
He has little time to celebrate his Olympic triumph, however.
Vaast flies to California later on Monday for a competition at Huntington Beach as he chases a spot on the professional world championship tour.
"I have to pack ... Just grabbing the boards for small waves and yes, straight there," the 22-year-old said. "I have my flight at 11 p.m. ... I don't have time for a party right now.
"Maybe I should stay here?"
(Reporting by Lincoln Feast in Tahiti; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
