‘Mutant’ Tahitian Slab Wave Looks Impossible to Surf (Video)

It comes from Tupu Te Tai Media, and shows a below-sea-level, pretty much un-surfable wave breaking somewhere in French Polynesia. A few bodyboarders have a look, sitting on the shoulder, but nobody has a go. And, in fact, it looks like it might just be the same mutant slab wave we saw not too long ago.

That one was posted by Aimeé Visuals, and shows a very similar slab:

“Most insane slab in French Polynesia,” they captioned. “Only a few can manage this wave! Trying the most insane slab on a stormy day makes for some epic rides!”

Freaky. That dry reef lurking just inches below.

Of course, Tahiti is home to another slab wave, one more manageable, yet still, difficult to ride. We’re talking, duh, about Teahupo’o – host location to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where arguably some of the best competitive surfing in history went down.

For more on Teahupo’o, and what makes it tick, here’s oceanographer, Dr. Paige Hoel:

“Teahupo’o is a slab of water born from a miracle on the ocean floor. There is a super abrupt change in the height of the ocean floor. It goes from 150 feet, to six feet, in a matter of seconds. As swell approaches the shore, it’s not going to uniformly reach that ocean floor. Instead, the top of the wave is going to heave over. The result is a magnificent wave.”

Slab waves, all the rage.