AN EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTARY. Lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on the island of Tahiti, lies a village that’s home to one of the world’s most beautiful waves – Teahupo’o. Facing mystical mountains covered in a wild and luxuriant jungle, the perfect wave of Teahupo’o wraps around the reef to create a powerful tube that attracts the best surfers on the planet.
Photographer Tim Mckenna has been documenting this paradise for over 25 years. From Laird Hamilton’s Millennium Wave to WSL competitions, the locals pushing the limits, and the upcoming Olympic Games, he has been a privileged witness to Teahupo’o.
Alongside all the big names in surfing, he has seen the emergence of a generation of local kids who have come to tame this mythical wave. Among them are Tahurai Henry and Gilbert Teave.
Aware of how lucky they are to have grown up in this paradise, they dedicate all their energy and heart to preserving the place and passing on their culture to future generations. They are the guardians of the temple, the heirs of the village. They are the children of Teahupo’o.
OXBOW is proud to present CHILDREN OF TEAHUPOO, a 36-minute film produced by Showcast, directed by Hand Studio.