First women’s perfect 10 at surfing’s infamous ‘wall of skulls’

Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb has made history with the first ever ‘perfect 10’ by a woman in the infamous Teahupo’o (aka the ‘wall of skulls’) surf.

The Tahiti beach which will host the Paris Olympic Games surfing later this year was, for years, considered “too dangerous” for women with only men allowed to surf there.

The 8-12 foot waves were conquered this week however, with Weston-Webb completing what the World Surfing League described as “quite possibly one of the best barrels ever ridden in competition”.

Remarkably despite the perfect 10 Weston-Webb lost her semi-final to Tahiti local and Olympic gold medal favourite Vahine Fierro.

“It was obviously a bomb, really good direction,” Weston-Webb said.

“I knew I needed to go and get a good score to try and make the heat and when I was paddling and looking down, I was (thinking) ‘just make the drop and then you can barrel’.“I caught a little edge and then from there I was just like ‘stay calm’ and all of a sudden it was just a little tunnel.

“When I came out I couldn’t believe it. I was just beyond myself screaming… This is women’s surfing. We’re doing it. I feel like I won the contest but obviously I didn’t.”

The 24-year-old Fierro, who does not compete on the Championship Tour but has extensive knowledge of Teahupo’o, is favoured in the Olympics due to her local experience.

“Thank you to (WSL Commissioner) Jessi (Myley Dyer) for trusting the women because we were more than capable out there,” Fierro said.

“It’s just insane. Thank you Teahupo’o, you’re so special, and thank you for sending me the best waves of my life.

“Teahupo’o is for the women after all.”

Australia’s Molly Picklum lost to Fierro in her quarter-final and faces a brutal first round in the Olympics against Weston-Webb and American young gun Caity Simmers.

from Fox Sports