Faahee Tino Contest: Tahiti Hosts Its First International Bodysurfing Event

Nazzareno Picchianti
Nov 26
3 min read

The black-sand beach of Papara welcomed a landmark event on Saturday as Tahiti hosted the first-ever Faahee Tino Contest, an international bodysurfing competition officially integrated into the Bodysurfing World Tour. The event served as a qualifier for the 2026 World Tour Finals, scheduled to take place in France in September next year.

Despite a week filled with weather uncertainties, Tahiti offered competitors a perfect one-day window of clean, beautiful waves at Taharuu. The inaugural edition brought together top bodysurfers from Hawaii and French Polynesia, combining high-level competition with meaningful cultural exchange — a key value at the heart of bodysurfing worldwide.

A Major Step for Bodysurfing in Polynesia

Since its creation in 2018, the International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA) has worked to structure and expand global bodysurfing. For many athletes, bodysurfing is not just a sport, but a culture and a way of life. The Faahee Tino Contest embodied this philosophy fully.

Taimoana Chaulet, head of the bodysurfing commission within the Tahitian Surfing Federation, explained: “This competition is above all a cultural exchange with our Hawaiian friends. Their presence gives us great insight into high-level performance, as they are true specialists. In Polynesia, we practise many forms of wave riding, but bodysurfing is becoming an essential complement.”

The first edition highlighted the growing enthusiasm for bodysurfing in Tahiti, where athletes increasingly appreciate the pure, immersive connection the discipline offers with the ocean.

Women’s Division: Victory for Chloé Vercoutere

In the women’s category, Tahitian swimmer and surfer Chloé Vercoutere claimed the historic first title with a score of 8.36. She emphasized the unique pleasure of bodysurfing: “At first, you bodysurf when you can’t really surf, but the more you do it, the more you fall in love with it. The glide is different, more pure, and the connection with the wave is much stronger.”

Women’s Final Results:

1. Chloé Vercoutere (Tahiti) 8.36

2. Sophie Friedheim (Hawaii) 6.23

3. Prisca Amaru (Tahiti) 3.63

4. Lena Palama (Hawaii) 1.37

Men’s Division: Hawaii’s Kealii Punley Takes the Win

Among the men, 2024 World Vice-Champion Kealii Punley confirmed his status, delivering powerful and precise rides throughout the day to secure victory with 11.67 points. Tahiti’s Steven Pierson, fresh from an exceptional surf season, impressed the crowd and finished second, followed by rising talent Narii Hoffmann.

Men’s Final Results:

1. Kealii Punley (Hawaii) 11.67

2. Steven Pierson (Tahiti) 10.16

3. Narii Hoffmann (Tahiti) 9.77

4. Conrad Morgan (Hawaii) 9.30

Looking Ahead: A Growing Path Toward the 2026 Finals

A second stage is under consideration for December in Hawaii, where Tahiti intends to send a strong delegation.

Regardless of the results, IBSA’s regional structure ensures that each represented region will have at least 8 male and 4 female athlete competing in the 2026 World Tour Finals. This guarantees global representation and fosters growth in emerging bodysurfing communities.

A Historic and Promising First Edition

The Faahee Tino Contest was a true success, delivering high-level performance, cultural sharing, and a powerful celebration of bodysurfing spirit. With Tahiti now firmly established on the international circuit, anticipation is already building for future editions — and for what Polynesian athletes will bring to the global stage in 2026.