Heats of the Paris Olympics surfing competition were postponed through Wednesday afternoon in Tahiti because of unfavorable conditions.
Standing in a circle on shore, officials deliberated whether or not to go ahead on Wednesday morning after returning from a boat ride to the competition’s surfing area. Nearby, Olympic athletes watched the waves from ashore, their arms crossed as they assessed conditions. Then came the official call: The competition was postponed.
A usually high-traffic area filled with jet skis and boats during the Olympic competition, the area by the wave was nearly empty of maritime traffic on Wednesday morning.
The surf forecast is the biggest determinant of when the Paris Olympics surfing competition will take place, predicting when swells are expected to arrive, as well as the angle and size of the waves. Only four days of a 10-day window will be allotted for the competition, so it’s important to pick what forecasters think will be the best days.
Technical delegates were expected to make a decision on the next likely date for the upcoming heats late afternoon on Wednesday in Tahiti.