We'll bet you didn't know that the surfing portion of the Paris Summer Olympics is taking place nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) away in Tahiti.
Neither did we.
While the world's attention is currently focused on Paris, surfers and water enthusiasts are having an entirely different experience on the beautiful tropical island of Tahiti.
Due to France's poor surfing conditions (the coast is lovely but doesn't make for great surf), the Olympics opted to use the French Polynesian island of Tahiti to host both the male and female surfing competitions.
As if that idyllic scenery wasn't sweet enough, competitors will also be foregoing all the scourges of typical Olympic village life. Headlines in recent days have shown athletes having to sleep on cardboard beds in cramped conditions in Paris, but in Tahiti the surfers are staying aboard the Aranui 5 cruise ship.
The ship is moored just offshore from the tropical island, roughly about 45 minutes from the legendary surf zone that has attracted hardcore water junkies for decades.
The Aranui 5 has room for about 230 passengers in 100 cabins across 8 decks. Some other perks include a spa and a gym, not to mention the stellar experience of waking up with an oceanfront view of lovely Tahiti rather than the cramped dorm rooms of Paris. When it's time to compete, surfers and their coaches simply hop aboard the pre-stationed RIBS and hitch a ride either to shore or directly to the surf zone. The ride to the docks is only five minutes.
“They have a wonderful location for the village, which is on a ship,” French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson told The Associated Press. “It’s unusual, but they seem to like it.”
Media are barred from the Aranui 5, which makes for an even calmer and more peaceful experience for athletes trying to get in tune with the sea and ride their way to the podium.
“I think our athlete village in Tahiti is better than the actual one in Paris,” surfer Kanoa Igarashi of Japan in a video on his TikTok page as he gave viewers a walkthrough of his unique accommodations.
In the video, Igarashi walks viewers through the ship, showing them the a 24-hour dining hall, the on-board Olympic gift store, and a lounge with ping pong and foosball tables.
Matt Scorringe, a coach traveling with the New Zealand surfing team, shared an Instagram video from the ship featuring highlights of the unique setup that athletes will enjoy throughout the games. The video shows the pool on the deck of Aranui 5, as well as an amazing view from his room with a private balcony.
The Aranui 5 is not your typical cruise ship, either. Not only does it have a distinctive shape, its layout is unique too. The ship carries an LOA of 126 m (413 feet) with a 22 m beam (72 feet) and a 5.2 draught (17 feet), which is very shallow for a cruise ship and may explain why it was chosen as the vessel to snuggle up to Tahiti's shallow shoreline. The bow is also wide open, with all the decks focused at the stern, giving the boat the appearance of a commercial vessel more than a recreational cruise ship.
There may also be a competitive rivalry brewing about who gets to stay in the 'deluxe' or 'superior' staterooms and those casted away to the 'dormitory' rooms that hold up to 8 people. There's even a singular 'presidential suite' that's over 41 square meters (440 square feet) that has its own massive 12 square foot balcony (130 square feet). One would assume that whoever wins the gold medal will be vying for a room switch.
While not all the athletes competing in Tahiti are staying on the ship, those currently renting houses on the mainland are undoubtedly feeling like they're missing out.
Out at sea, athletes are free from any distractions and don't have to deal with any traffic, noise, or delays causes by the hubbub currently dominating the tiny tropical island.
Check out why France elected to ship the surfers 10,000 miles away in the video below:
Comments