After a less-than-stellar 13th place in Brazil, a big, purple blog in the South Pacific was John John's consolation prize. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Photo: Camila Neves

As the first few frames of this sequence illustrate, Florence is one of the best, most technical backside tuberiders on the planet right now. That's some AI channeling right there. Sequence: Camila Neves

Here's the same wave as the last slide, but this time in super slo-mo video. Equally impressive. Photo: Camila Neves; video: Caio Faria

The back of Raimana's ski: the next best thing to being inside a Teahupoo pit. Photo: Camila Neves

Raimana is one of Teahupoo's biggest ambassadors; he hosts visiting tubeseekers, shuttles 'em around on the ski and on land. And he still gets his fair share of shacks himself. Photo: Camila Neves

Tika Nui Smith is a local charger. And we don't use the word "charger" lightly here. Watch the video, all the way through. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira; Video: Caio Faria

Ever wonder why the waves at Teahupoo are so darn pretty? Sharp coral reef, that's why. Nathan Florence illustrates how sharp. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Nathan tucks in, eying the west bowl as it grows ahead of him, hoping the slingshot from deep is enough. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

There might be some places on earth as beautiful as Tahiti, but certainly nowhere is prettier. Photo: Camila Neves

Matahi Drollet is no stranger to Teahupoo's innards -- or these pages. We ran this 60 Seconds on the grom back when he was 14 years old. Now at the ripe old age of 16, he's still putting his local knowledge to good use. Photo: Camila Neves; Video: Caio Faria

Franklin Serpa, hoping his fins hold through the foamy, bowly bits. Photo: Camila Neves

Jonathan Warren: "With the help of strong high pressure ridging in behind it, a developing area of low pressure slid off Antarctica and rapidly intensified under New Zealand over May 7th-9th. Not only did the high help with the growth of the storm, but by digging as far south as 60° latitude to the west of the storm, it also helped aim a broad fetch of strong winds more northward at Tahiti."

"I was in Rio, and the conditions weren't that great," said Ricardo dos Santos. "I wanted to surf good waves; then I saw the swell and decided to go three days before the swell. It was a really short trip -- only went for that swell and came back home. Seven-day trip, four days traveling and three surfing." Photo: Domenic Mosqueira; Video: Caio Faria

"Yes, that is a bird on my head. No, I don't know why. And yes, to be honest, it is a little distracting when a big set comes." Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

In the Endless Summer, Bruce Brown joked about how Hynson and August were so relaxed hanging ten that they could "make a ham sandwich up there." Consider the no-grab, stand-tall backside tube the new hanging ten, and JJF's "making a quesadilla up there." Photo: Romuald Pliquet

Here's Eli Olson's first solid wave of his first session here. "I've known Eli since his second trip here years ago and he gets better and better every trip," says local photog Domenic Mosqueira. "He always wants the solid ones." Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Eli: what's not to smile about? Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Here's Eli again, putting all that Pipe training to good use across Teahupoo's bowl section. Sequence: Camila Neves

Teahupoo eats boards for breakfast, literally. Good to be prepared. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Here's the sequence version of Florence's wave of the day. "He is so good out there," said Dos Santos. "Always super relaxed, paddling slow and getting the bombs. It was really good to see somebody pushing the limit like he did. After all, I have to thank him for making me try my best during the whole swell." Sequence: Camila Neves

Koa Smith has had a busy month. Nicaragua for a Surfline surgical strike, Newport Beach fpr the VQS Champs, and Teahupoo, for the first big swell of the year. Kid's on the program. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Pohue Raiponi is another local charger who knows exactly the kind of deft railwork that's needed to make deep, fast tubes. Video: Caio Faria

When John John smiles, the whole channel smiles. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

Koa Rothman had just showed up and this was the first wave he turned and went for. Not even a second thought. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

If you come up, there's always a reason to smile. It's also worth noting that this swell happened one year to the day after Koa's crazy mutant last May. Funny how swells work. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira

That smile's almost as wide as that barrel. Photo: Domenic Mosqueira