The quiet town of Teahupoo rests along the southwest corner of the smaller of Tahiti’s two dormant volcanoes, Tahiti Iti, separated from the larger by the Isthmus of Taravao.

This isn’t your father’s perfect wave, and unless seeing your next birthday doesn’t rank on your list of priorities, it isn’t yours either. Tahiti’s Teahupoo (pronounced cho-po) is essentially a glorified closeout — a hideous, deadly barrel promising a heap of trouble for even the most capable of surfers. In recent years, professional contests and high-profile tow-ins have bombarded us with images of her seemingly flawless barrels, but no other surf spot extracts a higher toll than Teahupo0…The heaviest wave in the world!!!