Vaast goes to war to win gold for Polynesia and France

Local hero Kauli Vaast said he was ready to go to war to win an Olympic surfing gold medal at his home break – for his family, for all Tahitians and for France.

Vaast got off to an ideal start in his final against Australian Jack Robinson on Monday, threading a long but familiar Teahupo’o tube for a near perfect 9.5 out of 10.

“I knew that one, I would make it if I just have enough speed. I just went all in and tried to make the speed that I wanted to have, and I made it, so I was so stoked,” he said.