Interview by Stephanie Conway
After becoming Miss Tahiti in 2015, Vaimiti Teiefitu has proven that she’s more than just a pretty face. She has developed a career as a TV presenter, earned over 60,000 followers on Instagram and partnered with global surf brand, ROXY for longboarding. We caught up with her to learn more about her career both on screen and in the surf.
Vaimiti you’ve developed an inspiring career for yourself both on-screen and in the surf. Do you feel a sense of responsibility having so many people look up to you?
My followers have helped me realise the positive impact that you can have on someone else’s life just by living your own life fully. I get DM’s from people who say that I’ve inspired them to stand up for themselves or do things that they were once too afraid to try. I want to keep inspiring people to go for their dreams. If I’m living the life I want, then you can live the life you want, too. I’m best known as Miss Tahiti, but it has always been a dream of mine to become a professional surfer. I signed with ROXY almost two years ago, and it has been a dream to go on trips with them and work on campaigns with them. ROXY’s brand values a woman being badass. Women don’t have to do what society expects of them and can break the rules. I love that because I’ve believed it for my entire life.
I’ve also been hosting a show on TV called ‘the Islanders.’ We focus on local athletes, and I get to try many sports. Talking and interviewing them to help share their passion with a wider audience has been really inspiring. I have been able to try lots of different sports through the show.
I have been cast in a movie about surfing. It was supposed to be shot in September, but they have postponed it to next year now. I really like being on TV, and would love to see where it leads me. I’d really like to get into producing and creating photoshoots with friends. I just like the whole creative process, not necessarily just being in front of the camera.
I started surfing at age 16 with my younger sister.
How did you first get into longboarding?
I started surfing at age 16 with my younger sister. My family don’t surf but my uncle is a surfboard shaper, so we started out borrowing shortboards from him to start learning.
Then I discovered longboarding because a French company came to Tahiti to promote their boards, and after shooting the campaign, they left their boards because it was difficult to transport them back. I asked if I could use one, and they said yes. That’s how I got my first longboard. As soon as I tried surfing on my first longboard, I decided I was never going back. Now, it’s the only thing I want to do.
I’m a big advocate for longboarding. The feeling you get when you’re just walking on the board, and you can enjoy the present moment and dance on the waves.
The feeling you get when you’re just walking on the board, and you can enjoy the present moment and dance on the waves.
In recent years, surfing has increasingly become more popular throughout the world – and especially with women. Have you noticed a change since you first started surfing?
When I first started surfing, there weren’t many women or girls in the water. But now I see more women in the line up, and I love it. It’s amazing to see more women daring to take-on the heavy Tahitian waves. We’re out here proving that girls can handle riding waves just as much as guys can.
Tahiti is known for having heavy waves, and is even home to the world’s heaviest break, Teahupo’o.
What’s it like to longboard in Tahiti?
Tahiti has breath-taking landscapes and immaculate beaches, but the magical part is that you can feel the energy and power of nature surrounding you. There’s nowhere like it anywhere else in the world.
At entry-level, Tahiti isn’t very longboard friendly because the waves are so powerful. The learning process is hard. You must consistently go out in different conditions to progress, and it’s hard not to give up. But if you can withstand the initial struggle, then you’ll eventually be rewarded of the fun of dancing on the waves.
Longboarding at Teahupo’o is super sketchy because the wave barrels. Most people paddle out with shortboards but taking Teahupo’o with a longboard takes it to another level. Longboarding really becomes high-performance sport. It’s a challenging reef break because you must really push to drop into the barrel, and anything can happen. I’m addicted to the adrenaline rush and the thrill of the unknown outcome at Teahupo’o.
At entry-level, Tahiti isn’t very longboard friendly because the waves are so powerful. The learning process is hard. You must consistently go out in different conditions to progress, and it’s hard not to give up. But if you can withstand the initial struggle, then you’ll eventually be rewarded of the fun of dancing on the waves.
Longboarding at Teahupo’o is super sketchy because the wave barrels. Most people paddle out with shortboards but taking Teahupo’o with a longboard takes it to another level. Longboarding really becomes high-performance sport. It’s a challenging reef break because you must really push to drop into the barrel, and anything can happen. I’m addicted to the adrenaline rush and the thrill of the unknown outcome at Teahupo’o.
Teahupo’o (above) is the location of the Tahiti Pro Championship Tour event. Most CT locations are notorious for having a competitive lineup. Do you feel the same pressure at this line up?
There’s sometimes a bit of localism because of the hype around the break, but it’s not as intense as other places that I’ve surfed. Most of the other surf breaks in Tahiti are friendly. Our breaks are further out from the shoreline, so they are more difficult to get to. You either arrive by boat or paddle out for more than 25 minutes to reach them. When you get there, you’ll usually find the same faces as we have a small surfing community, but the vibes are good. The people here are nice and love to share.
Aside from Tahiti, where’s your favourite place to surf?
It has to be Pavones, Costa Rica. It’s a small village on the Pacific Coast, close to the border with Panama, and it’s world-class. It’s the second longest left in the world, and I’ve been there twice but I just love it. It’s in this magical bay where you can see lines and lines of waves coming, and it’s unreal. The locals are super friendly, and there are people from all over the world that come to paddle out because they are here for this special wave. It’s really a dream.
What does the future hold for Vaimiti Teiefitu?
I’m living my dream already, so I hope to keep doing more of what I’m already doing. We’ll be shooting the film that I’ve been cast in next year, so hopefully that will lead to more exciting projects. But mostly, I’d like to be known as someone who fully embraced who they were and just went for everything. Even if it’s not what society has expected of me. It’s as simple as that. If you don’t do the things that make you happy, then who is going to do it? No one. You have one life, so go for it!
