Kauli Vaast, Olympic surfing champion. “There is no other place where you feel as much spiritual power as in the Teahupo’o channel.”

He will forever be the first French surfer to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. At the age of 22, Kauli Vaast became a legend and the heart of a whole country by dominating the wave at Teahupo’o, a surf spot known to connoisseurs around the world for its difficulty. Almost a trifle for this Polynesian who has been riding around this legendary wave since he was young, surfing day after day in Tahiti in all possible weather conditions. A deep connection with the ocean opened her up to a very limited circle of Panera ambassadors.

Because the Italian house also originates from the sea. it was to meet the demands of the Italian Navy that it was formed at the dawn of the 20th century.^e century precision instruments, then, a few years later, watches. Kauli Vaast took his first steps on a surfboard at the age of 4, accompanied by his father. And it doesn’t stop after that.

Madame Figaro . – In surfing, what is the perfect move, the “perfect wave”?
Kauli Vaast. – Planetary alignment. A perfect wave creates an incredible tube in which you have to manage to follow your line, manage to stay in this “tube” as long as possible before breaking out. The one I won Olympic gold in surfing (One of the largest ever seen at Teahupo’o in ten years, Editor’s Note), it is a wave of life. A monstrous mountain of water. It’s an energy you feel, we call it mana In Tahiti. There is nowhere else where you feel so much spiritual power, so much power, and that is what makes this channel so beautiful and authentic. You have to know how to listen to the sea, respect it. But perfection is also surfing in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Teahupo’o Bay, with this translucent water, the reef, the colors, this majestic wave… And feeling the support of my family and the Polynesian people. Heaven to save.

What drives you to race against the waves?
I am a competitor, I like to push my limits. However, even if I have a crazy side, I am also very careful, I am careful not to fall and I listen to my instincts.

When I’m surfing, I’m just happy

Kauli Vaast

Your ritual before entering the water.
When I’m home in Tahiti, I feel so happy and fulfilled being home that I don’t need anything else. But I’m abroad, I’m competing, I have a routine. In addition to a physical coach, I work with a mental coach on breathing and visualization exercises. The idea is to know my body, know when my mind is at its best, how to refocus… It works on me to be my best.

How do you feel when you surf?
I’m just happy. I love being in the water, I’ve spent so much time in it that it’s where I feel best, alone or with friends. I can stay there all day and I’ve surfed for exactly twelve hours. But sometimes I am also afraid. The fear of letting go, of hurting myself, of doing the wrong thing… However, it’s not the fear that holds me back; above all, it allows me to stay focused on what I’m doing, to keep my head on my shoulders.

Why did you become a Panera Ambassador?
I have always worn watches, whether competing or just fishing. Today it is a great honor to wear Panerai, I am proud to have such a brand on my wrist. We share common values, the same passion for the ocean and the same drive for performance.