Papa Tangaroa

Edit Spot

About

Supreme mana experience. Time, patience and synchronicity required in order to really pull off an epic session at Papa Tenga Roa. Only the truly intiated need apply.

Atmosphere:
True test of an authentic big-wave rider's savvty at size. Potential for psyche expanding tubes—not so much of duration as intensity. Hawaiian-style power

Additional Info:
One word to describe the spot is heavy. It's a lot heavier than it looks and most of the time it looks really heavy. It's a full on committed surfing experience only for expert surfers looking for the wave of a lifetime. Coral heads popping up everywhere with low tide. It's a sunset style take off with a Pipeline bowl over shallow urchin infested lava rock reef. Bring a pintail or round pin a wetsuit always even though temperatures is warm enough but just to avoid cuts and bruises.

First surfed in the early nineties but never documented by an american and australian surfer who say got the best waves of their life. It wasn't really surfed until the Brock Little/Laird Hamilton in 1993 which showed the potential of the wave to the world and locals. Some Brazilians and other crews (Longs Brothers, Tamayo) ) have surfed the spot as well.

Depending on the swell direction and size it can have two different peaks breaking just a couple of yards apart. it requires surfers to be top shape and in top of their game in order to ride the wave successful and avoid any injuries or horrible wipeouts. If you do love waves like Pipeline and Teahupo'o but cannot handle the crows this is uncrowded and will have a hard time getting a local to surf along.

Location

Access

Check first if the reef's sucking dry (it will on a SE). Then gauge your equipment against the speed and girth of the swell. Paddle out from the north side of the channel (off the finger line of rocks), move into the lineup, toward the peak, with caution and exercise good judgment. Take an extra stroke over the ledge, then drive it into the hole and make your wave—otherwise you're doomed. No putzing around. Papa Tenga Roa is a full trim experience.

Walk	Long walk (>30 min)
Public access	Yes
4x4 required	Unknown
Boat required	Unknown

Wave Characteristics

Type	Reef (rocky)
Direction	Right and left
Bottom	Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.)
Power	Hollow, Fast, Powerful, Ledgey, Slab
Frequency	Very consistent (150+ days/year)
Normal length	Normal (50 to 150m)
Good day length	Normal (50 to 150m)

Ideal Conditions

Wind direction	NorthWest, West, SouthWest
Swell direction	SouthWest, South
Swell size	3ft-5ft - 16ft and over
Tide	Mid and high tide
Tide movement	Rising and falling tides