The Ties That Bind

A hard-to-reach reef became the focus for Titouan Galea and his friends and family when a forecast predicted a sizable swell heading for the New Caledonian archipelago. It was a session few of them are going to forget any time soon…

Words: Titouan Galea
Photos: Gael Contal & Gill Chaubaud

Nestled in the heart of the South Pacific lies New Caledonia, a place known for its beautiful and exciting waves. It also happens to be my home. One of its hidden gems is the outer reef of Ténia, a playground for adventurous surfers. Just a month ago, my friends and I went on an unforgettable journey there.

It feels great to surf in a place that's not crowded, like home. But sometimes, you end up surfing alone even though the waves are amazing. It can be risky, so I love sharing the experience with close friends. This time, we were lucky to have a few friends all at home at the same time, and when we saw the favorable weather forecast about a week before, we started planning. I had recently bought a jet ski, which turned out to be really useful that day. We also rented another boat for the media team and our gear.

March isn't usually known for big waves in the Southern Hemisphere, as it's the end of summer. But last month, we got lucky with a huge swell, giving us a window for this adventure. Ténia's wave is about 50 miles north of Nouméa, near an island 10 miles offshore. It's a reef break, so you have to be very careful not to end up on the reef when traveling in.

With my friends Arthur and Clement, along with some photographers, we set out before sunrise. The journey to Ténia's outer reef isn't easy. We had to drive for almost two hours and then take a 45-minute boat ride. We left Nouméa (the capital) at around 6am. I picked up Arthur, while the others drove since we had another boat waiting for us at the marina. As mentioned, the reef is about 10 miles offshore, so we had to navigate through the open waters, facing the ocean's power. But with every wave we encountered, our excitement grew, knowing that this thrilling adventure awaited us beyond the horizon.

As the sun rose, casting its warm light on the growing waves and with our surfboards and other gear ready, we eagerly took on the challenge. Arthur towed me in surf foiling, while Clement paddled alongside on a SUP. We shared unforgettable moments, catching waves and enjoying the thrill of the ocean’s roar from this solid swell. It was Arthur's first time towing into a wave, but he did great, even getting barreled. Clement also had some amazing rides, though he had a few wipeouts too. I took it easy, knowing it would be a long day with more activities later. Still, I managed to catch some good waves and share some great moments with Clement.

For these kind of conditions, knowing your equipment like the back of your hands and choosing it carefully is important. From a certain size of wave, riding a smaller foil is required. This allows you to be more comfortable while riding. It also gives you more speed, giving room for some turns.

“March isn't usually known for big waves in the Southern Hemisphere, as it's the end of summer. But last month, we got lucky with a huge swell, giving us a window for this adventure.”

The setup has to be as rigid as possible, having some high modulus carbon mast and foils is also recommended. I also like to ride small boards because they have less inertia and momentum. This is why my choice of boards was the smallest Link boards from Cabrinha, riding with the H550 MK2 with an 84cm carbon mast.

As the day went on and we grew tired, our adventure didn’t stop. After a quick lunch break, we pumped up our kites and wings, ready for more action. In the afternoon, as the swell got even bigger, I rode some of the biggest waves I'd ever seen in New Caledonia. It was exhilarating, sharing those moments with my windsurfing friends and my dad.

Of course, no adventure is without its challenges. We had a few mishaps, like breaking two boards. In the afternoon, I lent my kite to a friend who got into trouble and ended up losing it to the reef. We tried to save it but had to cut the lines to rescue the kite. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my bar when we went back to look for it, a week later.

For me, there's nothing like the thrill of riding big waves, especially with friends and family by my side. It's not just about the waves we ride or the challenges we face but the memories we create together. Looking back on our day at Ténia, I'm reminded of the priceless moments we shared and the bonds we formed, making it an adventure to remember forever.