Robert Teriitehau is a three-time indoor world champion and a seven-time French windsurfing champion. Originally from French Polynesia, he has built his career on the most formidable waves on the planet, from Teahupoo to Jaws. His journey is not just about his titles: he is now extending his influence through mentoring, equipment development, and an active presence in a rapidly changing water sports landscape.
From high-level windsurfing to a mentoring role on-site
Most biographies of Robert Teriitehau stop at his titles. They mention him as an ambassador of windsurfing, a champion with an impressive record. What is less documented is how he shares his knowledge on the field.
For several years, Teriitehau has been providing operational mentoring to young riders. Briefings before sessions, technical support in the water, individualized feedback after each outing: his role goes beyond that of a symbolic figure. He directly influences the progression of the practitioners he mentors.
This hands-on work, described as a regular and not sporadic activity, sets Teriitehau apart from other former champions who have transitioned into communication or sponsorship roles. To follow Robert Teriitehau’s news in 2025, one must look beyond his record and focus on this role as a trainer.
This positioning allows him to stay connected to the realities of the sport: the evolution of equipment, new disciplines, and the expectations of beginners or advancing practitioners.
Teriitehau Stand-up Paddle: a range designed by a rider
Why would a windsurfing champion launch his own line of stand-up paddle boards? The answer lies in Teriitehau’s versatility in sliding sports. His experience on waves like Teahupoo or Jaws has given him a keen understanding of hydrodynamics and balance on the water.
His range of SUP boards covers several profiles:
- Models for beginners, designed to offer increased stability and quick handling in calm conditions.
- Replicas of his own competition boards, the ones he has used on the most challenging spots on the planet.
- SUP Race boards, intended for competition and tested by Teriitehau himself during races.
- Models specifically adapted for female sizes, a segment still underrepresented by many manufacturers.
The interest in this range lies in the fact that it is designed by a high-level practitioner, not by a design office disconnected from the water. Each board reflects choices tested in real conditions.
Windsurfing and wingfoiling: how the water sports landscape is changing
Windsurfing remains a vibrant discipline, but the landscape of water sports is rapidly transforming. Wingfoiling, which combines a handheld wing and a foil under the board, is attracting a new generation of practitioners.
A good indicator of this transition: the Défi Wing in Gruissan. During its fourth edition in 2025, the event gathered 600 participants in a mass start. Predictions for 2027 estimate 800 participants. This growth shows that wingfoiling is no longer a niche but a fully-fledged discipline that is now structuring the calendar of French water sports events.
For historical figures in windsurfing like Teriitehau, this evolution raises a concrete question: how to remain relevant in an ecosystem that no longer limits itself to traditional sailing?
A transferable skill set between disciplines
Reading the wind, positioning on the wave, managing dynamic balance: these skills transfer from one discipline to another. A high-level windsurfer possesses a technical foundation that applies to wingfoiling, SUP, or big wave surfing.
Teriitehau illustrates this cross-disciplinarity. His mentoring work is not limited to classic windsurfing. He supports riders who navigate between multiple boards, which enhances the value of his technical expertise beyond a single discipline.
Robert Teriitehau’s 2025 projects: what is taking shape
Teriitehau’s activities for 2025 continue his approach: on-site mentoring, equipment development, and presence in the ecosystem of water sports events. These initiatives are not one-off efforts but a long-term commitment, carried out over several years.
Three main areas emerge to understand his current trajectory:
- The continuation of his role as a trainer for young talents, with regular technical coaching sessions.
- The evolution of his SUP board range, in a market where demand diversifies between leisure, racing, and surfing.
- His positioning in a water sports landscape where wingfoiling is gaining ground, which requires an adaptation of his messaging and interventions.
What sets Teriitehau apart from many former champions is the concrete dimension of his commitment. He does not simply lend his name to products or events. He stays in the water, facing the conditions, alongside the practitioners he supports.
The record of a three-time indoor world champion and seven-time French champion speaks for itself. The next chapter of his journey unfolds on another field: passing on what cannot be learned from videos.
Reading a wave in real-time, timing a jibe under pressure, positioning against a rising swell. It is this know-how, forged on the most demanding spots of the Pacific, that gives his mentoring a value that online tutorials cannot replace.