A professional surfer for more than three years, Steven Pierson, at thirty years old, is tenacious and passionate. Today, he is one of the top 100 best surfers in the world (83rd at his latest ranking). Alongside the other big Tahitian surfing star Michel Bourez—currently ranked fifth in the world—he is one of the elites of Tahitian competitive surfing. This very high competitive level rivals large nations such as the USA, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. As such, despite its population of fewer than 280,000 inhabitants, French Polynesia has managed to climb the ranks to become one of the best countries in the world in this discipline.
Born in Remiremont in the Vosges Mountains of France, Steven Pierson came to Tahiti when he was three months old. He spent his entire childhood and adolescence between the districts of Mahaena, Tiarei, Papenoo, Punaauia and Papara on the island of Tahiti. He started surfing at 11 years old. He dominated the sport at the local level with at least nine Tahitian championship titles in an array of categories: youth, junior, and open. The home spots, his “favorite spots,” are located in the commune of Papara at the mouth of the Taharu’u river, and in the open sea and on the reef (known as the Maoti). Steven Pierson had the chance to be able to train and surf on these two spots with their entirely different characteristics. The mouth of the river has an ideal wave that perfectly uncoils in front of a beautiful black sand beach. As to the Maoti , this is a dangerous reef that is surfed by only the bravest. These two sites are typical of the diverse array of surfing spots available in Tahiti.
Steven regularly leaves his “island paradise,” as he calls it, to travel the world to compete internationally where the conditions are far removed from the familiar ones in Tahiti, a prime surfing location due to its year-round favorable climate, its regular swells and clear, warm waters.
“In Tahiti, we don’t have the same waves to train on as the ones we come across on the World Qualifying Series circuit (WQS),” he explains. Tahitian waves are perfect, and quite a different type than those encountered on European, American, or African coasts. This is a challenge that all Tahitian surfing competitors must keep in mind.
The home spots, his “favorite spots,” are located in the commune of Papara at the mouth of the Taharu’u river, and in the open sea and on the reef (known as the Maoti). Steven Pierson had the chance to be able to train and surf on these two spots with their entirely different characteristics. The mouth of the river has an ideal wave that perfectly uncoils in front of a beautiful black sand beach. As to the Maoti , this is a dangerous reef that is surfed by only the bravest. These two sites are typical of the diverse array of surfing spots available in Tahiti.
Steve Pierson grabbed his first big victory in September 2013, when he won Spain’s Pantin Classic. His goal is to catch up with Michel Bourez , who is among the top 34 elite surfers of elite professional surfing. In the WQS, Steven showed tremendous pugnacity. In 2013, he was ranked as the 6th top European surfer, proof of this native son’s high level of achievement.
Respected and renowned for his performance, he remains a simple athlete who loves nature. From this huge adventure that is actually his career, he wants to thank all those close to him, including his girlfriend Tehani and his numerous sponsors: Hee Nalu, Mundaka Optic, Xsories & Go Pro, 69 Slam, Cool Shoe, Teva Surf Board & Crabe Surfboards, Surf N Supply, Oam & Future Fins. His power, as he states it, is his will of steel that allows him to advance and excel far from home even if his heart is in Tahiti.
