'Wasn't much time': Jack Robinson's lucky escape from brutal wipeout as weather causes more havoc in Tahiti
Huge swells at the famed Teahupo'o break in Tahiti once again forced the postponement of Olympic surfing competition.
On Tuesday (AEST), the men's third round was able to be completed, before the women's event was postponed. The conditions had not cleared by Wednesday morning (AEST), and the competition was delayed again.
Aussie Jack Robinson beat American John John Florence, but had to be rescued by officials on jetskis after a brutal wipeout late in the head-to-head match.
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"I want to say (this is) the most dangerous sport in the world when it's like that," Robinson said (AEST).
"I got dragged over the bottom and almost had a two wave hold under. I didn't get much air.
Jack Robinson had to be rescued by water patrol after a wipeout in the third round of surfing competition AP
"There wasn't much time. I got reminded of so many guys who have had so many bad wipeouts here."
It was Robinson's second major wipeout in as many weeks, having also crashed out during practice last week ahead of competition.
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In the second round, he scored a near-perfect 9.87 to defeat Peruvian Luca Mesinas.
Teahupo'o is one of the most spectacular, but notorious surf breaks in the world. It hosts the annual Billabong Pro event as part of the world championship tour.
A shallow reef barely beneath the surface produces waves that regularly top 3m in good conditions. But the area is particularly sensitive to weather changes, which can cause conditions to rapidly deteriorate.
Competitors had enjoyed relatively mild conditions in the opening two days, before a storm to Tahiti's south whipped up massive waves midway through day three during the men's competition.
Robinson compared his wipeout to being caught beneath an avalanche.
"Every other sport is in a court or a stadium. We are in an ocean, the biggest, most powerful source of life we have on this planet.
Robinson was superb before the wipeout, and still managed to win his round. Getty
"The waves are so powerful. It doesn't relate to any other sport. Maybe an avalanche coming down on your head on a mountain. Maybe it's similar to that.
"It's so dangerous and so crazy."
A break in weather conditions is expected to allow competition to continue on Thursday morning (AEST).
The women's competition is in the third round, while the men's is at the quarter final stage.
Robinson and countryman Ethan Ewing are both through to the quarter finals, but will unfortunately face off when competition resumes.
Tyler Wright is the sole Aussie remaining in the women's competition. She will take on Israeli Anat Lelior.
