Surf: On the Iti Peninsula, the Tapuehara Pass holds the flawless lefts of Vairao, yet another epic barrel spinning across the coral shallows. It is less intense than Teahupoo, but still packs some serious punch with the S swell window and NE-E wind combo that make it a reliable performer without huge crowds. Environment: Maybe it's because of the near 2km paddle, strong rips and sharky vibe.... Surf: General: One of the world's best left-handers, Vairao features a steep, fast, barreling take-off followed by a flawless looping wall for the length of the reef, a distance of several hundred yards. Before curving into the reef pass, a final bowl section forms over quite-shallow coral. On big days, you can sit in here and pick off wide sets if you're not up to the breakneck part of the wave. Undeniably one of Tahiti's best waves, and yet it's vastly overshadowed by Teahupo'o, just down the coast. Tides: Medium to high (incoming). Size: Head high to triple overhead Wind: Calm or from the E/SE Swell: SW, S Bottom: Coral. Paddling: Medium Spot Rating: Really good. Access: Boat or a 20-minute paddle from shore. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Uncrowded. Local Vibe: Not much of one. Environment: Clean Hazards: The reef. Season: March-September