| Kauli Vaast | |
| Birth Date: | 26 February 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Residence: | Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Stance: | Goofy |
| Height: | 176 cm |
| Weight: | 70 kg |
| Sponsors: | Red Bull, Quiksilver |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Kauli Vaast (born 26 February 2002) is a French professional surfer from French Polynesia. He qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal in the men's competition.[1]
Vaast was born in the town of Vairao on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. He has two younger siblings, a sister and a brother.[2] His sister, Aelan, is also a professional surfer.[3] [4] Vaast first rode on a surfboard with his father when he was four years old, and began surfing on his own when he was six. When he was eight, Vaast surfed Teahupo'o for the first time, and won a local surfing competition, motivating him to train competitively as a surfer in France.[5]
Vaast is a three-time WSL European Junior Champion (2017, 2019, and 2020).
In 2019, Vaast was victorious against Hawaiian surfer Tyler Newton at the 2019 Tahiti Pro Trials, winning a wildcard appearance at Tahiti Pro Teahupo'o 2019.[6] There, he advanced to the Round of 16, where he was defeated by Jérémy Florès.[7]
Vaast placed second in the Outerknown Tahiti Pro 2022, behind Miguel Pupo.
In 2023, he made his first WQS win in Morocco, at the Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Bay.[8]
Vaast qualified for the 2024 Olympics at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games, defeating Spanish surfer Gonzalo Gutiérrez to claim the European slot.[9]
As a replacement for Ítalo Ferreira, who withdrew due to injury, Vaast placed fifth in the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro 2023, behind Leonardo Fioravanti.[10]
At the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games, Vaast won the bronze medal, placing behind Gabriel Medina and Ramzi Boukhiam.[11]
Vaast won the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics men's shortboard event.[12]
In 2024, Vaast was appointed as a brand ambassador for the French fashion brand Dior.[13] [14]
| WQS Wins | |||||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Bay | Anchor Point, Taghazout Bay | |||
| Juniors Tour | |||||
| Year | width= 33.8% | Event | width= 33% | Venue | Country |
| 2020 | Junior Pro Espinho | Espinho, Porto | |||
| 2019 | Caparica Surf Fest Junior Pro | Praia de Caparica, Lisbon | |||
| 2019 | Papara Pro Junior Tahiti | Paparā, Tahiti | |||
| 2018 | Papara Pro Junior Tahiti | Paparā, Tahiti | |||
| 2017 | Junior Pro Biscarrosse | Biscarrosse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
2024[15]