What is it that kills these guys? Is it that they slam into the reef and go unconscious, or is it the swirling water under the wave that sucks them under?
It’s a combination of things. Chopes has a shallow break. The reef is just a couple of feet from the surface. Combine that fact along with a wave that breaks heavy, and you have little room for mistakes.
If you search the net for examples of fatalities at Teahupoo you’ll soon discover how dangerous Chopes is.
Sometimes they get dumped under the reef...sometimes they get knocked unconscious...sometimes they swirl in the sheer power and beating of the waves for up to 3 minutes. They say it is like being inside an industrial washing machine for 3 minutes...I’ll pass.