Bula ! Welcome to Fiji !

Fiji behind the scene…

Most of you already know Fiji islands above all after the recent Ben Wilson highlight or because you’re a favored pro or a privileged class people.
In the last 80’s, I remember a windsurfing movie with R. Naish And P. Cabrinha  in Fiji filmed by Rod Parmenter (Angle of attack) on these worldclass waves.
Since this, nearly nothing abstract ASPworldtour on private spots. What’s happened ?

For nearly 20 years, the spot Cloubreak in Fiji was almost forbidden to watersports.
After 10 years of campaigning, Ian Ravuvu Muller, the local surfer and revered leader of the
community, finally convinced the military government to decree Fijian surf spots as a public ownership.

Ian Muller led a battle to the end of the use of reserved spots (Cloudbreak, Restaurants, Namotu),
free access to the waves for local development and local tourism. He hopes that this great
change will benefit the Fijian but also to all the surfers on the planet. Here are the words of one
who gives the victory to FSA ( Fiji Surfing Association) that have convinced the military government
of Bainimarama to “deregulated” the waves in July 2010 :

“Our waves were privatized since 20 years and local population didn’t benefited by the swell or rarely.
The foreigners came and picked the best spots. By becoming friends with local leaders, they obtained
exclusive access rights from the people who did not really know what they were signing. The battle for
the liberation of the Fijian wave lasted 10 years to get the Government’s attention on a problem that
reduced the Fijians to second-class citizens in their own country. For years the local tourism suffers
from this situation. It is reasonable to expect that there will be major benefits for all facets of
the local community.
The new laws have improved the lives of Fijians and now we are happy to share what
we have. There are many waves but they are a gift from God no one can control ”

Ian awaits you at the line up as a guide, a lifeguard and wishes you to come to rip and share with
Bula, (Aloha in Fijian). “Come here with a smile, and leave your localism at home”.

Pic above :  Airview of Namotu by Stuart Gibson.

Fiji with BWS team.

Back on Ben Wilson’s wave : 18 feets with a 16 sec period with south east cross to offshore wind…
“They’re some of the biggest waves we’ve ever kited,” Wilson said, not a small claim from a
bloke who is making it his business to pull himself into the biggest waves in the world by
nylon strings. Source : The collective.net

Another shot of that huge wave but Neil Kennedy point of view :

and some time it goes wrong, captured by Suart Gibson :

On other spots Ben Wilson and Brodie Adlinton in less “mental conditions”, shot by Stuart Gibson.

Brodie Adlington shacked. Stu Gibson pic

If you project to visit Fiji, check out this : Fijiguide

To achieve your virtual trip in Fiji, a view  of Namotu left, Cloudbreak, Wilkes and inside the
closer main Island.

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