Fiji Surf Co - Surf News

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Surf Decree

"This Page is dedicated to the Fiji Government for what they have done for Local Surf Companies and surfers all over the world!"

On July 9, 2010, the Fijian Cabinet approved the Regulations of Surfing Areas Decree 2010, an unanticipated motion filed by Fiji's Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The decree aims "to liberalize access to any surfing area in Fiji and thereby enhance Fiji's image as a premier surf travel destination."

Surfing areas around the country are now open to anyone who wants to use them under the new Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree. Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this will allow access to any surfing area in Fiji without payment or compensation, and enhance Fiji's image as a premier surf travel destination. In the past some top surfing areas were restricted by hotels or resorts that had leases over the area and imposed payment and conditions for their use.

According to Setaita Natai, Fiji's Director of Information, the decision was part of several revisions to the Land Reform policy currently underway in Fiji, and "provides for the absolute vesting of all interest in any surfing area in Fiji in the Director of Lands, for and on behalf of the State."

Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism President Dixon Seeto has applauded governments decision to allow free access to all surf spots in the country. "This decree is good because it opens the seas and the oceans surrounding Fiji and especially around the resorting areas and I don't think that anyone should be deprived of using this and it would expand and develop marine sporting activities for tourism in Fiji." With the advent of the Surf Decree opening up the all the waves in the Fiji Islands to everybody, Fiji Surf is in a fantastic position to help our guests score the stoke of a lifetime in Fiji.

The Surf Decree has been met with praise and excitement. Click here to view a letter from Paddle For Peace, Australia Director - Ken Lucas.

Click here to read the GC Surf story of Fiji Surf Co founder, Ian Muller and his efforts to promote the Surf Decree.

Testimonials

"I believe that this is a long awaited step in the right direction. Opening up the surf and giving it back to the local people is the only right thing to do. Not only will the Fijian people be able to enjoy the surf, but the local economy will directly benefit from surf industry jobs and free market competition. Everyone should be free to enjoy the world-class surf surrounded by natural beauty and paradisiacal backdrop, especially the local Fijian people." - Kawika Tarayao, Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Letter from Founder of Viti Surf Legend

Bula from Fiji Surf,

My name is Ian Ravouvou Muller and I’m the founder of what was born as Viti Surf Legend (VSL) in 1995 to the current more prominent name of Fiji Surf or Fijian Surf Company today. By profession I’m a Licensed Aircraft Engineer and worked as an apprentice for close to 5 years after finishing school at 16. Then worked till I was about 25 as an Engineer. Life as a local engineer was great with lots of opportunity but due to a few unforeseen circumstances I decided to resign and see what other challenges in life there were . I decided to spend sometime on our family island in the Yasawas where the movie blue lagoon was filmed. There I discovered a wave breaking on the lagoon point so I figured it would be a great time to teach myself to surf. I could not order any surfboards or equipment in Fiji so I ordered a board from Hawaii and started on my journey of teaching myself. I had a great time learning and had got bitten by the surf bug badly. I decided since I could not buy any boards or equipment I would start a surf shop and begin to develop, promote surfing in Fiji – it made sense to surf in the islands – warm water, perfect waves and friendly people without crazy crowds. I had lived in the states and in Hawaii and saw what surfing was doing for them and wanted to introduce a little bit of that here and watch it thrive.

I then put a business plan together and came back to Nadi where I approached the banks with setting up a surf shop – first one in Fiji. The bank managers looked bewildered and asked me what surfing was?? I knew right then they would not endorse my loan. Therefore I decided to go back into Aviation and work part-time and start the Viti Surf Shop from the back yard of my home. Everyone through to my family, friends, workmates thought I was doing the wrong thing and encouraged me to go back to full time aviation. I knew it was going to be no easy feat with a lot of hardships, sacrifices, risks but I asked them to believe in me and that I could foresee that Fiji had the potential to produce some of the best surfing experiences in the world. It just needed time and efforts to explore Fiji and show people what our country was capable of producing. I retired at 25, taught myself to surf and now set off into an unknown world with no money, little support to live my dream. I knew that I could work hard and through that I would survive and if worse came to worse I could always fall back on my Engineering.

One person that helped me out a great deal that I will never forget was Mr. Kato from SurfLegend Japan. He was one of the only guy’s who believed in me and Fiji. He could not even speak English so we had to have translation but he trusted me and gave me abit to get off the ground. That is how Viti Surf got Legend added to it … Mr. Kato asked and in a sense it was the right thing to do – because ‘Viti’ is our indigeneous word for Fiji, ‘Surf’ is what we do and ‘Legend’ is because we were the first local surf company that is alive and will be remembered for what we started. Viti Surf Legend has become more of an authentic surf brand representing a great deal of local pride from humble beginnings.

Fiji now was beginning to shine around the world as a premier surf destination as I always envisioned. Fiji Surf was formed in the areas of surf shop, surf tours, surf school and surf travel. We started liveaboard boat tours and traveled more around Fiji than anyone else searching and finding waves. We opened up areas – Lau group that had never been opened as they shut out boats from coming in hence earning the reputation “ Forbidden Islands” only on special occasions could a boat go in with special permission. The waves we discovered – foreigners would want to come and claim their exclusivity of them because Tavarua / Namotu set such a bad precedent.

We realized the importance of development of our grass roots people to grasp this island sport and be proud that surfing was a part of our ancestory like the Hawaiians. We did some research and found out that surfing was a regular water sport for our people back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s whereby more women and children surfed and not only for Royalty as in Hawaii – everybody here surfed. The name given to surfing back in the day was “vakavodo ua” ‘Vaka’ means to do something, ‘vodo’ meaning to jump on and ‘ua’ meaning wave. The reason Vakavodo Ua died out was because we got colonized and the missionaries frowned upon our people surfing naked or partly naked. That is why VSL / Fiji Surf today is about reviving the sport of Vakavodo Ua and carrying on the spirit of our ancestors! We teach surfing to locals for free and host kids competitions - when we first started we had 30-40 kids and now have over 130 kids with surfing amongst our people getting better and stronger everyday.

Before I had started the surf company in 95’, certain outsiders came into Fiji and made dubious, corrupt surf licenses to secure exclusivity of not only some of the closest and best waves to us in Nadi but also some of the best waves in the world. Greed had turned our people against each other so that they could give up their resources to an outsider to exploit for themselves. Sure they gave something back to the village but if they did not they would of been revoked and sent back to where they came from. Through corrupt previous governments, chiefs and politicians a special license was drawn up to secure all fishing and reef rights to the foreigner for up to 10-20 years at a time. In most of the Pacific, villages have fishing rights and so it was these rights that they turned into reef and surfing rights as well. The Governement owns the reef where the waves break – not the village. The Foreigners brain washed our people to think this was all part of the package and gave them lump sums of cash to secure the signatures. Our people can not be blamed for any of this as it was the Foreigners who instigated this and knew our people did not know any better so they took advantage of them.

We endorsed on a campaign “Let the People Surf – Liberating Fijian Waves”. Over 10 years we had been trying to get the Government to listen to the people to cut this corruption cancer out. Hundreds of times we drove to Suva to show them paperwork and plead with them but they consistently shut us out.

Hence the Bainimarama Govt overpowers the corrupt previous Governement and took over on good governance values – our prayers had been answered. I decided to give it another shot but get more information - A few other local surf operators like myself closed down because of Tavarua and Namotu for which I gathered all their letters along with Police reports, surfing guests reports, bad publicity reports in the newspapers and surf magazines, current copies of the “Special License” for the reefs which by the way had been renewed for another 20 yrs, reports from previous Governement Lands and other offices stating what was being done was wrong, Fiji Surfing Associations letters and documents on the issue. We had spoken to Bainimarama at Tourism Forums and he assured us he was aware and a directive had been given but for a year nothing had been done despite our relentless follow ups. I became friends with Commander Kean of the Fiji Navy. I asked him about the laws of the ocean and told him about what was going on around our reefs with foreigners securing special surf licenses and shutting everyone out including locals – he was shocked and was going to send the Navy boat over – I asked him to first help me take the paperwork to the Prime Minister … he offered to help. I followed up with the Prime Ministers Office and they said it had gone to the Attorney General’s Office. It would take a couple of weeks - month for a decision. During this time I was in NZ for the birth of my son … while I was there the news hit that a Surf Decree had been passed in Parliament and our waves would be open! My son came out 2 months early to celebrate the surf decree with dad and all the surfers in Fiji and around the world – it was a double blessing and a time I will never forget!

Now that we have achieved the opening up of our waves it will be a challenge for us to manage and control the boats, crowds and surfers in the area. I don’t think it will go too crazy because you can not drive in a car to it like the Gold Coast or Pipeline but there needs to be some form of etiquette for boats and surfers to follow so that a form of order is in place and the reefs and waves are enjoyed by all and most importantly sustained for future generations. A Fijian Surf Operators Association may need to be set up to help assist these areas by placing moorings, training lifeguards, ensuring a standard/etiquette in and out of the water is set and kept because tourists mostly use these areas. Possibly even setting up a marine / surf reserve for sustainable development and growth. We are very fortunate that the Fiji surf industry and local surfing fraternity is young so we can learn from many mistakes the outside world has made and ensure it does not happen here and direct a better result and return for everyone.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to surfers from around the world to come and surf Fiji and surf the waves of their dreams … it is now open to you. Leave your localism back home and come share the “Bula Surfing Spirit” with the locals in the water – surfing and living how our ancestors used to … sharing waves and enjoying each other’s company – the true Fijian hospitality way!

Other News

‘‘Catching a Wave Fiji's perfect ride By Rob Dunton’’

For more than a decade I have heard tales of legendary surf in the Fiji Islands. Whenever I’d grab a glossy surf magazine, I’d find full-page pictures of surfers tucked into glassy barrels of translucent water at Fijian breaks with names like Desperation or Frigates Passage.

A subsidiary of the Fijian Surf Company. Our aim is to diversify surfing within our Islands by directing people to areas beyond the crowds and to open up more options. Fijian Surf has got over 10 years of surfing our Islands and has been to more areas of Fiji than any other surf company. We’re here to “share the stoke” and spread the “bula spirit”.

Fiji Surf Travel recommends Air Pacific as our airline of choice to travel to Fiji.

‘‘Reviving the lost art of Fijian Surfing - Vakavodo Ua’’

The Fijian Surf Company is an evolution of a local based company that was born in 1995 as the first local surf business named as - Viti Surf. Fijian Surf is the parent company behind a number of operations :

Fiji Surf Shop - a shop that promotes surfing in Fiji by selling surf products, providing surf information, local and international merchandise, board repairs, Surfboard rentals and surf booking agents for accommodations and tours.
Fiji Surf Tours - a Road and Boat Shuttle operation that optimizes a surfers experience of Fiji by providing the best possible surf opportunity under the current daily conditions. Fiji Surf has been to more of Fiji than any other operation and has the most experience in providing reliable information. Live-aboard boat tours was a thing of the past and possibly may come back- check status if your interested!
Fiji Surf School- is a fully qualified and experienced surf school that is endorsed by Surfing Australia. Fiji Surf runs the only surf school here which boasts a 100% success rate.
Viti Surf Legend ( VSL), Lewa, Fijian Style - these are genuineclothing labels that Fijians can beproud to call their own. Sold at the Fiji SurfShop and other established locations.
Fiji Surf Travel - To provide surf relief to the surfers visiting Fiji. Assisting clients to find appropriate destinations to surf according to their requests, budgets and surfing abilities.
Kai-Wai-an Foundation - a charitable organization that is set up to help the less fortunate people and villages in our society through the generosity of surfers.. Medical, educational and food supplies etc are brought from internal / external sources to support the Foundation.

The Fijian Surf Company is core based and is established by Fijian surfers that have the vision, commitment and passion to introduce an authentic company into this niche market. Fijian Surf promotes the whole of Fiji as not only a surfing destination but one that has our own roots embedded in surfing history that we are very proud of. We are merely guardians carrying on the lost art of Fijian Surfing - Vakavodo Ua!
Vinaka vaka levu !

Muller wins Rebull Surf Open - 10 April 2011

Ian Muller of Nadi has taken out the 2011 Rebull Surf Open, presented by Red Bull, in close to perfect conditions at Hideaway on the Coral Coast yesterday. A classy display of tube riding impressed judges and spectators and saw Ian’s two wave total of 16.17 out of 20, eclipse a very strong field in the final. Ian took home the new High Definition GoPro video camera for his efforts.

“I’d just like to thank all the organiser’s and sponsors of the event - Red Bull, GoPro, Electric Sunnies, Fiji Surf and of course Fiji Hideaway Resort - for hosting us throughout the day.” Ian said after his victory. “It’s been a great day and we scored some great waves.”

Victor Magginity of Suva, the current Fiji Surf Association ratings leader, ran a close second after being one of the standout performers throughout the day. Victor won an Electric Sunglasses prize pack for second place.

Ratu Aca Ravulo of Cuvu grabbed third place ahead of 2009 Rebull open champion Paul Chong-Sue of Sigatoka in fourth. Both received prize packs donated by Fiji Surf Shop and McDonalds.

Follow the Fiji Surfing Association on Facebook for up to date photos and events!

Fiji Surf Open 2011 - Press Release

The Fijian Surf Gods made sure the 2011 Fiji Surf Open started off with a bang, providing the competitors with clean 4-6ft pumping swell. The competition wave, Namotu Left, is situated just off of Namotu Island whom was a major sponsor in the local surf event. Namotu Left was picked as the preferred wave based on the solid swell on the day with north winds and good tides. Also it was used as the Fiji Surfing Team build up to the Pacific Games coming up in September in New Caledonia and the wave there is similar to Namotu Left.

In the earlier heats the swell was the biggest making it very tough for the competitors to surf their heats. Swell was big and shifty catching a few out that weren't alert causing them to get caught in the serious whitewater washing machine snapping leg ropes and breaking boards which caused mayhem in the water every now and then. Some boards got lost out to sea but fortunately nobody got hurt.

Out of the 30 competitors, there were some international castes that turned up to challenge the locals on their home turf. Surfers came from New Zealand, Australia, USA and as far as Spain. Outstanding surfing came from Isei Tokovou of Viwa Island, Zain Thompson of New Zealand and Ratu Aca Lalabalavu of Cuvu. The Spaniard - Ikinaki fought long and hard with consistently good form that rewarded him a place in the final. Melanesian Cup Champ - Isei was doing the most amazing back hand attack with vertical snaps / critical re-entries and air drops which he sacrificed by breaking a board to the Surf Gods on one of his onslaughts - this gallant effort earned Isei the Electric "No Guts No Glory" Prize. Zain started off relatively slow but worked his way up the ranks to prove he has the arsenal to "kick some butt" in the event. Ratu Aca ,Pacific Games member, started the comp with a serious hunger for waves but as the swell started to die towards the afternoon so did his hunger, bombing out in the quarters.

The Finals was contested in 3-4ft fun playful waves and it was a tough heat with surfers Matt from San Diego, Ikinaki from Spain and Zain from NZ exchanging great rides. Isei was starved of waves for the first 15 minutes and only had one good 6 point ride. He was patiently waiting for the set waves to roll in and needed another decent wave to keep him in contention of winning. At the end of a long hard fought battle the final results came out like this: 1st - Zain Thompson, 2nd - Isei Tokovou, 3rd - Matt from San Diego and 4th Ikinaki from Spain.

Fiji Surf has seen this event as a way of bringing surfers together from all walks of life, supporting and sharing our love for surfing and giving back to the sport that has given us so much! We are fortunate to have our waves open, thanks to the Bainimarama Govt, therefore we need to take the initiative to develop our Fijian Surfers by getting them to compete in good waves and have us gather regularly to appreciate what we have. As a timely positive result of last weeks surf competition, Fiji Surf has teamed up with Namotu to set up a western combined Boardriders Club. Duavata(United) Boardriders Club is based on the fact that we have minimal surfers in the west and through the boardriders club we can combine them to form a formidable force, this way it can keep us strong, motivated and united. To promote a more competitive environment, good sportsmanship, healthy rivalry within clubs an East/West Trophy has resurfaced that will be competed over regularly after each event to see who keeps it in their area.

Big Vinaka vaka Levu to the sponsors that believe in Fijian Surfing and for the greater betterment of Fiji and its people: Fiji Surf, Namotu Island, Fiji Surfing Association, Red Bull, Electric Sunglasses, Demar Extreme, Waterman Fiji, Fijian Surf, Viti Surf Legend. Also to those officials and judges that sacrificed their day to make sure this competition was a success!

Craig McElrath Longboard Classic - Namotu Island

A morning of rain and wind morphed into a beautiful sunny day for the culmination of the Craig McElrath Longboard Classic at Namotu Island off Nadi on Sunday 11th December for the last event in the calendar of the Fiji Surfing Association. Competitors and spectators were hosted in fine style on the island by NAMOTU Island owner Scotty O'Conner. Special thanks to Adrenalin; the McElrath family and McDonalds Restaurants (in conjunction with Hellfish Surfboards) for the amazing trophy.

Events were run in four divisions - Juniors, Womens, Mens and the blue ribbon event - the Longboard division for the inaugural Craig McElrath Longboard Classic.

Notable was the ascension of Antonios Malycha from Suva to take the Junior title from favourite Kalani Muller. This was Antonio's first event win.

Luke Bridge from Australia was too strong for Fiji Pacific Games squad member - Aca Raculo in the Mens shortboard event.

Ian Muller, Fiji squad member, was hard to beat in the main event. Ian was the hardest working competitor in the final, building the highest wave count, relentless in pursuit of the title, and deservedly taking the inaugural Craig McElrath Longboard Classic title from Paul Chongsue and Stuart Johnson.

A paddle out memorial was held for keen surfer and past Secretary of the Fiji Surfing Association - Craig McElrath, just prior to the finals for the Mens and Longboard event's. A fitting tribute to a surfer gone but not forgotten by the Fijian surfing family.

RESULTS:

Longboard
1st - Ian Muller (Nadi)
2nd - Paul Chongsue (Sigatoka)
3rd - Stuart Johnson (Nadi)

Open
1st - Luke Bridge (Waidroka)
2nd - Aca Raculo (Nadi)
3rd - Dave Leed (Nadi)
4th - Paul Chongsue (Sigatoka)

Womens
1st - Malia Johnson (Nadi)
2nd - Kaye Lepper-Wind (Nadi)
3rd - Talei Lovell (Suva)
4th - Ella Carling (Suva)

Junior
1st - Antonios Malycha (Suva)
2nd - Kalani Muller (Nadi)
3rd - Robert Smith Junior (Suva)
4th - George Malgaard (Suva)

FIJI SURF OPEN

Fresh from a first ever representation at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in NZ - the 2010 Fiji Surfing Association season commenced in style on Saturday morning with the "FIJI SURF OPEN" held in challenging 1m waves at the Sigatoka river mouth.

Twenty seven OPEN competitors battled it out through three rounds, with the highest scoring two surfers in each 20 minute heat advancing to the next round. The surfers were judged on speed, style, innovation and control with the most radical manoeuvrers in the most critical part of the wave scoring the highest points. Waves were marked out of 10 with the surfers highest two wave scores combining to form that surfers heat total.

In warm light winds under dazzling blue skies the surfing was of a very
high quality despite the difficult waves. The ocean never developed a
consistent rhythm and though at times the sea provided surfers a
smorgasbord of waves to choice from, in other heats they had to hunt scarce waves down, paddling in determination against the current to somehow find a wave which offered scoring potential. What makes competitive surfing apart from most other sports is the added dimension of having to read nature, understand currents, bottom contours, and the way a given lump of swell will break in a particular way. Add to this fitness, training, form and natural ability - and one can come close to understanding what competitive surfing is all about.

Conditions deteriorated by the final, but it was a closely fought contest all the same with all six finalists determined to be number one. By the final hooter it was Mark of Waidroka who came out on top and took home the winners cheque of $300 with his super smooth style, superior wave selection and precision carves. Mark consistently posted the highest wave scores throughout the entire event and was a most deserving winner. Mark also won himself a new pair of Electric Sunglasses for the most radical moves of the day.

Frankie King of Kulukulu , took home a new lost surfboard courtesy of the Fijian Surf Foundation/ Air Pacific / Fast Friends Foundation for being the most improved competitor at the event.

Thanks go out to all in support of the Fiji Surf Open and to sponsors Fiji Surf, Red Bull, Waterman, Electric Visual, McDonalds, Xoolu and Magnum Productions.

FIJI P.I.M.P AWARDS 2010