Top surfers waiting for waves on Tavarua

TAVARUA – The thirteen-day waiting period for the 2015 Fiji Pro started on June 7 and runs through to June 19. The world’s best surfers have arrived in the South Pacific for stop No. 5 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, recommencing the season’s race for the world surfing crown. The iconic left hand reef breaks of Cloudbreak and Restaurants off the resort island of Tavarua will challenge this year’s competing field to push the boundaries of innovative surfing to the next level. In terms of swell, current forecast models for the Fiji Pro hint at a very slow start, with the first six days of the waiting period likely to be lay days. Led by the “Brazilian Storm” – Adriano de Souza No.1 and WSL No. 2 Filipe Toledo – the world’s elite surfers will continue their global valuable prize points. “I’m super thankful to be back in Fiji,” De Souza said. “I’ve been here for the past week, warming up around the women’s event. The wave is world class and we’re going to see some amazing surfing at this event.” Toledo, coming hot off an emphatic win in Rio de Janeiro as well as a win at the opening event of the year at Snapper Rocks, was equally enthusiastic about the upcoming Fiji Pro. “It’s been a super solid year for me with a win on the Gold Coast and then at home in Brazil,” Toledo said. “I’m really pumped to be back in Fiji. It looks like we have some great waves forecast for the event and I’m excited to see how everyone is surfing.”

The 2015 Fiji Pro boasts arguably the most impressive competitive field ever assembled with reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA), 11-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) and three-time champion Mick Fanning (AUS) headlining the remainder of the Top 34.

“It’s great to be back in Fiji,” Fanning said. “It’s become like a second home to me over the years and I love the waves here. It’ll be exciting to see how everyone approaches Cloudbreak and maybe Restaurants this week. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Dane Reynolds (USA) and Aca Ravulo (FJI) have been allocated wildcards into the Fiji Pro where they face Filipe Toledo (BRA)/Adrian Buchan (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS)/Ricardo Christie (NZL) in their respective Round One match-ups.

While the title contenders are all in attendance, injury has plagued the WSL Top 34 ahead of the Fiji Pro.

Michel Bourez (PYF) with an injury withdrawal, has been replaced by Alejo Muniz (BRA).

John John Florence (HAW) injury withdrawal, replaced by Aritz Aranburu (ESP).

Brett Simpson (USA) injury withdrawal, replaced by Jay Davies (AUS).

Jordy Smith (ZAF) injury withdrawal, replaced by Inia Nakalevu (FJI).

When competition commences sometime this week, up first will be 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) up against Kolohe Andino (USA) and Alejo Muniz (BRA) in the opening heat of Round 1.

Debutant Fijian surfer Inia Nakalevu said he is aiming for a strong finish after winning the second wild card entry.

Nakalevu says he has been preparing himself for the last couple of years for the competition.

Nakalevu was congratulated by eleven time world champion and four time Fiji Pro champion, Kelly Slater.

The first couple days of the event waiting period will see smaller leftovers from the swell that peaked on Friday. Small to fun size SW swell looks likely for the 10th-11th, with good potential for a strong SW groundswell on the 12th-14th.