Fiji Pro 2015

John John Florence steer’s his ship through a Fiji tunnel at last years event

Bula!! Welcome to Fiji. Stop number 5 of the World Surf League Championship Tour. While the Brazilian event is a distant memory, Fiji and its epic reef breaks - namely Cloudbreak and Restaurants, are just getting started.  This event has been a much loved stop of all the world tour surfers for it’s laid back vibe, amazing waves and beautiful people.

Adriano De Souza (BRA), FIlip Toledo (BRA) and Mick Fanning (AUS) will all be pressing for a finals finish to cement their place in a bid for the world title. Kelly Slater (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS) and John John Florence (HAW) will all be super hungry for a good finish to keep up with the top dogs. Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Matty Wilkinson (AUS) are carrying some good momentum from their finals results in Brazil.

Courtney Conlogue (USA) has been in amazing form the last 2 events keeping up with front runner Carissa Moore (HAW).  Courtney has been using every ounce of her power to throw down some amazing surfing to win back to back events. Tyler Wright (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) will both need good results here if they’re to be in the title hunt. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) is still uncertain for her return to the women’s CT, more on the injury front here

Dane Reynolds and Aca Ravulo have been awarded wildcards for the Men’s Fiji Pro. Mahina Maeda has been awarded the wildcard for the Women’s Fiji Pro.

The event window runs from May 31 to June 19th for both the Mens and Women’s. Tune into World Surf League for all the live action.

Official Surfline Forecast

Steep S/SSE swell winds down the first few days of the waiting period as a healthy SW groundswell builds in and peaks. Trades look fairly strong from the SSE/SE to start, then may trend more Easterly and lighten considerably through the middle of the week as SW groundswell tops out and holds.

2015 Fiji Pro Official Trailer

Fiji Pro Mens Round 1 Heat Match Up’s

Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS), Sebastian Zeitz (HAW), Dusty Payne (HAW)

Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Brett Simpson (USA)

Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW), Khlohe Andino (USA), C.J Hobgood (USA)

Heat 4: Flipe Toledo (BRA), Matt Banting (AUS), Alohe Muniz (BRA)

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Wiggolly Dantes (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA)

Heat 6: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Ace Buchan (AUS), Aca Ravulo (FJI)

Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Glen Hall (IRL)

Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS)

Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW)

Heat 10: Nat Young (USA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Freddy Patacchia (HAW)

Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS)

Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Riccardo Christie (NZL)

Fiji Pro Women’s Round 1 Heat Match Up’s

Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bianca Buitendag, (ZAF),  Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)

Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (AUS), Alessa Quizon (HAW)

Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Joanne Defay (FRA),  Mahina Maeda (HAW)

Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), SIlvana Lime (BRA), Sage Erikson (USA)

Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW), Laura Enever (AUS)

Heat 6: Lakey Peterson (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Dimity Stoyle (AUS)

Great write-up, Aaron. Looking forward to seeing how this event goes down!

Injury update: Steph Gilmore has withdrawn of the Fiji Pro. With her leg injury yet to heal, six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) won’t be falling into a higher state with the rest of the Top 17 at the Fiji Women’s Pro.

“Steph Gilmore has withdrawn from the Fiji Women’s Pro,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer. “Keely Andrew has accepted the position as injury replacement.”

**Update** John John Florence (HAW) has officially pulled out of the Fiji Pro with an ankle sprain to his left foot. JJF was filming on a boat trip during one of his sessions, an ally-oop went horribly wrong, resulting in a bad sprain. John hopes to recover in time for J-Bay. Dane Reynolds will replace John John.  For the full info and video check the WSL website here

Another casualty has arisen, this time Brett Simpsons (USA) has also bowed out of Fiji with a back injury. However it’s not all bad news, Jay Davies (AUS) (that guy that took down Gabriel and Mick at Margs??) has been granted entry to Fiji as Brett’s replacement. We wish Brett, JJF, Simpo and Steph the speediest of recoveries.

Injury Update 2.0 Oh wow, the injury list just keeps growing! Heavy hitter, Jordy Smith (ZAF) has now pulled out as his on going knee injury is still not quite right. Artiz Aranburu (ESP) will take his place.

Women’s Round 1 Highlights

Women’s Round 2 & 3 Highlights

Congrats to Sally Fitzgibbons for taking out this years Fiji Pro. Photo Kirstin - WSL

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) has stunned the surfing world to take out the 2015 Women’s Fiji Pro.  Sally ruptured her ear drum in round 3 after taking a heavy wipe out. Sally was nearly going to pull out of the event, but defined all odds to put on a stellar show and take out the win. A true warrior and Australian Hero. Well bloody done Sally!

Sally locked and loaded in a Cloudbreak cavern. Photo Kirstin - WSL

Bianca Buitendag (ZYF) also put on a clinic to clinch the runners up position.

Bianca carving off the top. Photo Kirstin - WSL

Round 1 of the Mens Fiji Pro got underway today at Cloudbreak. Some great results were had, most notably Gabriel Medina (BRA) with a bombing 9.23 ride then coming out with a 2 wave total of 17.13. Mick Fanning (AUS) was also another stand out getting a ticket straight to round 3.

C.J Hobgood (USA) had some big news today, After 17 years on the Championship Tour,  C.J announced that he will be retiring from competition at the end of the 2015 season. As a show of appreciation for some of his fellow competitors and personal heroes, he will be wearing other surfers’ jerseys on occasion. For his Round 1 heat of the Fiji Pro, Hobgood paddled out wearing fellow Floridian Kelly Slater’s #11.

WSL commentator, Ronnie Blakey Sat down with C.J to talk past present and future

Mens Round 1 Highlights

Day 3 Highlights: Cloudbreak Barrels, Bold Moves Triumph

Day 3 of competition at the Fiji Pro saw big scores as 13 surfers were eliminated in pumping Cloudbreak conditions.

Drama unfolded at the Fiji Pro got today with a series of 10 point rides, amazing tube’s and hot knife’s through butter like turns. 

Owen Wright (AUS) re-wrote the history books with a perfect heat score of 20 out of 20.
With two Perfect 10s, Wright moved into the Fiji Quarterfinals for the first time and posted the seventh perfect heat in Championship Tour (CT) history.

“I’m absolutely blown away by how good it is out there,” Wright said. “I never thought I’d ever get 20 points in my life, but there’s so much opportunity out there. It feels great to accomplish it. It just feels great to get those waves. There’s no better feeling.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS) also got fruity and scored the 1st 10 of the event putting him straight into the Quarter’s.  Julian Wilson (AUS) blitzed his round 4 heat against Taj Burrow (AUS) and an inform Kelly Slater (USA) posting two 9 point rides.  Jeremy Flores got the nod and blasted his way into the Quarter Finals with a stella performance relegating his rivals Kai Otton (AUS) and Adam Melling (AUS) to round 5.

Wright Wrangle’s Cloudbreak for a 10

Wright Charges for 10, Earn’s Perfect Heat Total

Parko’s Perfection at Cloudbreak

Wilson Wins Fiji Lottery

Epic Day at Fiji Pro: Highlights

The next day of competition is likely to be the last, with the swell predicted to peak in time for the Final.

Owen Wright following his win and a perfect 20.00 heat.  Photo Kirsten

The history books have been re-written in the final at the Fiji Pro today with Owen Wright (AUS) standing tall and proud to post another perfect heat against Julian Wilson (AUS) to take out the win.  Owen is the only surfer ever to post 2 perfect heats in the same contest.  Owen has been on fire all event and deserved to come out on top. Julian also had a dream run into the final with his highest combined score being the 2nd highest of the event next to Owen.  Julian couldn’t quite get into rhythm in the final only posting a mid range 4 and 3. Today certainly was Owens day.  This puts Owen 3rd on the Jeep leader rankings and Julian catapults back to 5th. Both of these guys are in the world title conversation.

Julian Wilson placed runner up but still had a stella event.  Photo WSL / Kirstin

Jeremy Flores (FRA), Taj Burrow (AUS) and Joel Parkinson (AUS) also get honourable mentions. Jeremy has made a return to form come back this year, dominating the QS events and has now projected himself into the top 10 with a semi final finish.  Taj also had some stella moments posting some amazing 9 point rides.  Joel posted the first 10 of the event but couldn’t get past Owen in the quarter finals. Good things to come for all these guys.

Highlights: Wright Wins Fiji Pro With Perfect Heat

Wright Does No Wrong: Final Perfect 10

Wright Double’s Down on History

Wrights Fiji Victory Interview

Congrats to all surfers and the WSL for putting on an amazing event.

Stay tuned for stop number 6 at J-Bay in South Africa where things really start to heat up as we enter then back half of the year. Jeffery’s Bay will kick off on the 8th of July.