CLOUDBREAK, Fiji (Monday, August 19, 2024) – The world’s best surfers have arrived in the picturesque islands of Fiji ahead of the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 9 of the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). The entire tour was on hand for the official Opening Ceremony, which included speeches from His Excellency The President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, The Honourable Viliame Gavoka, as well as a traditional cultural ceremony. The official event window opens tomorrow, Tuesday, August 20 and runs through August 29.
As the final stop of the 2024 season, this will be the last chance for surfers to clinch a spot in the Final Five to compete for a World Title at the Lexus WSL Finals that will take place next month at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California.
Just over two weeks after claiming medals for their countries at the Olympics in Tahiti, a handful of CT competitors have shifted their focus from Olympic glory to the 2024 WSL World Championship. Reigning World Champion, and now Olympic Gold Medalist, Caroline Marks (USA), is poised for more success in what has already been an incredible 12 months. If she’s to go back-to-back at Lower Trestles, she’ll have to start with a big result in Fiji over fellow medalists Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA).
“I’m feeling really good; this has definitely been the best month of my life,” Marks said. “I’ve been enjoying it all, and now I’m in Fiji, so life’s good. To represent my country and bring home gold is like a dream – it’s crazy to say that out loud. It’s something I never thought would happen in my wildest dreams and now it’s a dream that’s come true. I just feel super proud and really honored. The shift of focus from the Olympics to the CT is completely the same for me. I have the same mindset, and the waves are similar, so if anything I just want to carry my momentum and the confidence I have from winning gold. I’m so excited to compete at Cloudbreak, it’s the coolest place in the world. It’s definitely one of the best waves in the world.”
Australian Jack Robinson (AUS) was the highest-placed CT male at the Olympics, edging out three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) to claim a Silver Medal. Although Robinson is proud of his achievement, he is focused on his maiden World Title, an accolade he sees as the ultimate in surfing.
“This is what we train and compete for every day,” Robinson said. “The Olympics is amazing, but it comes around every four years. The World Championship is what we do all of this for, and that’s all I’m focussed on now. We still have two more events to go, and I want them both. It’s sick to be here in Fiji. It’s only my second time but it feels like home, like a place I’m comfortable. It suits my surfing, and I grew up watching clips all the time, so it’s incredible to finally be here competing.”
The Corona Fiji Pro will welcome two of the most exciting up and coming talents on the planet as women’s Wildcards. Sierra Kerr (AUS) and Erin Brooks (CAN) have been turning heads around the world for their performances in all conditions. From huge airs to technical tube riding and everything in between, these two have it all, and they have the women’s CT on notice.
“Erin and I have surfed a lot together, and what she can do is crazy,” Kerr said. “She sends it so hard and gets crazy barrels, so she’s always pushing me. To compete alongside her in Fiji is so cool. I grew up watching my dad compete at this event, so it’s so cool to be here competing myself, especially for my first CT. I’ve only surfed it properly once, and it’s a crazy wave. I hope it’s pumping, and we can all get some good barrels for the event. That would be fun.”
“It’s really exciting to be representing the young girls at this wave,” Brooks said. “For Sierra and I, it’s our first CT event and the fact it’s here in Fiji is really cool. Sierra is so good, and I think it’s really cool what she does. I’m proud we can both push women’s surfing in the air and heavier waves. I hope at this event we can push each other to go bigger and get deeper in the barrel.”
On the men’s side, Fiji Trials winner Tevita Gukilau (FJI) will make his second appearance at the CT level. He competed as a wildcard in 2017, the last time the event ran in Fiji. Similar to his last heat contested at the CT level, he’ll come up against two-time WSL World Champion and current World No. 1 John John Florence (HAW) along with Kanoa Igarashi (JPN).
Joining Gukilau as a wildcard is 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), who is looking for his fifth event win in Fiji. Slater, a Cloudbreak standout, is thrilled to see one of his favorite waves back on the CT schedule, and looks forward to getting competition underway when he takes on Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Barron Mamiya (HAW) in Heat 3 of the Opening Round.
“One of the greatest trips of my life was the first time I came here in 1990, and here we are 34 years later, and it’s still just as good,” Slater said. “It’s one of my favorite waves and places to be in the world, and we’re just so lucky places like this exist. Fiji and Cloudbreak is really the ultimate ‘Dream Tour’ wave. I’ve been saying for years that any event could be my last, but to get the opportunity to surf here again means a lot, and to win it again would mean the world to me. I’m super thankful that it’s back on Tour. Life has been good recently, but trying to get into the pace and schedule of a newborn is an interesting journey; it’s good, it’s great, and there’s a lot of mystery. I’m super happy to be here with my second family.”
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Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Imaikalani de Vault (HAW)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Tevita Gukilau (FIJ)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 7: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Rio Waida (INA) vs. Mathew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN)
Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson
HEAT 2 Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Sierra Kerr (AUS)
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
