Fiji will be sending a strong team of 12 competitors to compete in this year’s 2014 Melanesian Cup held in Aganoa Beach, Samoa.

This is the fourth year that the competition will be held and Vanuatu has won every cup since it first started in 2011 and Fiji will be aiming to upset them this year.

Fiji Surfing Association (FSA) Surfing and Surf Life Saving Education Officer Andy Eames said they have a strong team which is aiming for the top spot this year.

“Since we hosted the Melanesian Cup last year, the same we are sending to Samoa are possibly the strongest team we have ever had,” he said.

“We have done a lot of training and mental preparation which is something we haven’t done before so we know they are ready this year.”

New surfers who will be joining the team are Mark Wakeham and Tyrone Punja who will compete in the Boy’s Under-18 category and Talei Lovell and Malia Johnson who will be competing in the Female Short Board and Female Long Board respectively.

Countries competing for the cup are defending champions Vanuatu, New Caledonia and hosts Samoa.

The 2014 Melanesian Cup will run from September 1 – 6.

Competing in the Open Male Short Board is Paul Chong-sue, Aca Ravulo, Inia Nakalevu and John Fitzgerald who will also compete in the Open Male Long Board and in the Over 35 Short Board John Fitzgerald and Isao Ishihara will represent Fiji in that category.

In the Female Short Board category is Hannah Bennett, Talei Lovell, Malia Johnson and Kim Bennett who will also take part in the Female Long Board.

In the Boy Under-18 and Junior Long Board are Mark Wakeham and Tyrone Punja.

Feedback: justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj