This year’s Craig McElrath Memorial event was a great success. With 40 enthusiastic surfers the 2 longboard and 2 SUP divisions were hotly contested. The surf was small but offered the competitors a perfect arena for them to perform their skills.

Bonus points were given to the more traditional or bazaar manoeuvres. So there was plenty of quasimoto stances, reverse surfing and hang tens to entertain the group.

An enjoyable BBQ lunch thanks to Namotu Island along with a few cold drinks to ensure everyone had a great day. Our thanks again to McDonalds, Namotu and Fiji Surf Co for their incredible support with all profit going to the Craig McElrath Cancer Foundation.

The Ocean Performance Centre (OPC) based on Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia, is a highly regarded training centre. It boasts several National, State and Regional surfing champions.

At last year’s Powerade Junior Pro two top Fijian juniors won a training trip to the OPC. 11-year-old, Kiesha Wakeham and 14-year-old, John Vasea. Each of them also won an International Surfing Association (ISA) scholarship for their surfing development.

Kiesha is an energetic, competitive and dreams of becoming Fiji’s top female surfer. Kiesha learned to surf from her mother and believes that it allows her to be a better person to her family, to Fiji.  Kiesha has desires to be a leader for other Fijian girls by showcasing the positive values of the sport of Surfing.

John has been surfing for two years, is competitive and is an exciting surfer with a lot of potential. John hopes that his ISA scholarship will allow him to pay for his ongoing training and travelling. John is a good student and his love for surfing is unmatched. He recently travelled to Hawaii to experience the raw power of Hawaiian surf and learn from the Hawaiians.

Also travelling with these young surfers is accredited surf coach, Fijian Inia Nakalevu. Inia himself is an elite surfer who has represented Fiji in several Melanesian Cups and in 2 of the WCT Fiji Pro events.  At this year’s Powerade Junior Pro he was given the task of coaching the Fijians who were competing and the results were very reassuring. During this trip he will receive further training and learn the most current coaching trends.

The Fiji Surfing Association is extremely grateful to the FIT College, the OPC and Fiji’s Pivot Pint for making this opportunity possible The squad will leave on January 27 and return on February 5.