Kurop, Degei face world's best at Cloudbreak

Tea Kurop, 17, of Savusavu and Teo Degei, 20, from the Coral Coast are living their dreams in the sport they love.

The two wildcard entrants will fly the Fijian flag at the Fiji Pro 2026 at Cloudbreak which starts today.

They are among 60 international surfers from 16 countries compet­ing at the eighth stop of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.

Kurop said she was excited but nervous about competing against some of the world's best surfers.

"I've been surfing for about 10 years," Kurop said.

"I am a bit nervous, but I am hap­py to be given this opportunity.

"I will try my best to compete well at Cloudbreak. We just have to stay focused.

"There are a great number of girls competing this time around, and I am looking forward to bringing out my best."

Kurop is also using the Fiji Pro as preparation for the International Surfing Association event in El Sal­vador next month.

Degei, who grew up on the Coral Coast, said surfing had been part of his life since childhood.

"I started surfing around the Cor­al Coast when I was a small kid," he said.

"Then, when I got older, I started coming to Cloudbreak and it got better.

"I'm excited and happy to be here. I've just got to get a big wave and put on a big performance."

WSL Asia Pacific president An­drew Stark said the partnership had created valuable opportunities and capacity-building pathways for the Fiji Surfing Association.

"It is always fantastic to see young surfers like Tea Kurop, who par­ticipated in the Rising Tides pro­gramme three years ago and has now won the women's trials to se­cure her spot to represent Fiji in the Fiji Pro World Tour event," he said.

Fiji Surfing Association president Hannah Bennett said she had wit­nessed the growth of the local surf­ing community from the grassroots level to the world stage.

"I've had the privilege of watchng our surfing community grow from grassroots to the world stage," she said.

"I have watched young Fijians dream bigger, our athletes represent Fiji with pride, and our com­munity build pathways that once seemed impossible."