CLOUDBREAK, Fiji (Thursday, August 15, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) is excited to be working with Fiji Surfing Association (FSA) during this season's Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, Stop 9 of the WSL 2024 Championship Tour (CT). It is the first time the elite CT will head to Cloudbreak since 2017, and this year's event will see a stronger collaboration than ever before between the WSL and the FSA.
"It is extremely important to the WSL that we engage with local communities and local surfing associations to ensure there is a definitive benefit and legacy provided by the WSL CT events that we deliver around the world," said WSL APAC President Andrew Stark. "We are proud to confirm a range of initiatives that we are undertaking to ensure the Fiji Surfing Association and its members benefit from the Corona Fiji Pro."
This year's event will see FSA provide 5 officials to work with the international crew. The officials will fill important roles and gain incredible exposure to the mechanics of an elite CT event.
The WSL has also organized and funded a ‘Surfers Rescue' water safety program for 20 FSA members. The program will educate surfers on the role they can play on a day-to-day basis in keeping the surf safe. Eight Fijian Boardrider Clubs will be invited to have representation on this day, ensuring the messages are sent to the entire Fijian surfing community.
"We want to ensure that the event touches as many Fijians as possible, and we feel this is an excellent complementary program to the partnership we have formed with the local Momi Nablilla Villages around the new Officials Tower." Continued Stark. "We look forward to delivering an outstanding Corona Fiji Pro and to ensuring that the Fiji Surfing Association and its members benefit from the event."
WSL will also donate event jerseys and surfboards to boardriders clubs, ensuring the next generation of up-and-coming Fijian surfers has the equipment they need to compete at the grassroots level. These donations will also come in the form of goods for auctioning, merchandise, and monetary donations.
"The Fiji Surfing Association is proud to welcome back the world's best surfers to the iconic Fiji Pro. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with the WSL and begin to forge a lasting legacy for our local surfing community. In all the years Fiji has hosted the Fiji Pro, this year is by far the most engaged we have ever been as an association with the main event. The programs & activations the WSL is providing for our boardriders this year are pivotal & also reach the grassroots level. We're excited to bring the next generation of Fijian surfers to be part of this monumental competition."
The Men's Wildcard spot will go to Tevita Gukilau (FJI), the winner of the Fiji Trials. He claimed victory in pumping surf at Cloudbreak to book himself a spot in the CT event for the second time in his career (also 2017).
WSL Rising Rides To Host Expanded Activation and Workshops in Fiji
WSL Rising Tides, in partnership with the Fiji Surfing Association, will host an expanded activation in Fiji during the competition window. Through this unique set of workshops, WSL Rising Tides aims to provide new development opportunities and insights to the next generation of young women and girls in the region. Chelsea Hedges, World Champion and esteemed Surf Coach will lead the three-day program, which will include surf coaching, water safety, and, of course, a special surf session with women on the CT.
Next Stop: Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy The next stop on the 2024 Championship Tour will be the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy. The Corona Fiji Pro is the last regular-season event and will determine the Final 5 men and Final 5 women who will compete in the Lexus WSL Finals, the one-day, winner-take-all competition to win the 2024 World Championships. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition's Quarterfinals and beyond will continue co-exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com, SporTV and Globoplay. For fans watching in the United States, coverage of the competition's Quarterfinals and beyond will continue co-exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and ESPN+.
The 2024 Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Corona, Bonsoy, Tourism Fiji, Red Bull, SHISEIDO, YETI, Surfline, True Surf, Eventbrite, Apple Watch, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, Tavarua Island Resort, Fiji Airways, Jack's of Fiji, Oakberry, and mophie.