Surf Fiji

By Michaela McNamara

Surfers at Flagler are pretty lucky that they can go to the beach before, after or in between classes for a surf session. But those of us who have the chance to travel to surf could be called blessed. So if you have one opportunity to take a surf trip this year, why not skip Costa Rica and go to Fiji? The waves are arguably better, the culture is like nothing you’ve seen before, and $1 USD is worth about $2 Fijian dollars.

Okay, so airplane tickets cost $800 for a two-week vacation in May, but isn’t it worth it? If you’ve dreamed of staying on the island of Tavarua when you visit Fiji, you may want to rethink it. It’s one of the smaller islands, and it’s the most expensive.

When you’re sleeping in a bure (a Fijian beach hut) on the similar Malolo Island or Viti Levu islands for almost nothing every night, your trip will be off to a good start. The chance to surf Cloudbreak or Restaurants, sit on white sandy beaches in the afternoons when the trade winds are blowing, or partake in the kava ceremonies at night are priceless. Even the food is amazing, and most of the hostels or hotels you stay at include three meals in their accommodation prices.

Anyway, back to the surf. No matter what island you stay on (Fiji has about 300), there is always boat access to the amazingly consistent breaks. Cloudbreak, Restaurants and the Wilkes and Malolo Passages boast some of the best lefts in the world, but the shallow reefs make the surfing pretty dangerous for beginner and intermediate surfers. From what I’ve heard, Cloudbreak’s lengthy, clean groundswells produce some of the best barrels.

The best time to go is May through October during the dry season. If you ever have the chance to visit Fiji, don’t forget to say Bula to everyone you meet.