Kelly Slater Globe Fiji Winner Gets Mobbed by Surf Media
Tuesday, June 3, 2008, TAVARUA, Fiji Eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won his third event on the 2008 ASP World Tour after eliminating C.J. Hobgood in the final of the Globe Pro Fiji held in six foot (two metre) waves at Cloudbreak. Slater remains the only member of the ASP Top 45 to win an event this year – the last ASP World Tour event held in Tahiti was won by a wildcard. “I don’t think I’ve eve… Continue
Monday, June 2, 2008, TAVARUA, Fiji: The quarterfinalists in the 2008 Globe Pro Fiji were decided in three to four foot (one metre plus) waves at Cloudbreak today. Kelly Slater (USA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS), who are rated first through fourth respectively, all advanced through Round 4 today. Current World No. 6 Adriano de Souza (BRA) posted the highest single wave score of the Round 4 – 9.00 points out of 10.00 – to narrowly defeat Fred Patacchia (HAW)… Continue
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - TAVARUA, Fiji The 16 remaining surfers in the Globe Pro Fiji will enjoy their third day off in paradise, today’s competition has been called off citing swell on the horizon. “We're focused on a great finish to what has already been a really good event and right now we're preparing for a perfect six foot (two metre) high swell to arrive at Cloudbreak around Sunday or Monday, maybe Tuesday,” Con… Continue
Wednesday, May 28, 2008, TAVARUA, Fiji Sixteen of the ASP Top 45 surfers are still in contention for a Globe Pro Fiji crown, but that title will not be won today. Waning swell has forced event officials to call competition in Fiji off. Rounds 1 through 3 of the Globe Pro Fiji were completed in excellent surf the first three days of the official waiting period. There are nine days left in which to monitor conditions an… Continue
Monday, May 26, 2008 - TAVARUA, Fiji: Eighteen heats of ASP World Tour action were run and won at the Globe Pro Fiji today, but Heat 4 of Round 3 featuring Taj Burrow (AUS) and Tiago Pires (PRT) was the heat of the day. Burrow beat Pires 17.00 to 15.01 after sealing the deal with a perfect 10 point ride, the second one posted in the Globe Pro Fiji so far. “It was good fun –I haven’t had a 10 in awhile.” Burrow said. “… Continue
BAGGAGE CLAIM: Nadi International Airport, Nadi (NAN)
TRANSPORTATION: Tricky
ATTITUDE: You can travel to all four corners of the globe and still not find folks sweeter or more accommodating than the Fijians. From the minute they ferry you from the mainland to your temporary slice of paradise, the locals let love and laughter flow like Foster’s after a final.
THE WAVE: Cloudbreak and Restaurants are regularly hyped as two of Earth’s best left-hand reef breaks. Believe the hype. These waves are critical, quick and situated in shallow water and produce majestic walls and barrels.
PERKS: Umm, insane waves, a five-star resort situated on a South Pacific island and unbelievable snorkeling and sea kayaking mere steps away from your seaside-situated thatched hut – does that work for you?
PERILS: Kava. If you can stomach the quasi-sock-like flavor of this traditional root-derived drink, you’re half-way there… now all you have to do is avoid hallucinating and making mince-meat of yourself on the razor-sharp reefs the next morning. Figure that out and you’re golden!
APRES SURF: Well, you have two choices. Settle into a hammock, inflated-pool toy or hot tub with an adult-beverage on your island or take the ferry to the neighboring isle and settle into a hammock, inflated-pool toy or hot tub with an adult-beverage there. And for those who haven’t quite curbed their insatiable appetites for competition, there’s always pool and ping-pong tables to unleash on post-Mai Tais.
ASP WORLD TOUR HISTORY: Globe, the skate shoe cum surf company, stepped up to the plate to host their first ever ASP World Tour event in Fiji in 2005. Previous sponsors had run the event from 1999 to 2004.
NOTABLE: Tavarua and Namotu also play host to Kelly Slater’s Invitational event and Shane Dorian, retired competitor, has taken a job as a Tavy Boat Man there.
PAST GLOBE PRO FIJI CHAMPS:
2007: Not Held
2006: Damien Hobgood (USA)
2005: Kelly Slater (USA)
2004: Damien Hobgood (USA)
2003: Andy Irons (HAW)
2002: Michael Lowe (AUS)
2000: Luke Egan (AUS)
1999: Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
GLOBE PRO FIJI 2008
