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  • History made at Corona Fiji Pro

    History made at Corona Fiji Pro

    Words & photos by Peter ‘Joli’ Wilson

    NADI * Aug 25th, 2024

    The 2024 Corona Fiji Pro presented by Bonsoy wrapped up yesterday at Cloudbreak with American Griffin Colapinto and Canadian Erin Brooks victorious.

    It was the first time since 2017 a World Championship Tour event had been held in Fiji, exciting competitors and fans globally who welcomed its return to the iconic location, considered one of the best left-hand point breaks in the world.

    With a 12-day waiting period contest organisers were able to pick the perfect days to run the event with waves ranging from 2 meters plus on Thursday (Aug. 22nd) through to 1.5 meters for Saturday’s final day.

    Griffin Colapinto (USA) putting on a show at Cloudbreak. Joliphotos

    There were 24 elite surfers in the men’s draw including 11-time World Champion, the GOAT Kelly Slater (USA), John John Florence (Hawaii), and two 2024 Olympic medalists Jack Robinson (Australia) who won Silver and Gabriel Medina (Brazil) who won Bronze.

    On the women’s side of 12 surfers, they included Olympic Silver Medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (Brazil) and Olympians Molly Picklum (Australia) and Johanne Defay (France).

    The contest provided the stage for an incredible display of high-action surfing each day and delivered a number of firsts at this top level.

    Canadian wildcard Erin Brooks earns historic win. Joliphotos

    17-year-old Erin Brooks’ win was the first World Championship event victory for a Canadian surfer while a standout all-event, Rio Waida, made history, becoming the first Indonesian surfer to compete in a World Championship final. It was definitely an international finals with Colapinto from mainland USA and Weston-Webb from Brazil.

    Rio Waida (left) and Griffin Colapinto with their tanoa trophies. Joliphotos

    The success of the event and the international recognition received for Fiji has been backed up by an announcement confirming the World Tour Surfing Finals will be held at Cloudbreak each year till at least 2026.

    The opening ceremony at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay in Nadi was held a day ahead of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour’s return to the pristine waves of Cloudbreak for the 2024 Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy. Joliphotos

  • FJ taking off to Dallas in December      

    FJ taking off to Dallas in December      

    Fiji’s national airline Fiji Airways has announced plans to launch new flights between Nadi (NAN) and Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) in the U.S. state of Texas.

    The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart on 10th December 2024*, with special introductory fares now available for purchase on Fiji Airways’ website: fijiairways.com  

    Fiji Airways’ new route will connect travellers with an additional 247 destinations through one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. Dallas is known for famous sports teams, world-class museums, thriving arts scene, frozen margaritas, BBQ, and much more.

    Fiji Airways’ A350. Photo: Fiji Airways.

    The new non-stop 13-hour service will operate three times per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; utilising Fiji Airways’ state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft. The aircraft will feature 301 economy class seats, which recently won Best Economy Class in Australia and Pacific at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2024, and 33 business class lie-flat, all aisle access, seats.

    Dallas will be Fiji Airways’ 24th international direct destination and will be the fifth North American port served by the airline, along with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Vancouver. 

    With a host of possibilities for two-way tourism, the Dallas service marks the first time Fiji will be directly linked with North America beyond the west coast.

    The Dallas route comes as Fiji Airways prepares to become a full member of oneworld Alliance next year and joining American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program. Flyers will be able to fully earn and use frequent flyer miles with Fiji Airways, American Airlines and other oneworld partners.

    * Flights to, from or via Dallas are subject to US Government regulatory approvals.      

       

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