Heritage
Category
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2010 – Fiji competes in first ever International Surfing Association competition and attends first ever General Meeting of the ISA. Alifereti Kamanalagi is our lone competitor in the under 16 division. Surfing Areas Decree passed by the Fiji Government ending the private ownership of Cloudbreak, Restaurants and Namotu Lefts.
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2008 – last Globe WCT event is held at Tavarua. Won by Kelly Slater.
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2005 – Six-time world champion Kelly Slater today claims the inaugural Globe WCT Fiji title in 6-8 foot waves at Restaurants, Tavarua, that are described as some of the most perfect ever surfed in the Foster’s Men’s World Tour.
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2000 – Offshore Surf Shop opens in Sigatoka, owned by Scott Lower and Vivian.
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1999 – Tavarua Resort receives Special License from the Fiji Ministry of Lands giving them private ownership of surf breaks around the island.
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1997 – The Inaugural Oceania Surfing Cup (OSC) was hosted by the FSA at Tavarua Island Resort attracting teams from 8 Oceania nations. The success of the Rip Curl Tavarua Oceania Cup and an outstanding amount of hard work by the Fiji Surfing Association helped to secure Rip Curl’s continued support and sponsorship up to the year 2000. The cup has since been held in Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, New Caledonia, Norfork Island, and Australia.
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1996 – Fiji surf brand Wai Tui and surfshop opens in Suva.
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1995 – Fijians compete in first international competition – the South Pacific Games in Tahiti and produced our best performance at this competition to date – two silvers and three bronze. Todd Bower riding a body board for just a few months prior almost taking Gold in his event! The FSA later sends teams to the SPG (now Pacific Games) in Fiji 2003, Samoa 2007 , Mini Games in Norfolk Island. Ian Muller started his local tour company – Fiji Surf in his backyard and later moves to a beach location beside Sonaisali, his surf shop opens in Martintar and is now in Nadi town. Ian later takes on a promotional role for Red Bull.
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1992 – First local surf competition held at Tavarua Island.
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1991 -Stephen Turner organizes Fiji’s first surf contest at Hideaway Resort – won by Jason Olderoy. First prize was a new surfboard!
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1987 – Stephen Turner established SURF FIJI to service traveling surfers primarily in the Mamanuca Island Group – operating out of Nadi Bay. He also established a surf shop in Nadi which ran for a couple of years.
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1986 – Colin Philp opens Fiji’s first surfshop repairing and selling second hand boards.
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1983 – Tavarua Island Resort was established by Scott Funk and Dave Clarke.