“Watch out, Abo, here comes a wide set!” More focused on his handline than the massive swell lines rolling in, Abo my Fijian longboat driver instantly kicked the trusty Yamaha 40 outboard into gear. The vibe in the channel was electric, a mix of excitement, stoke and fear. Us and the other boats all chocker block with spectators, camera people and surfers sped towards the horizon into safer waters. Heaving, spitting and barreling so hard, the legendary Cloudbreak was going off its brain. A whole bus could have fit into some of the pits we were seeing. Only a few hardcore local big wave chargers were out with a handful of top pro surfers who had flown in for this swell. With it looking like the wind would not come in, I felt relaxed and happy just to watch the show from the safety of the boat – until the breeze suddenly swung and picked up from the south, and then I knew – I had to make a call….
With over 330 paradise islands, warm water, consistent swell and uncountable world-class breaks, Fiji in the South Pacific is what surfers’ dreams are made of. Considered one of the best waves on the planet, Cloudbreak in the southern Mamanuca Islands is the holy grail, holding nearly
