One thing is certain: Fiji ain’t all rainbows and sunshine. Cloudbreak, one of the world’s most gorgeous left-hand barrels, has many more moods than we’re often lead to believe from media rags like this one. When it’s big and beautiful, it gets all the flowers as one of Earth’s best waves. But she gets grumpy, especially when it’s big and windy in the South Pacific. She’s not to be messed with, as was the case with this most recent run of waves.
“When a major swell was forecast, surfers from Hawaii, California, Australia, Europe, Brazil and beyond made their way to Fiji,” renowned big wave photographer Fred Pompermayer told us. “Strong winds ended up ruining the surf, and the waves never quite reached the size many had anticipated. Still, everyone went. The session was challenging, with strong winds and difficult conditions making the lineup demanding. Some surfers stayed farther outside, looking for the bigger sets as they came through. While others moved inside, where the waves were smaller but offered some good barrels. Cloudbreak has a bunch of different zones, so on a complicated day like that, people naturally spread out, each looking for their own opportunity.”
As you can see, there were a few gems buried in the sand, but you definitely had to dig for ’em. This wasn’t the Cloudbreak you drew on your notebook. It was a different beast all together. But a version of Fiji’s crown jewel still worth sharing. And for these surfers, obviously still worth paddling out for. Enjoy Mr. Pompermayer’s look at a more angry Cloudbreak than you’re used to seeing.
