SURF NEWS PHOTOS BEST BET JUNE 2008: FIJI SURF TRAVEL
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By: Kevin Wallis
Photos: Scott Winer
June 4, 2008
The time is now --- there are roaring winter storms brewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Many of those storms grace the South Pacific atoll of Fiji. From the luxury resort on Tavarua to the more obscure, hard to reach islands, Fiji's wave quality -- especially this time of year -- ranks highly amongst the saltwatery cream of the crop.
We're right on the cusp of officially moving into the Northern Hemisphere's summer, and the world's oceans are certainly reflecting that. What we mean is that there is a general lack of any significant cyclonic activity in either the North Atlantic or North Pacific. So as typical for this time of year, we'll be looking south for our most significant source of surf into the Southern Hemisphere, which is now knock, knock knocking on winter's door. And for now, we'll focus on Fiji as our best bet.


Of course Fiji, being in the tropics, experiences seasons in a much different way than those breaks located in the middle latitudes; not so much as a change in temperature, but, rather, in the consistency of surf (at least we often think of seasons in that sense as surfers). We're entering the prime swell season for Fiji, when the Indian and South Pacific Oceans see consistent storm activity and Fiji enjoys swell from both sides. Lows as far away as South Africa can create groomed, long period groundswells for the Fijian Islands, but the exposed south and southwest facing reefs truly come alive as storms move into the Tasman Sea, with Fiji, New Caledonia and some of the other neighboring islands square in their crosshairs. Combine that with the prevailing southeast tradewinds that blow offshore for many of these reefs and you have a pretty good combination.
We're entering the prime swell season for Fiji, when the Indian and South Pacific Oceans see consistent storm activity and Fiji enjoys swell from both sides.


June, in particular, looks to be front loaded with swell, from both strong storms moving through the Southern Ocean below Australia and also into the money spot for swell: the Tasman Sea. As such you can expect a steady diet overhead surf through the first half of the month with good potential for a couple days with significantly larger waves at the premier reefs. At this point it looks like things slow down quite a bit right around the middle of the month as high pressure will likely move into the Tasman Sea for a few days, drastically reducing the size of the swell. Don't be surprised to see another round of solid southwest to south/southwest groundswell move in right around the end of the month however.

According to Surfline Travel:

A no-brainer holiday choice for divers, lovers, fishermen, and any real fan of tropical beauty, it goes without saying also that the pristine barrier reefs of Fiji are primo surf real estate--welcome to paradise, bro. For decades a staple South Pacific surf destination, one also with an fascinating cultural mix, not a tube-loving surfer is born who does not wish to board a plane, land in Nadi or Suva, and lock into some deep Melanesian juice, often far from land, and very far from the dullness of home. Read more here.

Recap of May in Central America

Although this May wasn't full of huge, macking swells for Central America (outside of the solid pulse that landed on the weekend of May 10th-11th), fun-size surf consistently prevailed for the entire month with back-to-back pulses of S and SW swells that seemed to never let up. As one swell would fade, another would fill in to replace it. And with calm to light offshores, warm water nearly every morning, and a sunny/tropical paradise, what more can you ask for as a 'Best Bet'. Don't get me wrong, there were some days with heavy rain, bad thunderstorms, and onshore flow, but the better days still reigned supreme. Furthermore, things are just starting up in the dirty South as June looks even better! - Jonathan Warren