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Boardfolio.com >> ASP World Tour News >> Traditional Fijian Ceremony Welcomes World's Best

Quiksilver Pro Fiji (May 25 - June 6) www.quiksilver.com Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com World Championship Tour (WCT) Press Release Traditional Fijian Ceremony Welcomes World's Best May 24, 2003 (ASP Int'l, Aus) A traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony today greeted the world's top rated male surfers for the 2003 Quiksilver Pro. The US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) officially enters its 13-day competition window tomorrow - Sunday 25th May - with the Quiksilver Trials expected to run and decide two remaining wildcard spots for the main event. Contestants and Trialists sat alongside representatives from Quiksilver, Tavarua Island staff, and chiefly family members of the owners of the Nadroga Province, which incorporates Tavarua and nearby Namotu Islands and the famed waves of Cloudbreak, Restaurants and Namotu Lefts. Speeches of appreciation and thanks were offered from all surfing nations and Island guests, with bundles of Kava root given to the hosts. Ratu Osea, one of the chiefly family owners of the Nadroga Province, then gave a sacred Golden Cowry shell to Quiksilver Pro contest director Rod Brooks, as a significant gesture for their five years involvement and continued support in Fiji. Only two of the rare shells have been discovered on Tavarua, and today marked the first time one has been presented. "This nation of Fiji appreciates you being here," said Osea. "We are so grateful and it's an honor and privilege to host the Quiksilver Pro in 2003. This being the fifth year of Quiksilver's involvement, we have a special gift to present. The Golden Cowry was found on this Island when it was first opened and it is a very rare treasure for Fiji and it's reefs. We are grateful that through surfing Fiji has found a place in the world of sports. We wish you many blessings." Brooks then explained Quiksilver's long standing relationship with Tavarua Island Resort, since founders Alan Green (Aus) and Bob McKnight (USA) were the first to book out the camp when it opened in 1981. "I don't think Alan wanted to go to the United States and I don't think Bob wanted to go to Australia," explained Brooks. "So they gathered here every year in Fiji to surf and have their meetings. It was pretty cool, and it's been fantastic everyone on Tavarua and Namotu Islands have really helped us with the event in recent years. The waves here are wonderful and we've had such great success. "We'll be running our 300th WCT heat at this particular contest, so we've really run a lot of heats on these reefs now," he continued. "I'd particularly like to acknowledge Mick Lowe (Aus), who had a wonderful win last year and is back again to defend his title. And all the other surfers and winners of the event - we've had some terrific champions with Occy (Mark Occhilupo in 1999), Luke Egan's won it twice, Kelly (Slater) started it off in 1995 at G-Land (Indonesia) and Shane Beschen (USA) once. We've really got a great list of champions and I think this is a classic event which Quiksilver is terribly proud of." Defending Quiksilver Pro champion Lowe (Aus) added: "I'm really excited to be back. I think this is my 10th trip to Tavarua, so to be here as defending champion and be able to drink some beers and Kava with the boys is great. The surf is a bonus with some of the most incredible waves in the world. It's not purely about the event though; it's about enjoying yourself like the Fijians do so well. If we can all take a leaf out of their books, we'll all be winners." WCT newcomer Danilo Costa (Brz) - a giant killer in Tahiti last week who finished equal third - hopes to carry the momentum through his first tournament in Fiji's idyllic locale. "I'm so happy to be here for my first time in Fiji," offered Costa. "I surfed Cloudbreak this afternoon and it was nice. I hope we get good waves and tubes for this contest. Everything is new for me with this being my first year on the WCT, but I'm really happy to be here with all the guys." The Quiksilver Trials are likely to be held tomorrow, with two wildcards spots on offer for the main event against the world's top 45 rated surfers. The Trialists include: Troy Brooks (Australia), Damon Harvey (Australia), Fred Patacchia (Hawaii), Alain Riou (Tahiti), Masatoshi Ohno (Japan), Travis Logie (South Africa) and two local Fijian surfers. Two-time world champion Tom Carroll, 41, (Sydney, Aus) has been awarded a wildcard position directly into the main event, while Beau Emerton (Gold Coast, Aus) - who also finished equal third last week in Tahiti - replaces 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia (Haw) due to his impending knee surgery. "Thanks to Sunny I'm back here again," said Emerton. "I'm very excited about the event as this is probably the best stop on the tour. Tahiti might be the best wave, but for location this is the best spot and I'm stoked to be here and I'd love nothing more than a result like last week." A decision will be made each morning by 6:30am (local time) as to the day's schedule. While the outlook for swell is not great, organizers expect to run the Quiksilver Trials tomorrow morning, and possibly follow with main event heats if favorable conditions permit. You can follow the event daily on http://www.quiksilver.com

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