As the planet gets smaller, and we grow more connected via technology and ease of travel, the world’s most coveted, most mythical, most exclusive surf spots are coming more and more into grasp. So it goes. But among the magical spots still out there, Tavarua remains at the top of the list.
Which is why anytime the heart-shaped island in the South Pacific, and its marquee waves of Cloudbreak and Restaurants, lights up, we pay attention. Like recently, for the season-opener swell.
Aussie surf photographer Chris Peel was on deck for the swell, and he filed this report: “This swell looked dreamy on the charts—initially pegged as an XL event, then eventually downgraded to an epic ‘ledge’ swell. The hype was real, even before it formed, and for good reason.
“The first forerunners arrived late Monday,” Peel added, “nothing big, but loaded with energy. A promising sign. We were up early Tuesday to see what the South Pac had delivered. Sitting in the dark waiting for the first glimpse is like Christmas for adults. You can hear it before you see it—waves crashing, energy pulsing. Then, as the light cracks, you’re greeted by double-overhead racing across the reef.”
As dreamy as it may look, photos can be deceiving. Peel noted:
“It looked very surf able and straight forward, but it’s nothing further from it. The swell came in raw and from the south, breaking further up the point. There were insane waves, but they came at a cost—washthroughs were inevitable. A few sat wide on the outer ledge, waiting for it to do its thing. There were moments it almost did… but not this swell. Not quite top-to-bottom.
“The vibe was high, and the crowd was stacked—everyone out there could surf, and surf well. Honestly, I’ve never seen it like that were almost everyone in the crowd completely ripped . Still, the washthroughs kept things honest. I counted 9 broken boards on a single set of washthroughs—one of the most destructive I’ve ever witnessed.”
Keep scrolling for more from opening day at Cloudbreak, and stay tuned for the WSL Finals Day at the mythical lefthander, going down August 27th-September 4th.
[All photos and captions courtesy of Chris Peel]
Related: Six Waves That Will Forever Have Our Hearts: Cloudbreak and Restaurants, Tavarua
