Prepping for a surf trip to Fiji--A Q&A with Stu Johnson of FijiSurfCo.com--Part 1

Fijiguide.com editorial staff recently returned from an epic trip to Fiji this Christmas.  While there we had the opportunity to hang with Stu Johnson, surf photographer extraordinaire and surf guide with FijiSurfCo.com, one of the most experienced surfing companies in Fiji. Stu and his lovely wife Malia are regular contributors to Fijiguide.com and, put together their own Fiji Surf Blog.

As part of their job with Fijisurfco, they take out visiting surfers from Australia, the US and around the world. Suffice it to say, they are constantly barraged with the same litany of questions about how to prepare for a surf vacation to Fiji.

Since its been raining lately in Nadi (to say the least) Stu took some time to put together a Q&A that answers every question you ever had in this department. This is the first of a three part series that you're going to have to bookmark. All of the photos featured in this series are by Stu Johnson.

So let's start at the beginning..

A: The Rainy season begins November 1st through April 31st and sees less long period southwest swells.  However when they do arrive, there is a good chance you'll see some of the cleanest conditions with light to dead winds.  Beware of afternoon surfs during this time of year.  Typical weather patterns during this time see quickly forming low pressure storms out of the north which generate terrible surf conditions and make for a VERY bumpy and uncomfortable ride back to shore.      

From May through October you see the trade winds come in and dominate the weather making for sunny perfect weather and predominant offshore winds at Cloudbreak and Restaurants.  Lots of these days it doesn't matter what time you start your day in the water.  It can be good all day long! Just make sure to bring enough water and sunscreen or the next day will hurt. 

That being said, scoring good waves is all about timing and you come to find quickly in surf travel that you can get skunked any time of year, peak season or not. 

If you have the flexibility, I would suggest keeping an open schedule in February and March and watch swells and wind predictions.  Some of the cleanest, most perfect sessions can be had during this time with minimal crowds.  If you need to book your holiday in advance I would recommend going May through October which will give you the best chance of not spending your entire trip in a cyclone!   

• Board
• Leash
• Wax
• Day bag to protect board on boat
• Sun Screen
• Snacks for boat ride
• Water
• Ding repair

(If your traveling with Fiji Surfco.com they Supply the last three items on the boat Free of charge)

(If you need ANY of the above items you can replace them at Fiji Surf Shop in Nadi Town)

Q: Will I need booties?  

A: For people who have surfed beach breaks most of their life they are used to standing on the bottom before jumping back on the board to paddle back out.  If you 

want to continue this habit I would recommend booties as most of the reef cuts we see come from people standing and kicking off the reef as they re-mount their board after a wipeout.  When surfing a reef,its best to master the" high-body-float to crawl back on board" technique.  The biggest hurdle to overcome when surfing a reef for the first time is the fear of hitting the coral.  

If wearing booties helps you feel more confident in getting better waves then I would say bring them and ware them with pride.

Side bar #1: Reef cuts are 90% superficial and harmless when cleaned properly upon returning to your hotel.  The worst injuries in surfing don't typically come from bad wipeouts on the reef.  The most dangerous thing I've found in surfing is hitting your own board! )      

Side Bar #2:  Surfing solid Cloudbreak or any size Restaurants at low tide is for expert surfers only. 

If you feel legit fear looking at waves breaking on dry reef then stay on the boat and watch.  Many people have gotten in over their heads at these spots and have ended up with serious injuries which even booties would not be able to prevent.  When in doubt, don't go out.  Just sit on the boat and watch the carnage!  Your wife/girlfirend back at the hotel wont be very open to a surf trip in the future if you come back with serious injury!    

Q: Wet suit or vest? 

A: 1mm Wet suit top is always a good bring on a trip.  You never know when a chilly wind might come through. (Plus if your surfing Low tide at Restaurants its good to have a little extra protection)

 Stay tuned for more of our exclusive interview with Stu Johnson.