Globe Pro Fiji to Kick Off in Flawless Restaurants

2008-05-24 17:10:46

TAVARUA, Fiji (Saturday, May 24, 2008) – Current ASP World Tour No. 1 Kelly Slater (USA) will meet another local wildcard when competition for the Globe Pro Fiji commences at Restaurants tomorrow. That local is Isei Tokoea (FIJ) who beat five of his fellow Fijians in today’s Globe Pro Fiji Trials to earn his spot into the main event. Slater, Taylor Knox (USA), and Tokoea are in Heat 8 of Round 1.

Tokoea, who has won the trials to earn ASP World Tour wildcards twice before, started surfing 10 years ago when he took a job as a boat driver on Tavarua – one of the islands hosting the world’s best surfers during the Globe Pro Fiji. He is 31-years-old.

“This is my third time to surf in this event,” Tokoea said. “I am excited and have been training. I have surfed here five days a week since I taught myself to surf 10 years ago. The waves are good right now.”

Fijian Prime Minister Fijian Josaia Bainimarama was on hand to congratulate Tokoea – the dignitary made a special visit to the Globe Pro Fiji opening ceremony to officially declare proceedings open.

“It is a huge honor to have an event of this magnitude in Fiji,” Bainimarama said. “To have a wildcard surfing in the Globe Pro Fiji is a huge inspiration for all of the Fijian people and I hope that surfing will grow in the Fijian culture. May the best wave rider win.”

Former ASP World Champion Mark Occhilupo (AUS) and Globe teamrider Yadin Nicol (AUS) are also competing as wildcards in the Globe Pro Fiji. Occhilupo won the inaugural ASP World Tour event held in Fiji in 1999 – the same year he won his ASP World Title.

Defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA) is the only multiple winner of the Globe Pro Fiji. Hobgood won the event in 2006 and 2004 – the last two times he surfed in the event. The Globe Pro Fiji was not held in 2007 and Hobgood withdrew from the competition in 2005 citing injury.

An official call on competition will be made tomorrow, Sunday, May 25, 2008, at 7am.

The LIVE webcast of the Globe Pro Fiji will be available on www.globeprofiji.com.