Seeto says this decision will boost the overall development of the tourism industry.
Surfing areas around the country are now open to anyone who wants to use them under the new Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree. Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this will allow access to any surfing area in Fiji without payment or compensation, and enhance Fiji’s image as a premier surf travel destination.
All current leases held by resorts or anyone else over the surfing areas is now

Following four consecutive lay days, the world-class Dee Why point break delivered the ultimate finale, churning out high-scoring, quality waves and a massive 2000-plus crowd for the world?s top female surfers.

Gilmore has now won three of the four events she has contested this year after taking victory on the Gold Coast in early March before winning at Bells Beach in the same month.

?It?s incredible how good this feels,? said Gilmore. ?Competing in Australia is one of my favourite things to do. I feel comfortable in these waters and have won this event a few times. I guess I?m on a roll and I?m feeling good.?

Queen Gilmore made a perfect start to the 35-minute decider, showing plenty of speed, power and flow to net a 7.00 before Fitzgibbons hit back to take the lead for the majority of the final.
Fitzgibbon’s second-placing shores up her position on the tour, now sitting just behind Gilmore in the rankings.

The former world junior champion earned her spot in the final with a thrilling win against 2004 world champion Sofia Mulanovich.

Needing a score of 5.2 with eight seconds to go, Fitzgibbons picked up a wave and rode it impressively to the shore and was awarded seven points for her efforts.

The win was Gilmore’s 15th world tour victory and her first Beachley Classic titles since 2007.

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.20 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.40

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.33 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 9.14
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.97 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.16

The third stop on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival enjoyed a veritable cornucopia of conditions throughout the six-day event window, culminating in exciting fashion today in front of a capacity crowd at the primary site.

Moore wasted little time in the hard-fought Final, posting an excellent 9.33 out of a possible 10 on her opening wave for a flurry of electrifying backhand surfing. The Hawaiian rookie was quick to back it up, lighting up another running lefthander with unfettered ferocity and a complete repertoire of maneuvers for 9.83, collecting the highest heat total of the event, a 19.16 out of a possible 20, as well as the victory.

“The conditions definitely turned on for us this afternoon and I knew I couldn’t leave Sally (Fitzgibbons) a lot of room to maneuver,” Moore said. “She has been getting the highest scores every round and she’s so dangerous. I just felt like I was building momentum throughout the event and fortunately peaked in the Final.”

Following a relatively slow start to 2009 with two Equal 9th place results, Moore (who has long been considered one of the most promising young surfers on the planet) was growing frustrated with her former 9th place ranking. Today’s win vaults the young Hawaiian to ASP Women’s World No. 6 and establishes her as a legitimate threat to the 2010 ASP Women’s World Title.

“I wasn’t very happy with the start of my year,” Moore said. “I expected more out of myself and couldn’t figure out what was going on. Things really fell into place for me here in New Zealand and it’s a great result for my campaign this year. I’m really excited and looking forward to Sydney.”

In a show of unprecedented generosity, Moore chose to donate her US$15,000 first prize winnings to the local Waitara Bar Boardriders Club, a gesture that received undulating support from the thousands in attendance.

“I fell in love with New Zealand and I’m fortunate enough to have great support from my family and my sponsors and that puts me in a position to do things like this,” Moore said. “The Haka that the Waitara Bar Boardriders Club performed before the event was beautiful and they’ve really opened up their community and waves to us. For this, I am very thankful.”

Despite Moore’s domineering start to the Final, Fitzgibbons fought back admirably collecting a 7.50 and an 8.67, but it would not be enough to overtake Moore.

“It’s frustrating but Carissa (Moore) just went mad in the Final,” Fitzgibbons said. “The waves were really good, and it was an exciting heat. I’m disappointed to not get the win, but it’s still a good result for me.”

Today’s Runner-Up finish matches Fitzgibbons’ career best and moves her from 5th to 2nd on the ASP Women’s World Tour rankings, positioning her for a run at the prestigious ASP Women’s World Title throughout the remainder of the year.

“It matches my best result and I’m sure I’ll be happy with it down the road, but to come so close and not win still stings right now,” Fitzgibbons said. “I feel like I am surfing well and surfing smart and it will happen eventually. To be second on the rankings now is great for me and the goal is to reign in Steph (Gilmore) over the next couple events.”

Sarah Mason (NZL), 15, wildcard into the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival, went on a rampage in Taranaki, causing the shock elimination of reigning three-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, in Round 3 yesterday before dispatching of compatriot and goofy-footed powerhouse Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, in this morning’s Quarterfinals. Despite her juggernaut run, the youngster was unable to overcome eventual winner Moore in their Semifinal bout.

“I’m disappointed to not make the Final but not upset at how I’ve gone here,” Mason said. “I was just excited to win the wildcard spot, but it’s been the best week of my life getting to surf against Steph (Gilmore) and Paige (Hareb). It gives me great confidence moving ahead and I do feel like one day I can be up there contesting for the world title.”

Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005), was another standout in the event and looked good for a berth in her first Final of the year. However, a late Semifinal charge by Fitzgibbons eliminated any hope of a chance at the event title and Hedges received an Equal 3rd.

“This is my third Equal 3rd in a row and it is a disappointment to miss out on the Final again,” Hedges said. “I suppose it’s good that I’ve been consistent, but to win a world title, you have to make Finals and win events. That’s the goal ? to win the world title. Still though, 3rd is okay and I’ll just try to refocus and prepare for Sydney next week.”

Highlights from the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival will be available www.nzsurffestival.co.nz

The next stop on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Commonwealth Back Beachley Classic held at Dee Why Point in Sydney, Australia from April 21 through 26, 2010.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

TSB BANK WOMEN’S SURF FESTIVAL FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 19.16
2 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.17

TSB BANK WOMEN’S SURF FESTIVAL SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.56 def. Sarah Mason (NZL) 11.33
SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.93 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 15.17

TSB BANK WOMEN’S SURF FESTIVAL QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.17 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.33
QF 2: Sarah Mason (NZL) 16.23 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.83
QF 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.33 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.00
QF 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 14.67 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.30

Event No. 2 on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro came to a dramatic close today, with the unstoppable, young Australian collecting her third Bells Title in four attempts.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed by this,” Gilmore said. “To ring the bell once is an amazing feeling, but three times? I don’t think the gravity of it has sunk in yet. It’s an incredible event and I feel very fortunate to have achieved such success here so far.”

 While not necessarily a standout in the earlier rounds, Gilmore appeared to bide her time at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro, peaking on the final day of competition with some incendiary performances.

“I wasn’t in a hurry,” Gilmore said. “It’s probably not the most exciting frame of mind for the spectators, but I know that it doesn’t totally count until the Final, so that was my game plan and I guess it kind of worked for me. It’s what I’ve used for a lot of events and it seems to work.”
Having collected two wins from two events in 2010, Gilmore now has a commanding lead as she hunts down a fourth ASP Women’s World Title.
“Two for two is definitely an unexpected start of the year but I guess when you’re not really expecting too much that’s when it all just comes your way,” Gilmore said. “Winning the World Title is such an incredible feeling – it’s quite rare so while I can, I just might as well keep winning. READ MORE

The surfing in Fiji is world class and its no surprise when you consider that Fiji is a collection of over 300 islands and atolls surrounded by reefs, and is exposed to year round swell from the Southern Ocean.

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Surfing Locations and their Breaks:

The 2010 Fiji Surfing Association season commenced in style on Saturday with the Fiji Surf Open held in challenging one-metre waves at the Sigatoka river mouth.

Twenty-seven competitors battled through three rounds, with the highest scoring two surfers in each 20-minute heat advancing to the next round
By the final hooter it was Mark Stewart of Waidroka who came out on top and took home the winners cheque of $300 with his, superior wave selection and smooth turns and radical moves

Stewart consistently posted the highest wave scores throughout the entire event and was a most deserving winner.

Stewart also won himself a new pair of Electric Sunglasses for the most radical moves of the day. Frankie King of Kulukulu took home a new surfboard courtesy of the Fijian Surf Foundation/ Air Pacific / Fast Friends Foundation for being the most improved competitor at the event.

FIJI Surfing Association president John Philp praised the courageous effort of youngster Alifereti Kamanalagi in a rough and windy sea condition at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships at Piha Beach in New Zealand.

Kamanalagi, commonly known as Kama, was the first Fijian to participate at the world championship.

He missed qualificationfor the final stages by a single point.

The 15-year-old lad from Nadroga proved his worth against other top surfersfrom around the world.

Philp said Kama performed extremely well despite the rough sea at Piha Beach last week.

He said the trip was a huge learning experience for the youngster.

“I’m extremely proud of his performance,” Philp said.

“He was a great surfer and he showed tremendous courage, which pulled him through in such a dangerous sea at Piha beach.”