Counting the stars while the Globe WCT Fiji waits for swell

MOTHER Ocean has continued to relax on her holiday around our Fijian paradise, so the Globe WCT Fiji remains on hold for the second day of the event-waiting period. Again, it’s no problem for the Foster’s Top 45 as they continue to indulge in the vacation spirit just lapping up the sheer beauty of Fiji and the plethora of recreational activities available here, in and around the islands of Namotu and Tavarua.

Although our swell forecasters Surfline.com appear totally validated in their predictions of no swell of any significance before Thursday, it has to be said that it is a little surprising that we are yet to see the familiar faces of three of our current pace setters of the talented Foster’s pack in Trent Munro (AUS), Kelly Slater (USA) and Chris Ward (USA).

Munro arrives tomorrow, Slater on Wednesday, and we’re not sure where Master Blaster Ward is. They will not, (almost) surely, miss a thing, but from both a competitive and journalistic viewpoint, the ‘what if’ question has to be raised. Taking things to an extreme, absolutely chauvinistically, we are dealing with a woman here – Mother Ocean, and like all members of the species, God’s finest creation woman (!) can totally have a mind of her own, and could turn at any time.

Some of the boys here consider it bordering on incredulous that their three respected peers are taking what is basically a long-shot gamble. Long odds pay the highest dividends, but in this situation, they can inversely cost a lot.

Currently leading the Foster’s ratings, Trent Munro’s personal restraint in soaking up the extra time at home with the shadow of possibilities hanging over his head is enviable if it works and the swell maps hold true, but he could otherwise be gambling one of the sport’s most prestigious positions.

“I must admit that at first, my gut was telling me that I shouldn’t be doing this, and it’s obviously relieving that there’s been nothing until now, but in the end I committed myself to taking advantage of being able to be at home. I’ll be there tomorrow, and looking forward to it,” said Munro by phone from his home at Scotts Head on the mid-north coast of NSW this morning.

Source: Global Surf News

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