Fiji’s emerging surfing talents Niko Muller and Havana Kurop emerged victorious at the inaugural Oceania Youth Cup, securing titles in the Under-18 boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively at Natadola Beach.
Muller, representing Sonaisali, and Kurop, from Wailoaloa, Nadi, were instrumental in Team Fiji’s dominant performance, underscoring the nation’s expanding influence within Pacific surfing.
The competition served as the centerpiece of the first Oceania Youth Development Program, a collaborative initiative led by the Fiji Surfing Association alongside the International Surfing Association (ISA), with support from Olympic Solidarity and the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC).
The week-long program gathered top junior surfers from seven countries across the region, who benefited from elite training sessions conducted by ISA-certified professional coaches and Olympic surfers acting as mentors.
Fiji’s delegation included Kurop, Muller, Valerio Nawatu, and head coach Lesi Navuwai, who participated in both the development camp and competitive events.
In tandem with the competition, the ISA conducted its fourth annual Continental Youth Athlete Development Program in Fiji, aimed at nurturing young surfers and coaches from developing Oceania nations.
Supported by Olympic Solidarity, the initiative welcomed 15 under-18 surfers from eight countries for intensive training and mentorship activities, both on land and in the water.
Sessions, led by Olympian Michel Bourez and ISA coaching expert Lee Ryan, focused on comprehensive athlete development, covering aspects such as judging, mental preparation, contest strategies, and video analysis.
Olympians Saffi Vette and Leilani McGonagle also contributed as mentors, offering valuable insights to the participants.
Previously held in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, this year’s program marked its first edition in Oceania. The partnership between the Oceania Surfing Federation and the Fiji Surfing Association included additional coach education to ensure the program’s long-term impact on regional surfing development.