SURFING is a global multi-billion dollar industry.
And while it is very small in Fiji in comparison, the country’s waves are rated as some of the best in the world.
Fiji Surf School’s Ian Ravouvou Muller said surfing contributed a very small percentage as a foreign exchange earner pre-surf decree.
“Now, post-surf decree — meaning the waves are open for public use — the current contribution and potential of surf tourism to overall gross domestic product is much more significant with surf companies setting up and more surfers coming into the country to enjoy this free resource from God,” Mr Muller said.
The company ventured into the surf business 20 years ago and continues to receive positive accolades from clients.
“We were the first local surf company set up 20 years ago. Back then we did not know why we started — it was a passion, new challenge and love for the ocean and surfing that got me started,” he said.
“We like to go slow and see where the industry best needs the focus and attention then we take small calculated risks.
“I cannot quantify what we put aside from time to time that all comes down to various circumstances at the time.”
Fiji Surf School, under the arm of Fiji Surf Co, was recently awarded a certificate of excellence by the popular review website for travellers, Trip Advisor.
“This recognition is a symbol of excellence in hospitality and service. How do travellers find the best businesses in the world?
“They look for Trip Advisors certificates of excellence — a prestigious award that can only be earned through consistently great reviews of businesses being published on the world’s largest travel site.
“This award also means that a small local company such as ours can also match the standards of big companies locally and abroad. You don’t have to be big to be recognised — quality is the key.”
Mr Muller said Fiji Surf School received bookings from travel agents or clients that heard about their company through referrals, their website and through travel sites such as Trip Advisor.
“Trip advisor has been giving out these awards over the last five years or so and we are stoked to have been recognised — it’s a huge milestone for us and Fijian surfing as a whole,” he said.
“We started Fiji Surf Co 20 years ago as the first local surf company from the back yard of my house with literally no start-up capital.
“No bank gave us any loan as surfing was so new and nobody believed in it.
“I’m a qualified aircraft engineer so went back into aviation to do part-time work and started VSL — Viti Surf Legend (as it was known back then) from my back yard selling surf equipment, doing surfboard repairs and teaching myself and others to surf.”
Challenges
He said they had a lot of challenges and failures starting out but determination and commitment allowed him to pull through those tough times.
“It was tough but that is the nature of business and life sometimes. It has taught me many valuable life lessons that I would not have learnt in school or by working back in aviation.
“I can write a book on the challenges, failures and accomplishments through this 20-year journey so far,” Mr Muller said.
“The biggest challenge that we faced was fighting for our rights to surf our own waves in Fiji that were exclusive to foreign-owned surf resort owners and their guests at the resort for more than 25 years.
“The exclusive special licence that was given by corrupt previous Governments kept our surf company and others from growing and served no fair levelled playing field for any surf company to progress.”
He said they were stagnant in growth for 15 years and felt like second-class citizens in their own country until they started lobbying the Government.
“Mr Bainimarama saw the corruption and proof in our submissions and overturned the exclusive surf licence, which became the Surfing Decree today. This Surfing Decree 2010 became our biggest achievement.”
He said the progress of the school was evident of the hard work of their team, adding partial credit went to Fiji and the beautiful waves God had blessed them with to complement the world-class service.
