2024 CORONA FIJI PRO ODDS AND PREDICTION
It has been such a long time since the Championship Tour has been to Cloudbreak that looking at the record books does not help forecast a possible winner. The only two surfers who were in the quarterfinals in 2017 who are still on tour are Connor O'Leary, currently rated 17th, and Leonardo Fioravanti, currently 21st, and neither are coming into this event too hot.
Cloudbreak is challenging to surf, and the viewer often doesn't see the absolute raw power it exudes. It is a top-to-bottom reef break that holds up to 12 feet and is even bigger, but when it gets that big, they usually cancel it or move the event over to Restaurants. This is another wave that looks so perfect but is very powerful and dangerous to surf. Ask Glenn Micro Hall, who got hyper-extended and slammed into the coral in a wipe-out at Restaurants in 2013, resulting in fractures of the vertebrae L 2, 3, and 4 and a long and slow rehab process.
On the other hand, Cloudbreak and Restaurants offer ten-point rides on a good day for those who know how to surf them. Kelly Slater, Gabriel Medina, and Owen Wright are just three surfers who have clocked 10-point rides at Cloudies. Slater, a wildcard at this event, also banked a perfect heat 20-pointer in 2013. He comes up against Griffin Colapinti and Barron Mamiya in the third heat of round 1.
The more experienced surfers are hoping for some big conditions, as the waves get pretty quirky when the size increases in Fiji. Having said that, the up-and-comers are not shy about sending it over the ledge, and the charging abilities of the Colabros and their peers, for example, are already legendary.
FAVORITES
John John Florence
Odds:
TBD
With such a runaway lead on the rankings, Florence enters this event with nary a care in the world. He does like to win; we all know that and can see that, but being so relaxed about this event will make him even more dangerous than usual. He also knows this wave exceptionally well and thrives when it gets big and gnarly.
This is definitely Florence's year, but there is bated breath about next year. Is he going to stay on the tour? Is he going to sail away on a big boat, surf remote spots for a few years, and give up on the WSL? If he wins this event, and he is our favourite, it might carry enough energy and excitement to see him competing on the tour again in 2025. Let's hope so; the tour needs him.
Jack Robinson
Odds:
TBD
Robbo must feel a little robbed and somewhat chagrined after his performance at the Olympic Games. He was on point and is the most comfortable of all the surfers on tour when the waves go beyond gnarly. However, being starved of waves and unable to find any decent score is an ignominious way to exit something as prestigious as the Olympics. So, he's probably ready to let loose and show what could have been if he had the waves to surf on in Tahiti, which means danger. If the event does get a good-sized swell during the waiting period, this competition will be his to lose.
Gabriel Medina
Odds:
TBD
Sitting at number 8 in the world, Gabby has no choice but to win this one and slam the door on anyone who comes near him in every heat. This will likely be one of his best performances of the year. However, his performance at the Olympics was legendary as well. Sitting 18,000-odd points behind the yellow jersey must be a strange place for Media to find himself. With so little left of the 2024 tour, this is his last-gasp effort to reclimb, reclaim his status, and prove a point to himself and many others. Medina will unleash; he just needs to have an honest amount of luck with him this time.
SLEEPERS
Griffin Colapinto
Odds:
TBD
Griffin might be 10,000 points behind John John, but at second on the rankings, he has proven that he has what it takes to be a world champion. He is one of the best in the world regarding high-performance waves, and he has been steadily proving that he has the mettle to go over the ledge at Pipe, Teahupo'o, and Cloudbreak. That bravado, coupled with his freakish talent and ability to learn and work hard, makes for a winning combination that is sometimes not easy to see in his genial outlook. There is a warrior underneath that smile; he knows it, and so do a few of his close circles. This could be the year that he blows minds and gets a win here and at Trestles. He could do both if he finds the path and knows how to do that now.
Yago Dora
Odds:
TBD
You have got to love a bit of Yago. Also smiling and cheerful, Yago is often overlooked in waves like Pipe, Chopes, and Cloudies and is not on the radar. It could be because he is pretty quiet and never complains in the public eye when things don't go his way. He is well aware of how the system works and knows that to succeed, you have to work within the system. Then, out of the blue, he suddenly appears in the quarterfinals and, more often than not, blasts his way through whichever heat you notice him. You go, 'Mmm, you know, Yago could actually take this one'. He's adored by fans worldwide and knows what to do when the waves become chunky and difficult to manage, and that is to send it. He could teach his friend Toledo a thing or two about charging, but it would be best if he just stays in his lane and wins that way.
LONGSHOT
Ramzi Boukhaim
Odds:
TBD
Ramzi is still due something huge. He has everything in the package and nearly showed everyone at Teahupo'o, where he got a third after being eliminated by event winner Italo. His potential to make a breakthrough and vindicate his career and his talent is a source of hope and inspiration for his Moroccan fanbase. Currently ranked 13th in the rankings, the big guy must be smarting for a good result.
