Meet Fiji’s First Pro Surfer: James Kusitino
Photo: @jake_fizz
All photos have been provided courtesy of James.
Just last week, James Kusitino became the first surfer from Fiji to be able to call himself a pro.
In what can be seen as one of the coolest moves a brand has made by sponsoring a kid where this kind of endorsement is literally life changing - FORMER has stepped up to the plate, further establishing themselves as a surfing brand by surfers for surfers. What this means to James, an island boy who dropped out of school in year eight to pursue the pipe dream of becoming a pro, is enormous. But what this means to Fiji and the wider Pacific islander communities is much bigger. The privatisation of island breaks is not without its controversy, and it wasn't until 2010 when Cloudbreak became open to the public that the exclusive surfing rights that governed Fiji’s best breaks finally fell back to the locals. Timing was on James' side as he entered double digits being able to surf the once exclusive breaks that not even Fijians were granted access too. Partner that with a community of charging mentors and it seems the path to James’ dreams coming true weren’t as far fetched as all the island kids that came before him. Looking at the ease with which James surfs waves of consequence, it’s hard to believe James is only sixteen, so without further ado, let us introduce you to the kid you’re going to be seeing a lot more of as he makes the entire Pacific proud.
I know you probably want to get out surfing so jumping into these questions straight away - how does it feel to be the first pro surfer from Fiji?
I'm grateful. My family is grateful. Everyone is grateful.
I bet. What was your initial reaction when you found out you were being signed to FORMER?
I was so happy because I know not many people get signed by them. I hear from everyone that in Australia everyone is on Quiksilver or Billabong. That’s the sticker you see the most but you never see FORMER so to be a part of that is really special.
For sure it’s special. I’d argue it’s the brand everyone would want to be on, especially as a free surfer. And how has the reaction been from everyone at home in Fiji?
Oh everyone is so happy. I’ve been getting lots of thank you messages. It just means so much to Fiji to have this.
Who are the surfers that you look up to? Or whose style do you like the most?
I mean now it’s definitely Craig. I never knew of Craig when I was younger and then he came out here and I met him and I started to watch all his surfing videos. He’s just got the best style.
Photo: @kanebrownphoto
And now you’re on his brand. When you started surfing, do you ever remember a time when you were scared or have you just always charged without thinking?
Nah I don’t really remember ever being scared. Maybe when I was small when I first started surfing Cloudbreak but then I did it once and that was it. There was one time when they didn’t let me go surfing because I was too small. I would have been nine or ten. I was in the channel just about to paddle out when my friend Yuri told me I was too small to go out. That was the only time.
And you never wanted to pursue competitive surfing?
I did the local comps yeah but free surfing was always more appealing to me.
STAB did a great article on you recently, especially explaining how Fiji’s breaks had been previously privatised, but it also explained how you stopped going to school pretty young to be able to pursue a career in surfing. Was there ever any doubt that was what you were going to do?
Cloudbreak is just one of those breaks where the more time you put into it the more special things start to happen. I just love getting barralled and I kept missing school to go to that so eventually the teacher said you’re either going to get suspended or you just have to decide to finish school and pursue that. My parents were supportive of it so that’s what I did. I also started working, so I’d get tips. I think that helped too.
Photos: @kanebrownphoto @sirenaaa.co @fabiosilvestre
Now that you have the financial backing - where do you want to travel too first?
Tahiti to surf Teahupo'o and then onto Hawai’i for a bit.
How long do you plan on being in Hawai’i?
At least three months. I want to put my time in there at Waimea and Pipe.
Is there something from Fiji, like the culture, that you think you’ll carry with you as you travel around?
Just myself.
(Laughs) Fair enough, good answer. Now that you’ve become a pro what are your dreams?
I want to make it to Teahupo'o and maybe Eddie. It would be cool to do the Pipe Masters too. Just win the whole event and be on top of the world.
Is there anyone you want to shout out that has helped you get to where you are?
My parents, and all my dads friends and everyone that took me out surfing when I was young and showed me the way. There’s so many people. I started surfing Cloudbreak when I was pretty young and I’ve never missed a swell but that’s thanks to a lot of people before me, especially Che.
Photo: @guy__mac