Namotu Island Fiji is part of the Mamanuca island chain
and is a 30 minute boat ride from Viti Levu and the
Fijian capitol of Nadi. The 3 acre island accommodates
groups of 20 people and is open year round. Three perfect
reef breaks are within a few hundred yards of the island.
Wilkes Pass a fast right, Swimming pools also a right
but more of a longboard wave and the Namotu Left which
is visible from the bar on the island has ridable surf
almost every day. All three breaks are great for kiting
and wave riding depending on your preferred wind direction.
Kiter.com:
HoWhat is the story behind Namotu island?
Reo:Scott O’Conner: Mandy and
I first came here in 1987 to shoot some windsurfing
stunt shots. We surfed perfect glassy Wilkes Pass in
the morning and then windsurfed the Namotu Left in side-off
perfect conditions all afternoon. When I got back to
Hawaii I rang up some of my friends like Dave Kalama,
Robby Naish, Rush Randle, Brett Lickle and Mike Waltz.
We came over as a group for several years in a row and
would stay on Plantation Island and come up to Namotu
each day to surf, windsurf and fish. Mike and I had
finished our pro careers and bought the lease on the
Island in 1994 to start developing it.
What percentage of your guests kite?
We really have only seen guest's start kiting in the
past 3 years. In general we only get 2-3 kiters per
group of 20 people on the island. People call us all
the time now to ask about kiting during their trip.
We tell them to take a couple lessons and bring their
gear and we can take care of them when they get here.
Since we have boats there is really no issue with getting
back up wind. If you can't get back we just send one
of the boats out to get you. It is the perfect place
to improve.
How many kitable days per year do you see on the island?
We probably get 150-180 days per year. I usually kite
a 12 or a 16 and save the really windy days for windsurfing.
My view is that you get beat up on the small kites when
it's that windy.
Who are some of the big name kiters that have
been to the island?
Lou Wainman, Maricio Abrue, Robby Naish, Pete Cabrinha,Chuck
Patterson and a whole bunch of people for the Redbull
Waterman's Bash. Most of the Maui crew has made it here
at least once.
Do you see yourself replicating Namotu on other
islands?
Namotu is all about location and having the breaks so
convenient to the island. That combination is hard to
find, so I think Namotu is one of a kind.
Where do you see the island in 10 years?
I am sure there will be lots more kiters but we will
always be a surf camp targeted at groups of 20 people.
If we had 20 people all trying to kite the surf that
might be a bit much.
What is the most radical thing you have seen
on the island?
Well let's see there are lots of things… Robby Naish
jumping the entire end of the island one of the first
times we ever saw kiting. We have also seen surf big
enough to close out the entire Wilkes Pass channel……
Another time the boys got a bit wound up and towed a
kite behind the jetski and got it up to 100 feet before
the lines broke.
What group parties the hardest?
Our group from New Jersey, with out a doubt... they
have been here 5 or 6 times and they always have a bar
tab triple what we would see with anyone else.
What was the first year you kited here? Probably
1999….
Dave Kalama and I used the old 2-line Wipika's on our
tow boards and we just went down wind and got the boats
to look after us. It seemed too hard so we kind of backed
away from it. Then in 2000 Ben Wilson, one of our guides
from Australia started playing with the kites. At first
he was all over the map then in just a few weeks time
he started to get back upwind, then a couple feet of
air then some sick tricks. He got better and better
and now today he is one of the top pros in the world
and rides for Slingshot.
What is the longest you have ever stayed on
the island? When we were building the I stayed for 18 months
, without leaving except to go to town in Viti Levu.
Any advice for people thinking about visiting
Namotu?
Sure… come on over! We don't have a problem keeping
the island booked so we really don't spend much time
promoting it or giving people a hard sell. The great
thing about Namotu is that there is always something
to do. We are a surf resort but even if the surf does
not cooperate you can kite, windsurf, scuba dive, fish
or just relax at the pool. If you do come bring everything
you've got, long boards, short boards, kites and windsurfing….
It all works on Namotu.
