After years of subjecting his legs to the pushback of massive hacks, C-Skins team rider and certified power surfer Wade Carmichael had to get himself a new hip at the end of the Australian autumn. But before going under the knife and putting himself in the slow lane for a few months he banked some good waves to see him through his recovery - most notably this strike mission to Fiji to surf Cloudbreak for the first time - our Southern Hemisphere Session of the Season.
Date: 15/03/2026
Swell height and period: 4ft @12 seconds to 8ft @ 16 seconds
Wind direction and strength: Light northerly, light and variable
Location: Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji
Surfboard(s): 6’4 Rusty swallow tail and on the bigger days I got out the 6’10 Rusty rounded pin
Wetsuit: C-Skins NuWave UV Skins Basics Long Sleeve Vest
Can you tell us about this trip...
The lead up to the swell I was just cruising around home surfing small beachies and points then we saw the light winds with swell hanging over Fiji, so me and some groms I’ve been coaching booked some flights and pulled the pin to strike over.
And these sessions?
It was my first time over there, and getting to the wave was awesome. We stayed in the village and were cruising out by boat and enjoyed the Fijian way! The swell started off small and fun and gradually got bigger and better for the first three days and once it peaked the day after, it was all time. I surfed Cloudbreak every day, and had one session out at Restaurants.
Captured by Hunter Vercoe @hunter_vercoe
