Johanne Defay: enjoying a glorious day at Cloudbreak | Photo: Sloane/WSL

Johanne Defay has claimed the Fiji Women's Pro 2016, at Cloudbreak.

The French surfer secured the second Championship Tour (CT) event win of her career after defeating Carissa Moore in a pumping six-to-eight foot final.

"I've never beat Carissa (Moore) before. She is such an amazing surfer, and she took 9-point rides in every heat. It is crazy, and I am so happy. I want to thank my family because they have been up all night watching," expressed Defay.

The decisive clash saw Johanne Defay opening her account with a massive score of 8.40 for a collection of powerful turns and hacks. To seal the deal, the French rider found a backup wave and put Moore in a combination situation.

"I was having an okay year, but this really helps me get into a better place for me on the rankings. The next few events are usually strong for me, so I hope to keep the results coming."

The event also marked the return of Bethany Hamilton to the top spots of competitive surfing. The Hawaiian found her rhythm, delivered an incredible performance, and eliminated several fan favorites, including Stephanie Gilmore and Nikki Van Dijk. In the end, Hamilton celebrated a well-deserved third place.

Fiji Women's Pro 2016 | Final

1. Johanne Defay (FRA) 17.10
2. Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.70

Top Stories

On March 7, 2024, Cloudbreak delivered one of the most epic swells in Fiji's big wave surfing history.

Is there any correlation between warmer or colder ocean waters and bigger waves? What is the influence of temperature on wave height?

It's one of the world's most out-of-the-radar big waves and certainly one of the most exciting surf breaks in Latin America and the South Pacific. Bienvenidos a El Buey.

Surfing is all about working the unbroken wave face and maximizing riding time. But how can you optimize and balance these two goals that cancel each other out?