Vanuatu’s national surfing team has returned from two weeks of intense competition in El Salvador, bringing home valuable experience from one of the world’s largest open surfing events.

The international meet gathered top surfers from across the globe, giving Vanuatu’s small but determined team Sacha Ferry, Manoa Tarroux, and Roger Taleo the chance to measure their skills against world-class athletes.

For the surfers, it was more than just competition; it was a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.

“I gained a lot of experience. My first strategy was simply to learn as much as I could, and I went through it,” said Sacha.

“The first ten minutes of my heat were very hard, but the second went better. Now I know I need to focus more on strategy,” added Manoa.

“I need to work more on strength, conditioning, and fitness to prepare properly for future events,” Roger shared.

The competition, which ended last weekend with a grand closing ceremony, forms part of the Vanuatu Surfing Association’s preparations for international tournaments in the years ahead.

Association President Michael Barthelmess described the event as a vital opportunity: “This was an excellent platform for our surfers to see where they stand internationally and what areas they need to improve.”

While the team is on its way back to Port Vila this week, surfer Manoa Tarroux will head directly to New Caledonia to compete in another surfing event.