Maui windsurfer Bernd Roediger displays his aerial skills during the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak reef in Fiji. Roediger claimed first place in the competition. Photo courtesy World Windsurfing Tour

Maui windsurfers Bernd Roediger and Morgan Noireaux are flying high after placing first and third, respectively, in the Fiji Surf Pro in 13-foot surf at Fiji’s legendary Cloudbreak reef.

“It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve wanted to win here since the last Fiji event in 2023, but to actually win it is totally different. So many things have to go your way. It’s like a blessing,” Roediger said.

Maui’s finest rose to the occasion as the waves pounded the reef in what competitors described as some of the most demanding conditions ever ridden in professional windsurfing.

Roediger claimed first place despite competing with a strained ACL and having not windsurfed for more than a month.

Noireaux produced the highest-scoring single wave of the event with a 9.5-point ride. Despite opening the final with the standout ride of the competition, inconsistent winds made finding a second scoring wave difficult, leaving Noireaux to finish third overall.

Maui windsurfer Morgan Noireaux launches into the air during the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak reef in Fiji. Noireaux scored the highest single-wave total of the competition and finished third overall. Photo courtesy World Windsurfing Tour

France’s Antoine Martin claimed second place after a week of radical wave riding, while Camille Juban of Guadeloupe finished fourth.

The competition featured an international field and some of the biggest conditions seen on the tour this season, with four windsurfing rigs destroyed and one competitor suffering a broken foot as the world’s best pushed themselves to the limit.

Australian Jaeger Stone suffered a broken foot after a heavy wipeout.

The women’s competition was won by Australia’s Jane Seman, who reclaimed the Cloudbreak title she first won in 2022. Seman won all three finals, consistently choosing the biggest waves and riding critical sections of the reef. Australian Sarah Kenyon finished second, while Spain’s Maria Andrés completed the podium.

The event, which ran from June 6-14, gave Roediger his third major win of the season.

Roediger clinched the championship at Cloudbreak with a final score of 18.07, followed by Martin at 15.76 and Noireaux at 14.46.

World Windsurfing Tour Director Simeon Glasson said the event showcased the best of the sport.