She’s back. Photo: Sloane//WSL
The World Surf League announced Wednesday it is auctioning off a surf fan’s dream trip to Cloudbreak for the upcoming 2024 Fiji Pro. The promotional auction is being done in partnership with Marriott Bonvoy Moments, a points-based program that allows Marriott Bonvoy members to access unique travel experiences around the world.
The World Surf League’s Championship Tour is unique among professional sports in that many of its venues each year aren’t easily accessible for the average fan. Whereas ball and stick sports tend to take place in large stadiums and arenas with thousands of fans attending live, venues like Cloudbreak, Teahupo’o, G-Land, and other locations can be so remote that in-person experiences aren’t part of the fan equation.
With the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay hosting the Fiji Pro’s opening and closing ceremoniess as well as sitting just a short boat ride from Cloudbreak, the auction creates a pretty unique fan opportunity. It’s definitely not like driving up to the US Open in Huntington Beach, Calif. and picking a spot on the beach among thousands of spectators.
Up for grabs is a three-night accommodation at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay from August 27, 2024 to August 30, 2024 for two people — the final three days of the Fiji Pro contest window. For the fan experience, the auction winner will get a meet and greet with WSL athletes, signed merchandise, and they’ll be watching Finals Day of the Fiji Pro in a private boat before attending the closing ceremony.
Photo: Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Surprisingly, the auction, which started back in mid-July, has only attracted 16 bids as of August 15. The first bid started at 150,000 points and by August 10 it had been raised to 207,500 points. Like most travel-related rewards and loyalty programs, the points scale doesn’t always translate to a stagnant dollar amount. As of January 2024, the average value of 50,000 Marriot Bonvoy points was estimated at around $415. By that math, the winning bid converts to just over $1,700 if the auction were to end today. Of course, points are accrued over time through the program, so this isn’t an exact dollar-for-dollar exchange, but it still adds up to a pretty solid Fiji dream trip and a chance to visit one of the best waves on the planet.
According to an email from Marriott International, the auction ends at 3 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time on August 17, 2024.
