Red Letter Day: SWITCHING IT UP

Rider & Words: Kiran Verma
Photo: Kalani Muller
Location: Fiji
Date: Thursday September 12th, 2024

Hoping for a convergence of just the right conditions for a planned product shoot in Fiji, Kiran Verma came up against a few hitches as they motored between islands. But making the call to look just that little further turned out to be the right one…

We started the morning by rolling out of bed, each of us immediately checking the weather on our phones. The wind was light, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on how it shaped up throughout the day. Given the limited window of time we had to get the film shoot done, the pressure was on. Tension filled the air as we all knew there wasn’t much room for error. But before anything, we needed fuel, so we grabbed a quick breakfast and headed straight for the boat, hoping things would go our way once we got out on the water.

The conditions seemed calm as we made our way toward the reef. The waves were small, and the light wind wasn’t helping to inspire much confidence. As we motored out, it was tough to gauge whether the surf would pick up or if we’d end up battling mediocre conditions. There was an anxious silence among us, each person wondering if we’d be able to pull off the shots we needed.

But when we finally arrived at the reef, we were greeted with a pleasant surprise. The waves had built up into a decent three-foot range, which was more than we had hoped for. It was a bit of a double-edged sword, though. The lineup was packed with surfers who had the same idea, and the wind was erratic at best, blowing inconsistently and making it hard to predict. Still, we decided to give it a go. We got the gear ready, cameras rolling, and headed out.

The next hour or so turned into an exercise in frustration. There were just too many people in the water, and every time we thought we had the perfect wave lined up, either the wind would die down or someone would snake the wave right in front of us. It was tough not to get discouraged, but we pushed through. After trying and failing to get the shots we wanted in the surf, we made the call to switch things up. We decided to head over to a flat water section in between the islands for some different shots, hoping the conditions would be more cooperative.

The decision turned out to be a good one. The water between the islands of Fiji was crystal clear, the kind that makes you want to dive right in. With the wind settling down even further, we spent the next couple of hours downwinding between the islands, soaking up the views and capturing stunning footage. It was the kind of setting that made you forget about the earlier struggles. The stillness of the water combined with the deep blues of the ocean and sky provided the perfect backdrop for the shots we needed.

Feeling satisfied with what we had captured, we started making our way back to the resort. On the way, we decided to check out the surf break one last time, though none of us expected much. But to our surprise, as we neared the break, we spotted a couple of wingers and a kite already out there. The wind had picked up significantly, and so had the waves. The tide was coming in, and it was as if the ocean had saved its best for last.

What followed was one of the best sessions any of us could have imagined. The waves were consistently rolling in, the wind was finally steady, and the light was perfect, especially as the sun began its descent. We filmed all the way through to sunset, capturing everything we had hoped for and more. The earlier frustrations melted away, replaced by the exhilaration of nailing the shots.

As we cruised back to the resort, there was a palpable sense of relief and accomplishment in the air. We had managed to turn what started as a stressful, unpredictable day into one filled with unforgettable moments. Sitting down for dinner at the restaurant that night, the whole team was buzzing. We were exhausted but happy, knowing we’d pulled it off. It wasn’t just about getting the footage; it was about the adventure along the way, the ups and downs that made the success all the sweeter.