Reef Check at the Kelly Slater Invitational 2004

International surf sensation Kelly Slater invited Reef Check to the islands of Fiji for an event like no other.  The Kelly Slater Invitational was held May 20-22 on the islands of Tavarua and Namotu and the beneficiary of this celebrity surfing event was Reef Check.

The brainchild of six-time world champion Kelly Slater, the event brought together the greats of professional surfing, along with invited friends and celebrities. A range of competition formats were used, documented and critiqued by Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) management and the surfers themselves

Celebrities Perry Farrell (musician – ‘Jane’s Addiction’), Nick Lachey (MTV – ‘Newlyweds’), Marissa Miller (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model), Chris Klein (actor – ‘American Pie’), Jackson Browne (musician), Lance Bass (singer – *NSYNC), Tony Hawk (Pro Skateboarder), and G-Love (musician) took part in a different kind of surfing spectacle. Teaming up with professionals at ‘Restaurants’ – arguably the world’s most perfect break – for what proved one of the funniest, as well as enjoyable contest sessions ever.

During the event, Reef Check representatives including Reef Check Fiji team leader, Di Walker, took celebrities and surfers through the mission of Reef Check and even went snorkeling with guests to show them the coral reef ecosystem first hand. 

After the competition, actress Kelly Hu, pro-surfer Chris Malloy, and Quiksilver International President Bruce Raymond joined Reef Check Fiji Coordinator Helen Sykes in the village of Waitabu in Taveuni to honor Sala Apao and the village for the success of their Reef Check program.  Sala and her son Antony were interviewed by Malloy and featured in the Outdoor Life Network television program highlighting the event.

This was a wonderful opportunity for Reef Check to express the importance of its mission and convey the crisis of coral reef health in the world.  We would like to thank Kelly Slater and his management team at H&S Media for this opportunity.  Special thanks also to Quiksilver for their constant support of Reef Check initiatives worldwide.