Talented Mr Price sponsored surfer Benji Brand is continuing his recovery and rehabilitation from a serious foot injury with a highly productive surf trip to Fiji.
 
Last year, Brand had to undergo an emergency operation on his foot, which had become necessary after an infection had set in following an initial operation, which was required when Brand broke the joint between his big toe and foot in a freak surfing accident.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Brand, but he’s been able to return to the sport he so dearly loves, having undergone a blood platelet operation in Umhlanga a week prior to the trip to Fiji in the hope of stimulating the regrowth of cartilage to his foot.
 
Earlier this year, Brand also underwent rehab therapy on his foot in California, and may require another blood platelet operation in the coming months.
 
However, Brand’s competitive spirit has not been dampened.
 
“I am hoping that I can get back into contests fully in the early part of next year when I have adapted my foot to life without a big toe joint or cartilage,” he explained.
 
Brand said he was loving the experience of experiencing the various surf breaks in Fiji.
 
“The wave at ‘Restaurants' on Tavarua Island only works when there is quite a lot of swell around. It is a draining perfect wave that you can get barreled on for eight seconds or more. Sometimes there are less than 10 people in the water and other times there are 30, but you can always get lots of waves out there.
 
“‘Cloudbreak’ is at a different level. It is out at a reef in the middle of the ocean and when it gets big it is like a long version of Pipeline, with a very thick barrel in which you could often fit a kombi. On big days there are really good surfers there and it makes me raise my game. When it is small it is still super-rippable.”