The 14th edition of the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, an invitation-only competition bringing together some of the world’s leading surfers, has officially begun in the Maldives.
The tournament, running from September 4 to 11, is being held at Sultans, one of the Maldives’ best-known surf breaks in North Malé Atoll.
An official opening ceremony was held on Saturday night at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, attended by State Minister at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment Mohamed Nashath Rasheed, participating athletes, representatives of Tropicsurf and Four Seasons, and other invited guests.
A total of six surfers are competing in this year’s tournament, including five internationally renowned athletes and one Maldivian wildcard entrant.
The international line-up features Hawaii’s Mason Ho, Brazil’s Caio Ibelli, Australia’s Bede Durbidge and Felicity Palmateer, and South Africa’s Travis Logie.
Representing the Maldives as the wildcard competitor is Ahmed Hishaam Shaheem, a talented surfer and surf guide from K. Thulusdhoo.
Six surfers, three different boards
Unlike conventional ranking competitions, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy is an invitation-only event built around a distinctive format that tests the versatility of each surfer.
Competitors are required to surf across three different board disciplines — single-fin, twin-fin and thruster — requiring them to adjust their technique, positioning and approach as the equipment changes.
Points accumulated across the three divisions determine the overall standings, with the two highest-ranked surfers progressing to the Grand Final to compete for the championship title.
The format has become one of the defining features of the tournament, offering spectators an opportunity to see some of the sport’s leading athletes adapt their surfing to equipment representing different eras of surfboard design.
Competition waits for the best waves
Although the tournament runs across a seven-day window, competition is expected to take place on the three days offering the most suitable combination of swell, wind and tide.
The approach is designed to give competitors the opportunity to surf Sultans under the best possible conditions rather than forcing heats to be held according to a fixed daily schedule.
Located about five minutes by boat from Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Sultans is one of North Malé Atoll’s most celebrated surf breaks.
Its consistent right-hand waves and variety of sections allow surfers to demonstrate different styles and manoeuvres, making it particularly suited to the Champions Trophy’s multi-board format.
A platform for Maldivian surfing
The Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy was launched by Four Seasons and Tropicsurf in 2011 and has since developed into one of the Maldives’ most prominent international surfing events.
Maldivian wildcard surfers have been given the opportunity to participate in the tournament since 2016, creating a platform for local athletes to compete directly alongside some of the biggest names in international surfing.
For Maldivian surfers, the wildcard place provides more than an opportunity to compete. It allows them to gain experience at an elite level, observe the techniques of internationally established athletes and showcase local surfing talent before an international audience.
This year, that opportunity goes to Ahmed Hishaam Shaheem of Thulusdhoo, an island widely recognised for its strong surfing community and proximity to several of the country’s best-known surf breaks.
Over the years, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy has attracted prominent names from across the global surfing community and established Sultans as an internationally recognised competition venue.
Beyond the sporting contest itself, events of this nature also provide an international platform for the Maldives’ surf breaks, its ocean culture and the skills of Maldivian surfers.
With internationally recognised athletes competing alongside a Maldivian wildcard at one of the country’s most celebrated breaks, the tournament continues to connect the Maldives’ deep relationship with the ocean to the wider world of professional surfing.
