Josh gets chaired after retiring.
Josh Kerr, Alana Blanchard and Freddy P have been announced as the first three surfers invited to the 2018 ‘world’s most luxurious surfing event’ Four Seasons Champions trophy, which sees six of the best surfers on the planet go head-to-head on single fins, twin fins and thrusters, on the incredible Island paradise of Kuda Huraa, North of Male’ starting on August 7th later this year.
Be interesting to see Josh Kerr technical brand of surfing transferred onto twinnnies and single fins.
“It’s a real honor to be invited to such a cool event like this,” Kerr said. “Riding the different boards is something I’ve always enjoyed and to do it in a paradise like the Maldives will be incredible. It’s going to be fun competing against some of my old buddies from the CT, I’ll feel like the youngster again.”
Alana Blanchard
There wouldn’t be many people in the surfing world who don’t know the name Alana Blanchard. The Kauai native has been turning heads since she dominated the junior ranks in Hawaii as a teenager and rose towards the WSL Qualifying Series (QS). After recently becoming a mother, Blanchard is looking to re-qualify for the ‘Dream Tour’.
“I am really excited to be surfing the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy,” Blanchard said. “Doing events is always really fun for me, it’s a good change of pace – and what better place to compete than the Maldives. I always see Instagram posts from past competitors and Four Seasons Kuda Huraa looks like an incredible place, the waves look perfect and the event just seems so well set-up. I can’t wait to surf in an empty lineup out there and experience such a beautiful place and event with my partner, Jack, and our baby boy, Banks. I love experimenting with different boards so feel like the format will suite me.”
Who can forget Freddy P’s retirement. Legend!
Former CT veteran Fred Patacchia Jnr will return to the Maldives for the first time since he competed in a QS event there over 15 years ago. The powerful goofy-foot is known for his finesse in the tube and tactician-like technique on his backhand, meaning he will be one to watch when competition hits Sultans this August. Although he plans to enjoy a relaxing week at Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa, his competitive side will be sure to shine once he pulls the jersey on.
“My first trip to the Maldives was for a QS event,” Patacchia said. “It’s a vivid memory though as I instantly fell in love with the place, from landing at the airport and jumping on our own personal boat headed to our own personal island, to riding my first wave and thinking ‘this is paradise’. I’m excited to be taking my wife along with me as this will be her first time to the Maldives and we’re both so excited to be staying at the Four Seasons.”
Although it is tradition for the previous year’s winner to be invited back to the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, the reigning two-time event winner Taj Burrow has had to withdraw due to a serious knee injury sustained while surfing in Western Australia. Four Seasons and the WSL wish Taj a swift recovery and hope to see him back in the water very soon.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the announcement about a replacement for Burrow along with one more international competitor and a local wildcard for the 2018 event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Tb0y-bHHYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Tb0y-bHHY
