The 2016 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy line up is complete and it is one of the most star studded the unique event has seen. Pipe specialists Jamie O’Brien, former Championship Tour competitor and WSL deputy commissioner Travis Logie, 2015 event champion Shane Dorian will be joined by Taj Burrow, Bethany Hamilton, Rob Machado and local champion Hussain ‘Iboo’ Areef.
The event pits surfers against each other in three rounds on single fins, twin fins and thrusters before a grand final between the two highest placed surfers.
“This event looks incredible,” Burrow said. “The waves in the Maldives look so fun and the resort looks amazing – there was no way I could knock this one back. The crew surfing in it this year is unreal. I can’t wait to get over there with my girls.
“I’m so excited to have fun surfing with the boys in the Maldives’ pristine waves,” Hamilton said. “It’ll be fun and interesting competing on twin and single fin boards. I’m Looking forward to a cruise time with my family and enjoying our time in paradise.”
Considered one of the smoothest surfers of his generation, Californian Rob Machado has ago to be a title favourite this year.
“I’ve always been a massive fan of this event,” Machado said. “Having the three different board types in one event is a really cool concept – it just sounds like an amazing event in an amazing location.”
“I can’t wait to surf in the Champions Trophy with Shane and Travis,” O’Brien said. “This event looks like everyone is always enjoying themselves and that’s what life is about.”
Event coordinator, Mark Winson of Tropicsurf, predicts the most exciting year yet with this incredible and diverse line-up of competitors.
“There’s no guessing which way this will go, and that’s what makes it so exciting,” Winson said. “Spectators are in for an electrifying show of surfing skills.”
For the first time in the event’s history a local wildcard will also go head to head with the world’s best in the main event. Hussain ‘Iboo’ Areef is widely recognised as Maldives’ national surfing hero. The reigning Domestic Champions Trophy winner and successful Maldives Open campaigner will be a legitimate threat on the world stage of the Champions Trophy.
“I am honoured to have this opportunity to surf in the Four Seasons Champions Trophy this year”, Areef said. “I am so stoked to be able to surf with my heroes. Thank you Four Seasons for giving a Maldivian a chance to participate in this event. I’m really looking forward to it”
Equally as exciting is the announcement that the upcoming Maldives Open surfing event will be used as the selection competition to determine the highest placed local surfer for future Champion Trophy’s. Mark Winson of Tropicsurf sees this as one of the most thrilling evolutions of the Champions Trophy.
“There is so much surfing talent here in the Maldives and the Maldives Open is widely regarded as the highest level of domestic competition in the country, Winson said. “It’s the perfect opportunity for local surfers to earn unequalled bragging rights, a share of US$25k prize money, and the Champions Trophy. I’m sure that Iboo and surfers just like him will be real contenders in this event for years to come”
Maldives Open contest organiser and president of the MBBA Fuku Areef explains that;
“Local surfers are really excited to see one of our own go head to head with the world’s best. It’s a tremendous opportunity for Iboo on the world stage and we’re confident that he will do really well. Furthermore, to now have the Maldives Open as the qualification event for future Champions Trophy’s is a great opportunity for any Maldivian surfer to put themselves up against the likes of surfers like Shane Dorian or Taj Burrow. That’s such a great step forward for local surfers and the Champions Trophy concept”
The 2016 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy will run from August 8-14.
For a piece of the action, book the ‘Group Surf & Stay’ package, available for a minimum booking of five rooms at Kuda Huraa, between 8-14 August, 2016, including:
All-inclusive 5 or 7 nights’ accommodation (full board)
Competition day passes aboard Four Seasons Explorer
5 or 7 days of intense surfing with Tropicsurf expert guides
Return transfers
For more information visit: fourseasons.com/maldives. Limited day passes will be available (at a fee) for non-package guests and members of the public wishing to view the event from Four Seasons Explorer. Call + 960 66 00 888 for enquiries and rates.
TORQUAY, Australia (Wednesday, July 20, 2016) – Owen Wright (AUS) has withdrawn from the second half of the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour season, choosing to focus on continued rehabilitation following his December head injury.
“It’s always difficult being away from the water for me,” Wright said. “It’s also a major challenge to give myself time to heal because I want to be back in the singlet so badly. That said, I understand that I have more rehabilitation ahead of me until that’s possible. I’m feeling better every day and I want to thank everyone for the support so far. I miss my friends and family on tour and I’m looking forward to seeing them all again soon. Thanks again for the support.”
A WSL Title contender in the 2015 race, Wright suffered a serious concussion in the leadup to the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, at the world-famous Banzai Pipeline. A standout in the warm-up sessions ahead of the event, Wright was mowed down by a sizable swell on the morning of December 10 with the impact causing a serious head trauma. Withdrawing from both the event and the title race, Wright remained under medical observation in Hawaii before traveling back to Australia to receive ongoing treatment.
Prior to the start of the 2016 season, the Australian announced his withdrawal from the opening half of the year. While having made considerable progress in his rehabilitation, Wright has chosen to continue his road to recovery throughout the rest of the year before returning to the elite level of competition.
“Owen is one of the most impressive athletes to ever grace our sport and the WSL fully supports him taking the time he needs to return to 100%,” Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner, said. “He’s been sorely missed on tour this year, but I know that he’s in all our thoughts and we all look forward to seeing him healthy again and sharing the lineup with us.”
Wright’s WSL Top 34 position in the remaining events of the season – Tahiti, Trestles, France, Portugal and Pipeline – will be filled by first replacement Stuart Kennedy (AUS).
The 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour has just completed Stop No. 6 of the season, the J-Bay Open, where three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) proved victorious in an emotional comeback appearance following last year’s shark attack.
What does adventure mean to you?
Right now I couldn’t imagine a life without adventure. If you surf then every trip becomes an adventure as you never know what you’re going to get. I guess that I’ve always engineered my life around being able to surf, both in this country and globally and from a fairly young age have thrived on experiencing different places and meeting new people. I really don’t think that this will ever leave me, so adventure is part of who I am.
If there’s one moment where you thought ‘what the heck am I doing?’ In and out of the water?
Ha! There have been many and I’m sure that there will be many to come. I guess that in the water this would have to be a jet ski wipe out I had at Mullaghmore in the early days (2006). Actually, it was everyone else at the time who was thinking ‘what the heck is he doing?’ This sowed a seed of doubt and I could easily have quit. I didn’t though and now like to think that my jet ski driving has improved a little.
Out of the water I think that this moment arrived when I was asked to talk at a massive global networking conference in America. I put together a PowerPoint presentation and had Skype chats with the organisers in the run up to it. When I got there I can honestly say that it was one of the most terrifying moments I’d ever experienced (including in the water). Anyway, I did it and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I now do lots of talks across the UK and Europe and find that I’m enjoying it more and more.
It’s often the ‘what the heck am I doing?’ moments that lead to something good.
What is it that connects you to the Sharp’s Brewery adventure campaign and why are you keen to be an ambassador for this adventure?
Being from the South West, adventure has naturally been in my blood since I was young, and I’ve always loved getting out on my board and facing the elements. I’m a big fan of Sharp’s Brewery’s beers so when they came to me with the idea of the ‘There’s an Adventure Brewing’ campaign, I jumped at the chance to get involved. The Sharp’s adventure campaign is on a major mission to get people across the UK to live life with a little more of their contagious Cornish energy and with our similar willingness to push boundaries, this was a totally natural fit.
It’s great to get to share some of my experiences with others. Just being near these waves and in such beautiful surroundings will hopefully inspire people to make their own adventures. I’m inspired every time I go there and I’m looking forward to sharing this with others.
You could watch this live courtesy of Sharps Brewery. Enter here
What’s the essence of adventure that you’d like to install in everyone?
Basically if you’re given an opportunity, then take that opportunity. Adventure doesn’t have to be about surfing a 60-foot wave. It’s fun to turn everyday actions into adventures by doing something different to change either the journey or the outcome. I suppose the essence would be to maintain an open mind and positively influence your journey. Sounds a bit deep but if I hadn’t taken a series of little opportunities which arose through my life I most definitely would not have been doing what I’m doing now.
Oh, and there is one other very important factor and that is to not always act on other people’s advice. Listen to it by all means and maybe take what you think is relevant, but when you can chose your own path and stick to it.
Who and what motivates you to keep driving yourself towards new adventures?
I kind of motivate myself. I like a challenge and luckily what I do throws up new challenges all the time. Riding big waves takes a huge amount of preparation and people rarely see the constant challenges that are thrown up on a daily basis. A quote from Muhammad Ali really struck a chord with me while making my first proper big wave film ‘Behind the Lines’.
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
Basically 90 percent of the work is done away from the spotlight. It’s not an easy path to follow but I enjoy the fact that my life is varied and interesting. There is also of course the overriding desire to surf the biggest wave on the planet.
What holds you back?
I can’t really think of much that ‘holds me back’. If I had to pick out one thing then it would be the weather. We are completely at the mercy of the weather and this will dictate if you have 20 big-wave sessions in a season or two. However, it’s also this that makes big wave surfing interesting, so I’m certainly not going to complain.
I suppose that working on projects where other people are concerned can hold me back sometimes because I have to think about not inconveniencing them, costing them money or losing trust. I’m loosely bound to a schedule and this means that I can’t just walk away to do something else. Everyone knows that if the swell of the season comes along I’m out of there regardless of what we are doing, but it means that I may miss one or two of the medium sized swells to stay on schedule. This is the price I pay for upping my professionalism and I don’t regret it as it keeps me doing what I love.
What has been your greatest achievement?
In and out of the water? I can’t pinpoint a single achievement I’m afraid so I’m going to give you a list: having kids, ‘that’ wave at Nazaré in Feb 2014, towing Garrett McNamara into the current world record, surfing big Waimea in my early twenties, learning so quickly at Mullaghmore where I’ve had a couple of the best waves of my life, speaking in front of a global audience, doing a TED Youth Talk in New York, being a professional surfer and having a happy family.
How do you find balance in your life of adventure?
I’m quite lucky in that it always seems to balance out for me. People talk about work / life balance and trying not to work so hard in their jobs that they lose sight of family, hobbies or kicking back and taking it easy. I don’t have a 9-5 job so this isn’t really relevant to me. I kind of go from extremes where I am 100 percent focused on chasing and riding waves to 100 percent at home with family and friends. People around me are very understanding and so this seems to work for us.
What do you think it is about the South West that drives you, and others, into a more adventurous life?
It’s the constant opportunities right on your doorstep. I think that everyone is inspired by stunning natural surroundings. It’s hard wired in us. Putting myself in position where I could take advantage of my environment was an easy step for me. The ocean scares some people, but many others are naturally drawn to it. I was one of those.
Adventure isn’t all about travelling the world doing extreme things. It can be about doing stuff on your doorstep, either alone or with your mates. The South West still offers so much potential for exploration in many different ways. I mean, who wouldn’t want to surf remote coves and point breaks, trek across cliff tops and moors, SUP or kayak up hidden rivers and inlets, horse ride, cycle or run around this incredible part of Britain? Once you have a feel for adventure at home the natural progression is to want to explore further afield. Being from the South West has definitely inspired me to explore and I think that it inspires others who live here or those who come to visit.
Throughout the weekend just passed some of the best that British surfing youth has to offer competed at the Caravan Club British Schools Surfing Championships, in Widemouth Bay, Bude. A weekend designed to celebrate and bring together students and pupils of the UK schooling system and find the best individual and team surfers.
As surf events go, some follow linear and predictable lines, others are built of chapters and seem to grow their own personality, and the chapters of this year’s event were written from the word go. The story started almost 4 months ago, where the first postponement was called, then weeks later a second postponement called both for lack of waves. A relocation to Widemouth Bay from Woolacombe and we found ourselves in July and who’d have thought it… a 2 day forecast of waves in a month with one of the smallest UK swell windows, let’s surf we thought!
On Saturday morning, day one, another chapter of unpredictability began to write itself as a fair selection of top seeds were discovered to be abroad competing in European events. This in turn pressed the time warp button on which the speed of early round heats were raced through and running orders morphed and event staff, surfers and their supporters tested by the circumstances, all of whom met the demands and powered on through. The surf conditions offered plenty of waves but the trained eye could appreciate the influence of the tide and competitors searched intently to find the right wave and the right score. After a crazy day of short board heats the day came to a close with a stand out show and highest heat total of the day by longboarder Jack Unsworth, whos stylish skills were well appreciated by judges and spectators alike.
Semi and finals day commenced and boom solid sets rolled in from the horizon and broke across the Cornish coast as surfers excitedly awaited their turn to tackle the 3ft waves, which for most of whom was overhead high. Competition was rife and fierce and a pleasure to watch, but watching was to become a precious and unknown privilege as Mother Nature wrote another chapter.
Sea fog was to be the next challenge and as the Girls under 18 finals paddled out the fog consumed the beach, and apparently most of the Cornish and Devonshire coast, and competition immediately put on hold as visibility limited down to about 50 metres. Around one and half hours later it lifted, reviling much improved surf and allowing a fantastic stretch of impressive finals to play out in the high tide arena.
The champions earned their crowns in their respective divisions and the overall Caravan Club schools champion was awarded to Thretharras of Newquay. Under 18 girls champion Ruby Breadon and boys champion Will Bailey taking top honours and prize of a ferry crossing for a car and four passengers from Dover to Calais return, we hope this allows them to take their free and competitive surfing to the continent and experience its joys.
Thank you to sponsors, staff, supporters and surfers for creating another wonderful and chapter filled event.
Results
2016 Caravan Club British Schools Champions – Tretharras Newquay
