Hosted in conjunction with luxury surf pioneers Tropicsurf, the boutique event with a twist sees six ex-world champions battle it out on single-fin, twin-fin and triple-fin boards in a US$25,000 showdown for the ultimate crown. And with this year’s event so far reuniting three of the ‘80 scard-carrying ‘Big Four’, the twists are set to become a whole lot bigger.
American Tom Curren almost defies introduction. Three-time world champion, true soul surfer,retro aficionado and all-round enigma, Curren is one of Kelly Slater’s only surf idols. Emulated the world over since the mid-‘80s, his unparalleled style and quiet, unassuming nature has madehim one of the sport’s most revered icons. In the 1985-86 season of the ASP, in one of the greatest heats ever, he defeated nemesis Mark Occhilupo at Bells Beach to clinch his first worldcrown, going on to take two further titles in 1986 and 1990.
Renowned for eschewing the limelight, Curren couldn’t be more delighted to be squaring up to his long-term rivals once more. "This is the kind of trip I've been wanting to do for a long time!” he said. “Surfing with Occy and Pottz, and staying at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, it's like a dreamcome true.”
Also hoping to make his mark in the Maldives crystal waters is English-born, South African-raised Martin Potter. Accredited with supercharging the surf culture with his very own brand of ‘cool’, prodigy Pottz set competitive surfing alight when he made the finals of two major events aged just 15 years old. One of the pioneers of ‘tow-in’ surfing, Pottz was also renowned for his competition aerial moves, 360s and inventive ‘rock-n-roll’ manoeuvres. In the late ‘80s he was widely regarded as the best freesurfer on the planet – an accolade he cemented by becoming ASPWorld Champion in 1989. He spent a record 14 seasons in the world's Top 16, showcasing an almost unheard of style that was as fluid and powerful as it was radical, and utterly thrilling to watch.
Pottz is particularly looking forward to the challenge of the competition’s unique triple-discipline approach. “I love the concept,” he commented. “It already sounds like the highlight trip of the year! ”Billed as ‘the world’s most luxurious surfing event’, the Surfing Champions Trophy is hosted aboard Four Seasons Explorer – the Maldives ultimate surf vessel – with all competitors, judges and spectators taking up residence on Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa’s paradisiacal private coral island for the duration of the event.
Guests booking Kuda Huraa’s all-inclusive four- or seven-night Champions Trophy package available from August 27 to September 2, 2012 only – can get right on top of the action with competition day passes aboard the vessel plus three half-day surfing passes with Tropicsurf. Backon land, they’ll also get to rub shoulders with their surfing heroes and experience a level ofintimacy and camaraderie unique in competition surfing.
Who’ll fill the last three places in this year’s line up? Watch this space! For more information visit: www.surfingchampionstrophy.com and www.fourseasons.com/maldives Limited day passes will be available (at a fee) for non-package guests/members of the public toview the event from Four Seasons Explorer. Call + 960 66 00 888 for enquiries and rates. For more details, please visit the official Champions Trophy website at www.surfingchampionstrophy.com.
To book the Champions Trophy Package, please contact your travel consultant, visit www.fourseasons.com/maldiveskh or call the central reservations department of Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at tel: (960) 66 00 888 or email:reservations.mal@fourseasons.com
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