Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy 2026 Returns to Sultans with Six Surfers

02 September, 2026

The Indian Ocean is about to put on its annual show. From September 4 to 11, 2026, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy returns to the legendary Sultans break for its 14th edition. This invitation-only contest brings together six of surfing's most celebrated athletes to compete across three iconic board divisions: single fin, twin fin, and thruster.

Six Surfers, Three Boards, One Sultans

The 2026 field is a masterclass in surfing diversity. Former World No. 8 Caio Ibelli, former World No. 2 Bede Durbidge, Australian big-wave surfer and WSL commentator Felicity Palmateer, former Championship Tour surfer Travis Logie, and Maldivian surfer Ahmed Hishaam Shaheem join previously announced Mason Ho to complete the lineup.

Each surfer brings a markedly different approach to competition and equipment, making this one of the most intriguing editions in recent memory.

Caio Ibelli: Back in the Jersey

Three years after his last Championship Tour heat, Caio Ibelli is putting the competition jersey back on. The Brazilian spent nine years competing among the world's best, building a résumé that includes a World Junior Championship, the 2015 Qualifying Series World Championship, Championship Tour Rookie of the Year honours, and a career-high World No. 8 ranking.

His return to competition also brings him back to the Maldives 15 years after his last visit—this time with his wife and son alongside him.

"Putting a contest jersey on again feels extra special, in perfect waves, at an event I've always wanted to be part of, and this time with my wife and son there watching me," says Ibelli. "It gives competing a completely new meaning for me."

Ibelli joins the field in place of fellow Brazilian Victor Bernardo, who withdrew following a serious car accident. The Four Seasons team sends Victor and his wife their warmest wishes for a full recovery.

The three-board format presents Ibelli with an unexpected challenge. Despite spending almost a decade competing on high-performance thrusters, he hasn't ridden one since leaving the Tour.

"Funny enough, since my last heat on Tour, I haven't stepped on a thruster again," he admits. "So I feel like my biggest challenge might actually be surfing a thruster again after three years without riding one."

Bede Durbidge: Competitive Instincts Reawaken

Few surfers in the field bring a competitive résumé quite like Bede Durbidge. The Australian former World No. 2 spent more than a decade on the Championship Tour before moving into elite coaching, keeping him closely connected to the sport's highest levels.

Mason Ho: Expect the Unexpected

Mason Ho's instinctive approach to surfing and willingness to experiment with unconventional waves and equipment make him particularly suited to the Champions Trophy format. His presence guarantees unpredictable, high-entertainment surfing.

Felicity Palmateer: Big-Wave Power

The Australian big-wave surfer and WSL commentator brings a unique perspective to the field, combining elite competitive experience with deep knowledge of wave dynamics.

Travis Logie: Championship Tour Pedigree

The former Championship Tour surfer adds further depth to a field stacked with competitive experience.

Ahmed Hishaam Shaheem: Local Hero

Maldivian surfer Ahmed Hishaam Shaheem completes the field, representing the host nation and showcasing the talent emerging from the Maldives' world-class waves.

A Format Unlike Any Other

Unlike conventional surf contests, the Champions Trophy moves through single-fin, twin-fin, and thruster divisions, challenging competitors to reinterpret the same wave through three eras of surfboard design. Technique, positioning, and wave choice must change with the equipment before an overall champion is crowned.

The format rewards adaptability as much as power, style as much as strategy, and timing as much as talent. Its compact field, three-board format, and island setting have helped distinguish it from conventional professional contests.

A Legacy of Champions

The Surfing Champions Trophy was first introduced in 2011, reimagining how surfing events are run. Since then, Sultans has hosted a roll call of surfing royalty that reads like a Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Past champions include:

• Mark Occhilupo (2011)

• Damien Hardman (2012)

• Taylor Knox (2013)

• Dave "Rasta" Rastovich (2014)

• Shane Dorian (2015)

• Taj Burrow (2016, 2017, and 2024—a remarkable three titles)

• Josh Kerr (2018 and 2019)

• Kelly Slater (2022)

• Joel Parkinson (2023)

The event has also welcomed five-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Carissa Moore, big-wave pioneer Maya Gabeira, surfing legends Tom Curren, Rob Machado, Layne Beachley, Bethany Hamilton, and many more.

2025: The Year "The Spartan" Refused to Quit

Tahitian powerhouse Michel Bourez defied injury to claim victory at the 2025 Surfing Championship Trophy, stunning spectators by winning both the thruster division and the grand final only 24 hours after tearing his hamstring in the twin fin division. He scored the event's only perfect 10 in the last minute of the grand final—a moment that will take some topping.

The Guest Experience: Beyond Watching Heats

For guests at Kuda Huraa, the competition extends well beyond watching heats from the channel. Trophy week brings some of surfing's most recognisable names into the rhythm of the island, with opportunities to:

• Follow the action at Sultans, just five minutes by boat from the resort

• Spend time with the surfers between sessions

• Explore nearby North Malé Atoll breaks with Tropicsurf coaches

• Reset at ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island

The event has earned its reputation as "the world's most luxurious surfing event", combining high-level competition with an intimate island experience that rarely exists anywhere else on earth.

Plan Your Visit

The 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy runs from September 4 to 11 at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. The resort serves as the island base for competitors, judges, and guests alike, providing direct access to the surrounding waters and the region's surf culture.

Whether you're a dedicated surfer or simply seeking a front-row seat to one of the sport's most distinctive events, the Surfing Champions Trophy offers an unforgettable week of world-class competition in paradise.

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