Taj Burrow, as comfortable as ever in the tube. Photo: Four Seasons Maldives
Taj Burrow is now the first-ever three-time winner of the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy. The Australian legend beat style master Mikey February in a final that concluded three days of competition in quite possibly the best waves the event has ever seen.
The Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy is a unique competition that bills itself as “the world’s most luxurious surfing event.” In between chilling out on a luxury yacht and staying at the eponymous hotel, competitors spend three days at the Sultans surf break, duking it out in single fin, twin fin and thruster divisions.
This year’s competition pool was small, but fierce, including Mikey February, Jeremy Flores, Taj Burrow, Carissa Moore, Jadson Andre, and Ahmed “Ammaday” Agil. In the three days of competition, Andre won the single-fin division., February won the Thruster division and Flores won the twin division. Though he did not win any single division, Burrow managed to clinch second place in all three, giving a leading point total overall and a spot in the final showdown against February.
Unlike previous rounds, anything went for the finals, as far as equipment. Taj added a small trailer fin to his twin setup, while Mikey opted to stick with his Channel Islands twin. From the jump, February set a blistering pace, catching seven waves to Burrow’s four. However, Taj’s more careful wave selection gave him the upper hand throughout with a 9.10 and 9.03. February was close behind with his own 8.67 and a 9.10. However, as the final moments of the heat wound down, he found himself chasing a 9.04 wave that never materialized. In the end, Burrow was crowned the champion.
“That might be one of the funnest finals I’ve ever surfed,” said Burrow afterwards. “I don’t know if I’ll ever wear a jersey again … unless I get invited back! I got so tubed, with friends, staying at the Four Seasons, there’s no way you can better that. The pinch-me moments have been non-stop all week.”
