Owen Wright leads as Surfing Champions Trophy opens at Four Seasons Maldives

The 2025 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy launched at the silky-smooth break of Sultans on Friday, with the single fin division first to take the stage. After last night’s opening ceremony at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa set the tone for the week ahead, officials had no hesitation in greenlighting competition this morning. At day’s end it was Australian Hall of Famer Owen Wright who claimed the event’s first win, beating Tahitian Michel Bourez in a closely fought final.

The two men surfed in the day’s opening heat alongside Craig Anderson, the free surfer making a rare appearance in a competition jersey at this week’s event and looking as stylish as ever despite limited opportunities as his two CT veteran opponents surfed tactically smart heats.

The field has been reduced to five surfers this year, after illness sadly forced 2023 World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr to withdraw from competition at the last minute. As a result, Jesse Mendes and local wildcard Ismail “Smiley” Rasheed received opening round walkthroughs, leaving Mendes and Wright to square off in the first semifinal, with Bourez and Rasheed locking horns in the second. “The waves were slow,” said Wright after the final, “but when they came through they were amazing.”

In the closest heat of the day, it was Wright’s high-scoring 6.67 that proved decisive. Going vertical repeatedly was enough for the powerful Australian to beat the smooth Brazilian by a fraction of a point and advance, on a single fin loosely based on the board Mick Fanning rode while coming back from injury in 2004. “It did all the right things,” said Wright. “It had great flow, felt very manoeuvrable, and suited the waves perfectly.”

In the second semifinal Bourez made light work of Rasheed, bulldozing sections despite riding an undersized single fin, a board borrowed from previous event winner Taj Burrow that has seen plenty of service in the Sultans line-up over the years. “Taj didn’t give me any tips!” laughed Bourez. “We’re all still so competitive. It’s incredible to surf Sultans with only one other person in the line-up. This place is beautiful, and I’m so lucky to be here to experience it, especially getting to bring my family.”

Wright’s final was a repeat of his semi, only this time it was his opening 6.33 that proved decisive as the swell faded. It didn’t take long for Wright to resort to his old CT ways, chasing Bourez around the line-up and suffocating his supply in the dying minutes. “It felt like a CT final,” laughed the Tahitian. “He didn’t want me to win, I didn’t want him to win. It was full competition vibes, and that’s why it’s so fun.”

With his victory Wright moves to the top of the Surfing Champions Trophy leaderboard, with the twin fin and thruster divisions still to come, and a promising swell looming on the forecast.

“I loved competing again today,” said Wright. “I feel so grateful to pull on a rashie and compete against some of my friends, in an amazing location. It feels like a world tour event, and with more swell to come I can’t wait for the rest of the week.”

Single Fin Division Results:

• Owen Wright (AUS)
• Michel Bourez (TAH)
• Jesse Mendes (BRA) equal with Ismail “Smiley” Rasheed (MDV)
• Craig Anderson (AUS)

2025 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy Leaderboard:

• Owen Wright – 1000 pts
• Michel Bourez – 900 pts
• Jesse Mendes – 800 pts
• Ismail “Smiley” Rasheed – 800 pts
• Craig Anderson – 700 pts