Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy 2011

Surfing goes five star and beyond from August 29 to September 5, 2011 at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa.

The Maldives is set to host the world’s most exclusive surfing event this August featuring six world champions, a leading five-star surfing resort, a luxurious 39-metre three-deck catamaran, and perfect reef break waves.

Conceived in conjunction with luxury surf pioneers Tropicsurf, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy will see the sport’s biggest legends – including four-time world champion Mark Richards of Australia – compete across three disciplines that showcase the evolution of modern surfing. Competitors will contest the Single Fin (1970s), Twin Fin (70s and 80s) and Thruster (80s onwards) divisions for USD 25,000.00 prize money while enjoying the spoils of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa.

Recent publicity is highlighting what the locals have known for years: that the Maldives is home to some of the world’s most impressive, consistent – and warmest – swells. Seven-time world champion Layne Beachley is looking forward to embracing the challenge in style. “I’ve never been to the Maldives and I can’t think of a better way to go than in five-star style,” says the Sydney surfer. “It will be back to basics in the ocean while living it up on land.”

Also included in the legendary line-up is 1988 world champion Barton Lynch of Australia, with three other surfers yet to be announced.

Never before has a surf competition amassed such a high-profile field in such exclusive surroundings. “It’s the ultimate surf competition showcasing a hand-picked field of iconic champions with the latest surf craft available,” says Event Co-ordinator and General Manager of Tropicsurf Mark Winson. “We’re talking about six of the sport’s most acclaimed surfers taking on old rivals while competing for high stakes in some of the best surf on the planet.”

Guests will rub shoulders with the contest’s participants in Kuda Huraa’s vibrant village-like resort – home to competitors, judges and supporters alike for the duration of the event.

The Resort’s all-inclusive four- or seven-night Champions Trophy package – available from August 29 to September 5, 2011 only – will also get right on top of the action with competition day passes aboard Four Seasons Explorer and three half-day surfing passes with Tropicsurf. The package also includes luxurious full board accommodation (excluding beverages); combined recreational activities including diving sessions, shark safari, dolphin cruise and sunset fishing; a Surfer’s Massage; nightly sundowners on Sunset Beach and a 50 percent discount off round-trip airport transfers via speedboat.

SriLankan Airlines Pro Sponsors ASP WQS in the Maldives

Widely regarded as the most striking event on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS), the ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME SriLankan Airlines Pro in the Maldives has again drawn a brilliant field of 128 international surfers from 20 nations around the surfing world.

asp wqs surfing

Current ASP World Tour surfer and 2007 SriLankan Airlines Pro Champion Heitor Alves (Brazil) heads the field as the event’s No. 1 seed with a long list of magnificent surfers in the lineup that includes Phil Macdonald (Australia), Sunny Garcia (Hawaii/2000 ASP World Champion), Aritz Aranburu (Basque), Pat Gudauskas (USA), Masotoshi Ohno (Japan), Travis Logie (South Africa) and current No. 1-rated ASP WQS surfer Adam Melling (Australia).

This year’s event also welcomes esteemed international surf brand Ocean and Earth as a supporting sponsor.

“We have seen the amazing perfection that the Maldives event has delivered to surfing world over the past five years through the web, images and vision and Ocean and Earth are excited to be involved,” Paul Munten, Ocean and Earth International Chief Executive Officer, said. “I understand it’s the warmest waters of any ASP tour event in the world and with most surfing nations either just out of winter season or heading into winter it has to be the perfect place to be.”

Perfection off the reeling Pasta Point reef, set on the glorious Chaaya Island – Dhonveli, is what this event has become famous for.

The event runs from the luxurious Sunset Beach Deck Bar and Restaurant, a location that delivers highest quality surfing at close range to the judges, spectators and media making for one of competitive surfing’s truly unique quality experiences.

Sunny Garcia, one of ASP’s most experienced and venerated competitive surfers ever, summed up his first experience in the Maldives last year saying, “This place is amazing with fantastic waves, crystal clear warm waters in a setting that is so perfect for a high level event – I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get here and I’ll certainly be back.”

A Quarterfinalist last year, Sunny is back in the field for 2009, and in such quality waves will be a certain contender.

As an ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME-rated location, the SriLankan Airlines Pro offers maximum points and prize money and the event is vital to the chances of all competitors surfing not only to win this event but also to qualify for the elite 2010 ASP World Tour.

It’s the perfect mid-year venue to the ASP WQS season and whoever wins this year’s 2009 SriLankan Airlines Pro will be ideally set up for the year’s tour.

ASP Australasia as the event managers will ensure a quality live web along with Television News Feeds, class complimentary Digital Images for newspapers and websites, Web highlight packages and a dedicated 30 minute international television program.