Journeys

Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy 2026: A Week at the Heart of the Action

by Tropicsurf Blog September 22, 2026

World-class surfing, yacht-side viewing, Maldivian culture and island life. The 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy brought guests closer to the action than ever.

For one week each September, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa becomes a meeting point for some of surfing’s most recognisable names.

The 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy ran from 4-11 September, bringing six invited surfers together across Single Fin, Twin Fin and Thruster divisions before the final two faced off in the Overall Final.

Image: Caio Ibelli making the single fin look easy. 

Image: Bede Durbidge finding shade in his single fin heat. 

Image: Felicity Palmateer preparing for her Thruster heat.

But for guests staying at Kuda Huraa, the Trophy is about more than watching a surf competition.

It is about being part of the surfing experience too. Throughout the week, guests had complimentary access to surf at Sultans, with boats regularly running between Kuda Huraa and the break.

It is about waking up to a competition call, stepping aboard a Four Seasons yacht and arriving at Sultans within minutes. Watching the world’s best surfers from the channel with a drink in hand. Sharing the water with manta rays between heats. Returning to the island for sunset, dinner and celebrations with the surfers themselves.

With Tropicsurf at the heart of the event since 2011, it is a week where world-class surfing becomes part of the wider Kuda Huraa experience.

Image: Guests enjoying the view of Sultans from the top deck of the ‘Princess’ yacht.

A Week at Sultans

There is no fixed timetable for the Surfing Champions Trophy. Each morning, Tropicsurf assesses the swell, wind and tides before making the call.

This year, the event settled into an easy rhythm of its own. Mornings were often reserved for a free surf, giving the surfers time to enjoy the waves without the pressure of competition, while guests could make the most of their own time in the water.

Image: Mason Ho sneaking into a barrel during his Single Fin heat.

Image: Bede Durbidge preparing to leave the yacht and head straight into the lineup.

For guests, it created a natural flow to the day - time in the water, followed by the call to head out to Sultans and watch the competition unfold from the channel.

Sultans, one of the North Malé Atoll’s best known right hand reef breaks, is just a short boat ride from Kuda Huraa. Four Seasons yachts take position beside the reef, offering a front row view of the competition with refreshments and canapés served on board.

Image: One of the guest yachts heading back after an afternoon of competition.

Image: A moment between snorkelling and watching the action.

Between heats, guests can swim or snorkel before returning to the action. Across the week, three-to-four-foot waves built into powerful four-to-six-foot sets, while on Twin Fin Day, a manta ray cruised beneath the spectator boats as an ’80s soundtrack played across the channel.

Once the final heat was over, everyone returned to Kuda Huraa for sunset, dinner and another evening together on the island.

Image: Post Twin Fin division cocktails, just in time for golden hour.

More Than a Competition

The six invited surfers - Mason Ho, Caio Ibelli, Bede Durbidge, Felicity Palmateer, Travis Logie and Maldivian wildcard Ahmed Hishaam stayed at Kuda Huraa throughout the event, along with their families.

With everyone sharing the same island, boats and spaces throughout the week, guests quickly became part of the wider Trophy community. Guests could spend time in the water with Tropicsurf, head to Sultans to watch the competition and return to the resort in the evenings to spend time with the surfers and their families. It created plenty of opportunities to surf, watch and connect with the athletes away from the pressure of competition.

Image: A moment between Mason Ho and Bede Durbidge before the Thruster Final.

Image: Travis Logie setting up his boards at the Tropicsurf Shack.

By the end of the week, what began as a surf event had become something much more personal, with guests, surfers and families sharing meals, stories and celebrations, and forming friendships that will continue long after everyone leaves the Maldives.

“When you get back on the luxury boat and walk back into the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, you’re like, ‘This is just living. This is a dream,’” said Bede Durbidge. “To be able to come here and surf, to compete, and have our families here, it’s just a dream come true.”

The week began with an evening of culture and celebration at Vabou Huraa, where a traditional Boduberu performance soon had the surfers and their families dancing together.

Image: Four Seasons Kuda Huraa opening ceremony celebrations.

Image: Felicity Palmateer and her partner.

Image: Four Seasons Kuda Huraa opening ceremony dinner. 

“That’s why Four Seasons is family for us and it’s just so special to be able to live the experience,” Ibelli said. “I think Four Seasons IS the experience.”

Image: Caio Ibelli and his family.

On lay days, guests could explore the surrounding reefs and marine conservation initiatives, visit ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island, relax at the spa or lagoon, surf from dawn to dusk or simply enjoy the resort until the next competition call.

Image: Spa Dhoni escorting guests to the ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island. 

Three Boards. One Champion.

For the first time in the Trophy’s 14-year history, all three divisions were completed across the opening three days of competition.

Caio Ibelli claimed the Single Fin and Twin Fin titles, before Bede Durbidge secured the Thruster division and his place in the Overall Final.

Ibelli's Single Fin victory came after a nine-point barrel helped him defeat Durbidge 15.47 to 13.93. He then overcame Travis Logie in the Twin Fin Final, 15.87 to 14.13.

Image: Bede Durbidge during his Twin Fin Heat. 

Image: Caio Ibelli takes to the air in his Twin Fin Final. 

Image: Caio Ibelli and Travis Logie post Twin Fin Final.

Logie, who had originally travelled to Kuda Huraa as a mentor for the resort’s inaugural Learn with Legends summer camp, went on to record the division’s highest wave score.

“I wasn’t even supposed to be at the event, so to get to the Final and to be out surfing against all my friends in these amazing conditions, everything’s just a bonus,” Logie said.

Image: Travis Logie in his element at Sultans.

On 10 September, Ibelli and Durbidge returned to Sultans for the Overall Final in powerful, offshore conditions. Durbidge established an early lead, but Ibelli turned the heat with an 8.33 ride through two barrel sections to win 14.16 to 13.50.

Image: Bede Durbidge putting on a masterclass in the Overall Final.

Image: Caio Ibelli in winning form.

The result made Ibelli the first Brazilian to win the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy and gave him three titles from the week.

His arrival in the Maldives had been almost as unexpected as the result.

“Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the outback of Australia, staring at the red dirt,” Ibelli said. “And then one call, my life changed!”

Image: Caio Ibelli celebrating his Surfing Champions Trophy Final win.

He left Kuda Huraa with three titles, memories shared with his wife and one-year-old son, and plans to return.

“As soon as my wife got here she was like, ‘This is the type of surf trip I’ll be doing from now on.’ She’s already planning to come back next year.”

Image: Caio Ibelli celebrating with guests, fellow surfers and family.

Image: Caio Ibelli... pure stoke. 

The Stories Between the Heats

With the competition wrapped up, the celebrations continued into the evening. Tarryn Durbidge had other plans for Bede’s prize money, commandeering the check to shout the bar and keep everyone celebrating well into the night.

The following morning brought a slightly slower start for some, with guest Wayne taking a well-earned recovery day after the previous night’s celebrations.

Just a few of the moments that happened between the heats and made the week at Kuda Huraa as memorable off the water as it was in the lineup.

Image: Tarryn Durbidge with her winnings.   

Where Champions Come to Surf

Since the first Trophy in 2011, Kuda Huraa has welcomed generations of leading surfers to Sultans, including Mark Occhilupo, Damien Hardman, Taylor Knox, Dave Rastovich, Shane Dorian, Taj Burrow, Josh Kerr, Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson and Michel Bourez.

Image: Felicity Palmateer making backhand twin fin surfing look easy.

Image: Mason Ho bringing his signature style to Sultans.

But you do not need a world title on your résumé to surf here.

At Kuda Huraa, guests have access to Sultans as well as a network of breaks within approximately 15 minutes of the island, with Tropicsurf making the daily call on where and when to surf based on the conditions.

Beginners can start in the sheltered lagoon before progressing into suitable ocean waves, while more experienced surfers can explore the surrounding reef breaks with the Tropicsurf team.

For those looking to explore further, Seaplane Surfing Safaris offer the chance to discover remote waves and rarely visited corners of the Maldives from above.

Image: Seaplane Surfing Safari.

Experience Kuda Huraa with Tropicsurf

The Surfing Champions Trophy offers a rare glimpse into the world of professional surfing - but from Kuda Huraa, guests become part of the experience rather than simply watching from the shore.

A morning might mean getting in the water with Tropicsurf. The afternoon could bring a front-row seat at Sultans, watching the world’s best surfers compete just a short boat ride from the resort. By evening, everyone is back on the island, the sun is setting and the competition feels a world away.

 Image: Sunset Beach Villa with Pool.

Image: Resort sunset drinks. 

It is this mix of surfing, world-class competition, island life and connection with the surfers that makes September at Kuda Huraa so special.

Interested in experiencing it for yourself?

Speak with a Tropicsurf Travel Designer via WhatsApp message or Email today about planning your stay at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa and experiencing the Surfing Champions Trophy from the heart of the action.

Want to relive the week? Watch the highlights from the 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy on YouTube.

Image: Mason Ho bringing the aloha to Sultans.