Mason Ho. Photo: Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy
Mason Ho will be joining Kai Lenny as a competitor at the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, organizers of the event announced in a press release Wednesday. The news makes Ho just the second surfer revealed so far to compete in the annual event, which will feature a total of six athletes for a week in September. Each surfer will compete in three different divisions through the contest — single-fin, twin fin, and thruster — at Sultans.
Ho’s popularity is largely due to his ability to surf in a wide range of waves and conditions, from escaping barrels onto near-dry reef, to making backwash and reforms look fun to the everyday surfer. His adaptability and improvisational style makes him a fan favorite, and it extends to his ability to excel on a range of surfboards too. Organizers of the event pointed out that these qualities make him a natural fit for the event.
“Mason brings a completely unique energy,” said Event Director, Mark Winson. “You genuinely never know what he’s going to do next – whether it’s on a wave, on a board, or in the channel between heats. But underneath all of that personality is one of the most naturally gifted surfers on the planet.”
Ho, who competed in the event for the first time just last year, talked about his approach to surfing single-fins, twins, and thrusters throughout the week, all for one contest.
“I try to approach it like I’m living in another time,” said Ho. “If it’s single-fin day, I think about guys like Michael Peterson, my dad and Uncle D. Then when it’s twin fin day, I start thinking about MR and all the stories my dad used to tell me. That’s what makes this event so unique. You get to step into different eras of surfing throughout the week.”
