Photo: Surfing Champions Trophy
Travis Logie and Ahmed Hishaam have been announced as the final competitors for this year’s Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy. They’ll be joining Mason Ho, Caio Ibelli, Bede Durbidge, and Felicity Palmateer at Sultans September 4-11 for the one-of-a-kind event, which places surfers of different disciplines and experience against one another on a variety of boards. Brazilian freesurfer Victor Bernardo was scheduled to compete until a car crash sent him and his wife, Johnni, to the hospital with several serious injuries. Kai Lenny was also an original invitee to this year’s event, but a spokesperson for the contest confirmed he has withdrawn.
Logie’s invitation marks a return to the world’s most luxurious surf contest. The former Championship Tour vet competed in the 2016 Surfing Champions Trophy alongside several former CT athletes: Taj Burrow, Rob Machado, and Shane Dorian. He says he’s coming back with a different mindset a decade later.
“When I used to compete on tour it was to pay rent, so it was really hard to be in the moment and just enjoy it,” says Logie. “This will be a chance for me to take it all in again and appreciate the challenge.”
Ironically, while competitors like Caio Ibelli admit that post-CT life steered them away from riding thrusters all the time, Logie’s still riding them almost exclusively.
“I’ve used a single fin once in my life and it was at this event 10 years ago. Not much more experience on a twinnie either, to be honest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Hishaam is coming to the event as a freesurfer with plenty of local knowledge. The surf guide has spent years surfing the region and will likely be a favorite among surfers of the North Malé Atoll.
“It means a lot to me to represent the Maldives in the Champions Trophy,” says Hishaam. “I’ve spent most of my life surfing these waves and showing visiting surfers around, so being able to compete here against some of the biggest names in surfing is a really special opportunity.”
Hussain “Iboo” Areef became the event’s first local competitor in 2016, and no local invitee has ever won the Surfing Champions Trophy. That gives Hishaam an opportunity to accomplish something very unique.
“It’s an honor to follow the Maldivian surfers who have represented the country in the Champions Trophy before me. They helped put Maldivian surfing on the map, so I’m really proud to be part of that history and continue representing the Maldives,” he said.
“I’ve surfed these waves for many years and know how they work in different conditions, where the waves break and where to position myself. But when you’re surfing against guys like Mason Ho and Bede Durbidge, you know they have incredible experience and ability.”
