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MACHADO KICKS OFF FOUR SEASONS MALDIVES SURFING CHAMPIONS TROPHY WITH SINGLE FIN DIVISION WIN

12/08/2017

World Surf League

MACHADO KICKS OFF FOUR SEASONS MALDIVES SURFING CHAMPIONS TROPHY WITH SINGLE FIN DIVISION WIN
- ROB MACHADO TAKES DOWN C.J. HOBGOOD IN OPENING DIVISION FINAL
LAST YEAR'S WINNER TAJ BURROW KNOCKED OUT IN SEMIFINAL
- MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Caption: Rob Machado taking out the single fin division at the 2017 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy off the island of Kuda Huraa.
Credit: © WSL /  Sean Scott


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Kuda Huraa, Male'/Maldives (Friday, August 11, 2017) - The 2017 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy has finally kicked off at Sultans point in clean 2 – 4 foot waves. Day one saw the completion of the Single Fin division, which was taken out by Californian style guru Rob Machado (USA). 

Machado came up against fellow goofy-foot C.J. Hobgood (USA) in the final and the two went toe-to-toe, duelling it out on their backhand. Hobgood was in solid form posting a 15.33 (out of a possible 20) heat total but it was Machado’s fluid style and experience on his single-fin that saw him take the victory with a two-wave combination of 15.67. 

“That was so fun out there,” Machado said. “I was stoked to share the final with another goofy-footer, it was actually pretty unbelievable that it ended up like that. It’s amazing to be back here at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, such a magical place with amazing waves, we are all so spoiled to be here. The waves today were the best they have been all week, which was great, particularly in the Final. C.J. and I were catching waves non-stop which is what you want, lots of waves and high scores.”

Machado is at the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy for his second time and had unfinished business having finished runner-up in the single fin last time to Taj Burrow (AUS). Machado got one back eliminating Burrow in the Semifinal on a board he shaped himself. 

“I had last years final in my head,” Machado continued. “I was definitely keen to go one better so I was stoked to take the win.  I shaped a new board for this event, which was easy as I knew what kind of wave we’d be surfing. It’s always fun to go into the shaping bay and imagine how you’ll be surfing a wave when you build a board. It went well and I hope my twin fin does as good a job tomorrow.”


Caption:  Rob Machado with the single fin he shaped himself to win the opening division in the Maldives.
Credit: © WSL / Sean Scott

Hobgood put on a great performance all day but came just short of finding the score he needed. Half way through the final he pulled into a rare barrel but was unable to find the exit, leaving him chasing a 7.68 (out of a possible 10). In the end he was unable to find it but was happy to share the line-up with one of his favourite surfers and good friend. After a few days of waiting, competitors were buzzing with excitement on board the Four Seasons Explorer, ‘the ultimate surf vessel’ and none were more pumped than Hobgood.

“I knew I needed to do something good and thought that barrel would open up for me,” Hobgood said. “If I just went for turns instead of the tube it might have been the difference.  Regardless of the result I’m having a great time and am just stoked to be here in paradise. I didn’t even think an experience like this was real; it’s just so amazing. Being here with all of these guys that you look up to is unreal.”



Caption:  2001 WSL Champion C.J. Hobgood takes second place in the single fin division at the 2017 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy.
Credit: © WSL / Sean Scott

Last years single fin winner and overall event champion Taj Burrow was looking dangerous early posting the highest heat total of the day, a 16.77. He was unable to repeat this performance in the semifinal, going down to eventual winner Machado. 

“It was a little slow out there and I fell on two good ones which is not what you want in a slow heat,” Burrow said. “I was feeling really good and my board was going well but I just slipped when I shouldn’t have. The board I have is from Jake Patterson (former CT competitor) and it goes really well. It needs a bit of power in the waves to really get going so I had to wait for the set waves. It’s good to finally get the competition started and score some fun waves. I’m pumped to be back at the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, I love this event.”



Caption:  Taj Burrow was unable to go back-to-back in the single fin division.
Credit: © WSL /  Tom Bennett

Brazilian big wave charger Maya Gabeira (BRA) is used to being the lone female in the line-up and showed it doesn’t phase her to much as she took on Taj Burrow and Ross Williams. Riding a single fin for the first time this week, Gabeira enjoyed soaking up the experience of scoring Maldivian waves with two other out. 

“This doesn’t feel like a competition at all,” Gabeira said. “Just surfing out there with no one out except some of the world’s best is so fun. Watching these guys surf is really inspiring to me and amazing to watch. I’m slowly getting used to the single fin but it is really different for me. Today was probably the best waves I ‘ve had here in the Maldives, which was cool. This is just such a crazy experience; I have never been on such a luxurious surf trip, it has exceeded all of my expectations.” 

Tune in tomorrow as the 2017 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy continues with competitors taking to the water on twin fins in what is bound to be another action packed day at the ‘world’s most luxurious surfing event.’

The 2017 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy will run from August 7 – 13 in the beautiful Maldives. Stay tuned as we look to get competition underway in the coming days. For more information on ‘the world’s most luxurious surfing event,’ head to www.surfingchampionstrophy.com, www.worldsurfleague.com, or the WSL App.

About The Event. Unique in many ways, the Champions Trophy determines a surfer's heat time based on their age and tests skill across three different divisions: single-fin, twin-fin, and triple-fin thruster.  Places are granted by invitation-only to just six world champions in a battle for inner-circle kudos and the US$25,000 prize winnings.   

The Surfing Champions Trophy is hosted onboard Four Seasons Explorer – the Maldives’ ultimate surf vessel. Fans can get up close to the action with onboard VIP passes, while the ‘surf tour’ experience continues with shoulder-rubbing events back at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, which plays host to the contest’s competitors, judges and Tropicsurf partners (the pros behind the Resort’s surf operation.) 

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