Burrow and Bethany Headline Fun Format in the Maldives

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Taj Burrow will be pushing the boundaries of a bunch of different board designs this week.

A fresh cast of creative competitors has arrived on the beautiful Island of Kuda Huraa and hit the water in preparation for the 2016 Four Season Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy. They have been greeted by flawless 3-foot waves at Sultans, a renowned righthand reef break.

Lone female competitor Bethany Hamilton (HAW), who has surfed the Maldives once before, has already been enjoying the challenge of riding the different equipment required for the unique format of the Champions Trophy. The contest involves surfers competing on single-fins, twin-fins and thrusters over three separate competition days.

Bethany Hamilton settling back into Maldivian life. - WSL / Lieber

"My first surf was so fun -- the conditions were perfect," Hamilton said. "It's been fun trying to figure out the different equipment and Sultans really is a perfect wave for trying different boards. It's going to be really cool surfing with all these guys, I can't wait."

Taj Burrow (AUS), meanwhile, who retired from the Championship Tour just a few months ago, is relishing the opportunity to surf in an event with such a unique format -- not to mention the different equipment, in such an exotic location.

Is it any wonder some of the world's best want a piece of this? - WSL / Sean Scott

"This is the first time I have ever surfed a board that's not a thruster," Burrow said. "Since I have left the tour I have been ordering some different types of boards that I wouldn't usually ride so it's been really cool to get to know some different surf craft.

"My dad has been coming to the Maldives for years and says Sultans is his favorite wave. I'm stoked to finally get over here and see it all for myself, the waves seem so perfect."

Known the world over for his ability and style on all sorts of surf craft, Rob Machado (USA) comes into the event a sure favorite in the single-fin division, especially once he becomes more comfortable on the right-hand walls of Sultans.

Style-master Machado hooking in the pocket. - WSL / Lieber

"I have ridden alternative equipment a lot but never in a contest," Machado said. "My experience should help me a little but it also takes some adjusting surfing twin-fins and single-fins on your backhand. I have had a few surfs out there now so I'm feeling good."

WSL Deputy Commissioner and former Championship Tour competitor Travis Logie (ZAF) will be donning a contest jersey for the first time since leaving the CT in 2014. The silky smooth goofyfooter is another competitor who is only just experiencing the joys of surfing on a board other than the traditional thruster.

Deputy Commissioner Travis Logie getting acquainted with his twin-fin. - WSL / Lieber

"This is such an amazing place," Logie said. "Being here, surfing these fun waves, competing against some of my friends and heroes is so cool, I feel like I'm on cloud nine. I had never surfed a single or twin-fin before the last two days and I have to say I'm addicted. It's such a rewarding style of surfing and I can't wait to surf heats on these boards."

This year the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy will also include a local trials winner. In 2016 the lucky local is goofyfoot-ripper Hussain ‘Iboo' Areef. Iboo is a standout at Sultans and can't wait to paddle out with his idols in a contest jersey.

"It's a dream come true to surf with these guys," Iboo said. "They are my heroes, they're who I look to for inspiration so surfing against them in a contest is amazing. The forecast looks good so hopefully we all get some pumping waves this week."