Kelly Slater wins the 2022 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy on Finals Day

India, 2022: When the horn sounded on Finals Day in the 2022 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy, it was another gorgeous morning in Kuda Huraa. As our competitors prepared to participate in the Thruster Division, the event's last surfing category, the crystal-clear Indian Ocean played home to two- to four-foot Sultans.

In Round One, the 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) defeated Rob Machado (USA) and Taylor Knox (USA) with ease. In the first Semifinal, Slater faced local wildcard and multiple Maldives Surfing Champion Hussain "Iboo" Areef (MDV), and the channel was filled with anticipation. Maldivian flags floated from adjacent boats in hopes of a local victory, while Slater supporters cheered from sundecks as the two surfers competed at Sultans. Slater was victorious in the end, defeating Iboo and progressing to the Final Round.

Iboo said, "I feel honoured and thrilled to have surfed these last four days." "These men are legendary; they were my role models while I was learning how to surf." They had a significant influence on my surfing career. That last heat with Kelly was perhaps the finest heat I've ever had. Never in my wildest nightmares could I imagine surfing against him, man-on-man. He is almost unbeatable; he is the finest in the world! This has been a once-in-a-lifetime chance, since I doubt I'll see anybody else like him in my lifetime.

In the last minutes of his heat versus Rob Machado (USA), Slater got a 9.33, the best wave score in the contest. This secured his second win in the competition, earning him not just the Single-Fin Winner but also the Thruster Winner.

Slater said, "This whole tournament has been so entertaining, and the atmosphere among the guys has been so laid-back." "It's been a lot of fun having this bunch together, and Iboo has been a terrific addition. It was a pleasure to meet him and go surfing with him. He was ecstatic to surf a heat with me today, and I was as ecstatic to surf with him. He's basically an all-around decent guy."

"The local crew on the boats seemed to be enjoying themselves as well; even though they were hundreds of yards away, we could hear them screaming the whole time. This place has had such a positive atmosphere."

Following the Thruster Division Final, the two surfers who had amassed the highest points throughout the competition were scheduled to compete in the Grand Final. Finalists were Slater and Shane Dorian (HAW), who have been the most consistent surfers in each class. Dorian has won two of three heats versus Slater during the duration of the competition.

The Finalists had challenging circumstances at Sultans because to the unreliable waves. Dorian was in a combo scenario throughout the most of the heat, and although posting an 8.7 in the last minutes, he was unable to locate the necessary backup score to secure the victory. Slater, on the other hand, was in sync with the water and won the Grand Final with scores of 8.23 and 8.73.

"The Final was a lot of fun," said Slater. "Throughout this tournament, Shane has been the most in tune with the waves, but in the Final I snatched that from him. I believe he rode one of the finest waves of the heat (8.7), but the wave arrived too late, and he only had a few minutes remaining when he returned to the queue. However, we're even now; everything worked out nicely."

The historic roster of Momentum Generation surfers (Kelly Slater, Taylor Knox, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, and Ross Williams), coupled with local wildcard Hussain "Iboo" Areef, have made this year's Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy an event for the record books.

Thruster Division Outcomes:

Kelly Slater (United States) – 1st

Rob Machado (USA) – 2nd

Shane Dorian (USA) placed third

Areef, Hussain "Iboo" (MDV) – Third

Williams, Ross (USA) – 5th

Taylor Knox (USA) placed fifth