Three divs over three days, twenty-five k to the winner.
The greatest surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, has arrived in the Maldives to compete in the invitation-only Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy 2022, joining former tour buddies Taylor Knox, Rob Machado, Ross Willims and local wildcard Hussain “Iboo” Areef, not to be confused with a previous wildcard Abdulla “Fuku” Areef.
While not strictly an over-fifties event, Rob Machado is forty-nine and Areef only forty-five, the contest will be a showcase of the new maxim, fifty is the new thirty.
It is Slater’s first visit to the pretty chain of Islamic governed islands. He says he is “excited to be surfing with my best buddies that I grew up surfing with. We’ve been trying to make this trip open for years and it’s nice for everyone to be here with their partners for a relaxing week.”
From August 22 through 29, the old gang, some showing the wear and tear of age, Ross “Daddy Body” Williams, while others looking like they’ve spent the preceding twenty-five years pushing and pulling heavy plates in a gymnasium, hello Shane Dorian, will compete on single fins, twinnies and thrusters.
Three divs over three days, twenty-five k to the winner.
And, all the while being housed in the Four Seasons’ little sugar-cube bungalows built over the sea and where the inhabitants can watch the full-moon floating over the inky sea while being attended to by men in their fine uniform of white t-shirt and sarong.
There ain’t no livestream, but you can catch the action via Instagram below.
View this post on Instagram
It cost us $300 a night to tie up at Crossroads b4 the fake scamdemic. Place is insane
I was a M Cole fan. Process that….
Surfers staying at 4 star resorts, catered meals, pools, saunas, room service, wave tanks.
It’s a far cry from surf exploration in the 70s and what I think partly compelled many to become surfers..
It’s kind of a big turn off I think, a bunch of pampered pros.
Thank God I can just go and hang out at the beach and get away from all this crap.
PS
the greatest surfer of all time?
that statement and what surfing is becoming (pampered events like this), is almost enough to make me vomit.
Who is the greatest surfer if it’s not Slater?
The great Duke kahanamoka. Duke in his prime on slaters equipment and vice versa. The Duke is the goat! I think slater would agree!
SAVALAS!!!
Telly was all over the Maldives in the 60’s. He told old wassisface, boaty-man, about all those spots that he’s claiming as ‘his’.
Once he convinced a 4 Star general to hold off on a nuclear test out in the middle of nowhere so that he could surf a couple reefs before they were vaporised.
Rell Sunn.
Gerry Lopez, of course.
… And his boards are super popular. You see those tan/white foamies EVERYWHERE.
At least they are affordable. All the moles from the low income housing here kind of rip on them.
It’s a moot point, it doesn’t matter,
It’s a moot point, it doesn’t matter, who cares? Who’s counting?
We’re just catching waves, having fun, getting away from the man.
Currently me
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
#wildcardforbruce
I don’t have any tattoos but if I did this is what I would get
Finally a REBEL TOUR!
Finally surfing an event more suited to his age division.
#fuku
His sustainability cred just shot up another factor of 10.
it sucks to be me…
Your a human vacuum
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Poor Elo.
Missing out.
😂
Wrong beat:
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Hard to make a legume pun outta that one.
Bronski Bean?
Good chune but. I like this one better for reals.
Where has he bean?
I think its wonderful for these old lads to be spoilt a little. Lets face it they’ve all had a pretty tough existance for adults.
Where was my invite?
You snorted it.
I only snort competitors dismissal of me in the channel.
So I guess that does make sense.
High-five, Rob?!
Rob?