Owen Wright Wins Single Fin Division At Four Seasons Maldives Comp
Snapper 2017 muscle memory triggered!
Day one of the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy (FSMCT) opened in rippable, head-high walls, setting the stage for the single fin division and a proper look at who packed their style along with sunscreen.
Sadly, Sierra Kerr had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness, gifting local wildcard “Smiley” Rasheed and Brazilian sharp-blade Jesse Mendes a free pass to the semis.
Taj Burrow, a 3x winner of the event, promptly capitalized on the last minute cancellation of Kerr, but was barred from competing because… he’s too good and someone else should have a turn.
Oldest in the draw, Michel Bourez was first out thanks to the event’s age-handicap system (more candles on the cake, more time in the water). He went straight into Sparta mode, belting the clean faces. A few minutes later Craig Anderson and Owen Wright were released from the boat and joined the party. Can confirm there’s still plenty of lead in the pencil of both fellas backhands. Owen’s windshield wipers looked as deadly as they did in 2017 when he rinsed the field at Snapper, in one surfing’s greatest ever comeback stories.
In the semi-final, with just four minutes on the clock, Owen Wright suffered a dramatic equipment issue, hooning down the line on the inside, he managed to dislodge his fin and was left riding a finless. Unable to continue without risking morphing into Ari ‘Krooky’ Brown, Owen had to watch from the channel as Jesse Mendes waited patiently out the back, needing a 5-point ride to advance. But, Wright willed the ocean into having a siesta and the 2018 Triple Crown winner got the axe.
On the boat, Taj and Ando debated whether Owen could even make the final. Problem solved when Wright casually instructed Four Seasons staff to retrieve a backup single fin from “Room 101.” Taj blinked: “Who even travels with two single fins?” Ando muttered something about only owning one in his entire life.
With $25K USD on the line and an allergy to being broke, Wright clearly wasn’t leaving the Maldives as a cautionary tale. With his backup fin on the way, Taj was sent out for a 10-minute expression session to keep the spectators entertained.
In the final, Owen and Bourez traded blows as the tide pushed in and the sets thinned out. Wright found the better rhythm, outpacing Bourez and pocketing the Single Fin crown.
Up next: the Twin Fin Division. Stay tuned.
Single Fin Division Results
Owen Wright (AUS)
Michel Bourez (TAH)
Jesse Mendes (BRA) equal with Ismail “Smiley” Rasheed (MDV)
Craig Anderson (AUS)
2025 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy Leaderboard
Owen Wright – 1000 pts
Michel Bourez – 900 pts
Jesse Mendes – 800 pts
Ismail “Smiley” Rasheed – 800 pts
Craig Anderson – 700 pts
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