Taj Burrow has taken out his second consecutive Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy in perfect 3-to-4 foot waves at the right-hand reef of Sultans.
Burrow had a stellar showing at the event, taking out the Twin Fin and Thruster Division to make it to the Grand Final, where he faced an in-form Rob Machado (USA).
While Machado looked dangerous throughout the event, itt was Burrow’s fast and critical surfing that saw him take the overall win with a heat total of 16.73 out of a possible 20.
“I’m so extremely excited, I’m just having the best time,” Burrow said.
“This is such an amazing event, I would have retired earlier if I knew this is what life would be like, it’s too good.
“I’m so stoked I got to come back here after a win last year, we get so spoiled at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and then to come just around the corner and have waves that are this good is such a treat, it’s an incredible place.
“Winning again is really special to me.”
Burrow hasn’t lost much of his competitive tenacity since retiring from the WSL Championship Tour (CT) a year ago, consistently posting high scores through all three divisions of the Maldives competition and into the grand final.
In the final of the Thruster event, he posted the only perfect 10-point ride of the event.
“The waves were cooking for this whole event,” Burrow said.
“The forecast wasn’t looking great so to score the waves we did was sick, even getting that barreled today was a nice surprise.
“Everyone in this event surfs so amazingly I really had to surf out of my skin to win this thing.
“If I do get to come back next year I’ll be over the moon. It’s definitely one of the sickest events on the planet.”
Finishing runner-up in the Thruster Division against Burrow was 2001 WSL Champion CJ Hobgood from the USA.
The goofy foot was a standout all event but came up against a rampaging Burrow in the final.
“I can’t believe I got to have this experience it’s definitely once in a lifetime,” he said.
I really had to surf out of my skin to win this thing.
- Taj Burrow