The event format at the Four Seasons Surfing Champions Trophy is unlike any other. Competitors surf across three disciplines – single-fin, twin-fin and thruster. Kelly came out on top against his best mates on day one. We don’t know when the last time Kelly used a single fin, but with his performance and manoeuvrability, you would have thought he would at least be on a twinny. But nope, he’s the GOAT.
“It’s my first time here,” said Slater. “I’ve seen videos and I knew what the waves were like, but I didn’t know where they were in relation to each other. Shane has been here a bunch and now it’s one of those places that I want to come back to year after year. I’m really surprised there’s not a World Tour event here – it’s just such a great location and the waves are beautiful, they’re playful but it’s really high level and high-performance surf.”
Runner’s-up Shane Dorian was stoked to share empty line-ups with his close mates. “It’s been really fun in the past, but this year is extra special because we all have been best friends for three decades, almost four decades. The first heat Kelly and I ever surfed against each other was 38 years ago, when we were 12 years old!”
Let’s be honest, Slater was never going to let Shane one-up him in their head-to-head tally. The rivalry is still alive four decades later.
Stay tuned for the twinny contest on Day Two.
Single Fin Division Results
Kelly Slater (USA) – 1st
Shane Dorian (USA) – 2nd
Ross Williams (USA) – 3rd
Taylor Knox (USA) – 3rd
Rob Machado (USA) – 5th
Hussain “Iboo” Areef (MDV) – 5th
