September 15th 2026 – In collaboration with Tropicsurf, COMO Maalifushi welcomes Maldivian surfer Rishtha Shuja for a residency celebrating women in surfing. Set in Thaa Atoll, home to world-class breaks, the island provides a remarkable setting for experiencing surf culture and life on the ocean.
Join Rishtha Shuja for an intimate conversation exploring her life on the water and her experiences as a young female surfer in the Maldives. She will also share how a growing community of women and girls is finding confidence, connection and a sense of belonging through surfing.
Rishtha Shuja is part of a new generation of Maldivian women finding their place in the country’s celebrated surf culture. Her connection to the ocean began as a child, when her late father – a respected Maldivian surfer – would take her out on his surfboard in the lagoons.
Shuja began bodyboarding in 2019 before taking up surfing competitively in 2021, when the Rannamaari Challenge introduced its first women’s division. Since then, she has placed third at the 2024 Rannamaari Challenge and represented the Maldives internationally at an Asian Games qualifying event in Mahabalipuram, India.
Shuja is passionate about seeing more Maldivian women and girls experience the joy of surfing and become part of its growing community. She hopes to see more women and girls take to the water, build confidence, forge lasting friendships and discover the joy and sense of belonging that surfing can bring.
Contact
T. +960 678 0008
WhatsApp. +1 857 367 0183
E. [email protected]