Raaraa Pro 2025 Wraps Up in Dhiffushi

In a spectacular display of determination and athletic grit, the Raaraa Pro 2025 concluded today on the shores of Dhiffushi. Across two days of intense racing, through choppy storms and clear blue skies, 18 of the nation's most daring sea riders battled for supremacy in the waves.

The competition saw these 18 participants from different regions across the country gathered to make their way to race across six heats, three each day. The opening day on Friday the 11th was marked by unforgiving weather, as riders faced pounding rain, high swells, and unpredictable wind. With water temperatures dipping and visibility compromised, it became a true test of willpower. Despite the setbacks, competitors braved the storm and delivered jaw-dropping performances.

Saturday, July 12, flipped the script entirely. With almost perfect wind conditions and clear skies, the second half of Raaraa Pro felt like the sea itself opened it's doors for the riders to unleash their full arsenal on the water.

Day 1: The action continued in the unpredictable conditions. Photo via: Instagram (@raaraapro)

The Top 6 Riders of Raaraa Pro 2025 

After six heats across two drastically different days in Dhiffushi, the top 6 riders shouldn’t be diluted down to just being the fastest, no, they were the ones who adapted, recalibrated, and endured. Each of them showed a unique approach to the shifting tides of Raaraa Pro 2025. Let’s dive into their performances across the event.

1. Hassan Mahir ("Hantey")

• Race Finishes: 7th, 1st, 12th | 1st, 1st, 2nd

Hantey didn't start out strong. A modest 7th and a misfire in Race 3 could’ve buried most riders, but his win in Race 2 hinted at what was coming. Once conditions flipped on Day 2, he didn’t just rise, he took over. Two wins and a second-place finish showed that in smooth water and reliable wind, Hantey becomes surgical. His dominance on Day 2 was clinical and commanding, and it flipped the entire leaderboard. He didn’t just survive the storm, he waited for clarity and struck with precision.

2. Raaif Shaneez ("Raaippe")

• Race Finishes: DQ, 2nd, 2nd | 2nd, 6th, 15th

Raaippe had arguably the most mentally challenging start of any rider, a disqualification in Race 1. What followed, though, was a textbook response: three straight second place finishes. Two of them secured on Day 1’s stormy conditions, while the third was taken at the start of Day 2. Raaippe’s performances speak to a rider who doesn’t lose composure. He didn’t dominate any single day outright, instead, he held steady, took what the water gave him, and built back heat by heat. If Hantey was the stormbreaker, Raaippe was the tactician who quietly stayed in striking range.

3. Visaam Mohamed ("Thottho")

• Race Finishes: 2nd, 4th, 11th | 4th, 4th, 4th

Thottho, the Vaikaradhoo son, opened strong but hit a wall in Race 3 with an 11th-place finish. That result didn’t rattle him. From that point on, he became one of the most consistent riders on Day 2, never slipping below 4th. His performance shows a rider with strong fundamentals. No flash, no collapse, just calm execution. He may not have led any single race, but he knew how to hold his ground and manage his line. In brutal conditions or clean skies, Thottho proved himself a steady force with minimal error.

4️.  Abdulla Shafiq Hassan ("Ayyu")

• Race Finishes: 1st, 9th, 5th | 5th, 3rd, 12th

Ayyu came out of the gate blazing, winning the very first heat of the event during the harshest conditions. That alone says something about this Ukulhas native. He stumbled in Race 2 but never collapsed. By Day 2, he was back in rhythm, climbing heat by heat but ultimately missed the podium after finishing outside the top 10 in the final race. His campaign reads like someone who knew how to recalibrate mid-event. Ayyu rode the most complete event arc: from early impact, to mid-pack recovery, with that opening win anchoring it all.

5️. Abdulla Safraz ("Sappe")

• Race Finishes: 7th, 6th, 1st | 6th, 2nd, 8th

Hailing from Vashafaru, he had steady start in Day1, starting with 2 top 10 finishes and a win in Race 3. On day 2 he continued his top 10 placements and following it with a 2nd in Race 5. His performance suggests a rider who benefits from open conditions, someone with raw pace and confident control when things are smooth. Sappe may not have made a statement in the storm, but the moment it cleared, he forced his way into the conversation.

6️. Hamza Moosa ("Hamma")

• Race Finishes: 7th, 5th, 4th | 16th, 10th, 1st

Hamma built a strong foundation early with solid top-7 finishes on Day 1, but Day 2 threatened to unravel everything. A 16th and 10th nearly knocked him out of top contention. But his win in the final race was a critical recovery, both in performance and in statement. That kind of bounce-back in the closing heat tells you exactly what kind of rider Hamma is: not easily rattled, and capable of explosive finish-line energy when it counts most, surely making his folks back home in Male’ city proud of the tenacity.

Final Thanks and Looking Ahead

A huge thanks to the organizers and all the participants for making the Raaraa Pro 2025 the Maldives’ first kitesurfing event of the year, what a turnout it was. Congratulations to everyone involved for delivering a steady, well-run competition that exceeded expectations. Dhiffushi proved to be a truly special stage for this event, and here’s hoping we’ll be back on its shores again next year to tackle the tide and push the limits even further.

Day 2: The Top 3 Finishers of the event