The next SOTY event is to be held on Long Beach Saturday Feb 2nd & 3rd
PRESS RELEASE #1 JANUARY 2008
The Barbados Surfing Association started their Surfer Of The Year competition series this past weekend at the Drill Hall ( Brandens ) venue. Surfers of all ages came out to enjoy the first of the 5 SOTY events scheduled for the coming year. The first day of competition saw many talented youngsters make their first time entry into the competitive arena, displaying great enthusiasm and ability in the Menehune division. The first place medal eventually going to Dane Mackie narrowly taking the top honours from a well deserved second placed Che Allan. Close behind, the Third and Fourth placed finalists were Jacob Burke and Evan Moll respectively, demonstrating the depth of the upcoming talent at this under 11 age group.
Whilst Jacob was making his mark in the Menehune finals, his older brother Joshua Burke was giving the more experienced surfers in the U12 boys Division a run for their money. Along with the exceptional performance of Che Allen, the two youngsters battled through to the finals, where the more experienced Daniel Edghill and Gavin Fernandes finally won out in a very exiting final by utilizing wave selection and performing more radical maneuvers on their waves. After the final horn blew, Daniel Edghill won First, Gavin Fernandes Second and Joshua Burke and Che Allan were third and fourth respectively.
With the new format for the SOTY competitions, all Junior events run on the first day followed on the second day by the Open Divisions. The results of these SOTY Events being crucial to the selection of the Junior National team to travel to France for the ISA Junior World Championships in May, competitors are determined to demonstrate their individual skills and ability. For many of these youngsters there was much to prove as they entered the water for the beginning of the Junior U 18 boys, Junior U 18 Girls and the Junior U 16 boys heats each hoping for the results which would qualify each of them for the Squad from which the National Team will be selected.
Fine surfing performances were displayed by many of our juniors in the marginal 3 ft swell, with a few upsets along the way, losing some of the top seeded riders in the opening heats before reaching the finals. Personal bests were plentiful on the opening day In particular Gavin Fernandes made a notable start to SOTY series by placing in the finals of all the Junior boys events, U12, U16 and U18. A regular at the Brandons break, he impressed the BSA judges with good scoring maneuvers to stay ahead in the qualifying heats and progress to the finals of these fiercely contested and highly competitive divisions. Overall honours in the Junior U16 & U18 eventually went to Lewis St. John, who at present is taking a break from international surfing to concentrate on qualifying for the National Team travelling to France in May. Runner up in the U16 division was the SOTY Champion for 2007 Bruce Mackie. This was a fiercely competitive final with Lewis and Bruce taking the first and second place medals with Daniel Edghill and Gavin Fernandes, both under 12, taking the remaining honours.
Whilst in the U18 as solid performance by Matthew Kieffer placed second to Lewis St. John with Gavin Fernandes and Jordan Heaselgrave taking third and fourth.
The Girls U18 finals rounded out the first day of competition at the ‘Brandens’ break with Ametza Nicholls defending her 2007 SOTY championship against a talented field of young ladies all determined to take top honours. Similarly the results of these upcoming SOTY Girls events determine qualification to the squad for the National Team for the ISA world junior championships, everything for these young athletes is at stake. After the 20 minutes of non stop action, Ametza Nicholls showing why she is the defending champion, took first place with Chelsea Roett collecting a deserved second place medal. Chelsea Tuach snatched third place with a spirited performance while Jade Niccolls placed fourth and Alyssa Fernandes fifth.
With the start of the Open and Masters divisions and day one of competition firmly behind, everyone was hoping for a marked increase in wave swell. Unfortunately this was not to be. The conditions remained small but surf able. The Sunday was a perfect day for the experienced competitive surfer to come out and show off their ability to perform on less than ideal circumstances, a perfect example of the preparation involved and wave knowledge necessary to generate the power and control required to succeed in these conditions.
In the Ladies Open young Chelsea Roett got down to business. Determined to improve on her second place finish in the Girls U18 she went to work on the 2007 Ladies Open Champion Ametza Nicholls, who unwilling to relinquish her title also got down to business. After a splendid display of competitive surfing by all the finalists, Chelsea Roett took first place, closely followed by Ametza Nicholls in second and Chelsea Tuach third, with Alyssa Fernandes Fourth.
As part of the BSA’s constitution to promote the sport of surfing in all its forms, not only in it’s focus on Junior Surfing with the view to improving the level of surfing in Barbados and enable our surfers to make a mark on the world stage, it was enjoyable to see the well respected Masters Division in the water. These competitors are an integral part of the association, without who’s wealth of knowledge and expertise, our junior surfers would certainly not make the progress they are achieving as rapidly as they have.
The Masters division was ably represented with a three man final, won by Wayne Roett, second place went to Nick Donawa and third place to Kenny Tuach. In the Longboard Division, Alan Burke took top honours with a fine display of wave riding and board walking. Jay Garrett placed Second, Wayne Roett third, Kenny Tuach fourth and Jade Niccolls the only lady in the event rounding out fifth spot in this Five man final. Although conditions were again far from ideal for the Bodyboard division, three contestants bravely ventured into the water to put on a very good showing of Bodyboard skills and techniques. First place was awarded to Jason Kistoo. Second Wayne Roett with third place awarded to the newcomer to competition Alex Ince, demonstrating a variety of maneuvers that could well have placed him higher but for an unfortunate interference call in the final minutes.
The Men’s Open Final was the highlight of the day. An epic in the water as Bruce Mackie sought to overcome his earlier problems as he faced off against Lewis St. John, the earlier winner in both the U16 and U18 boys finals. Also in the finals, looking to snatch the Gold were the experienced and competition hardened Alan Burke and Adrian Small. As the horn blew for the start of the 20 minute final, the waves were still breaking 3ft to 4ft , slightly bigger on the sets, not ideal conditions for these surfers. It was critical to get in that first good scoring wave. The natural instinct for that first scoring wave was unfortunately for Lewis St. John his downfall. Interference was called against Lewis St. John on Adrian Small in their first wave. A blow that would prove impossible to recover from. As the contest progressed, it became a battle for position and control of the wave. Competitors paddling left and right looking for best position on the all important high scoring wave. As the horn sounded the end of this very exciting final you could feel the buzz through the crowded beach of spectators as they awaited the final scores. In the end Bruce Mackie triumphed with a hard earned victory over the very close run second of Alan Burke. With an additional interference call against Lewis St. John on Adrian Small, highlighting the level of frustration, snatched third place from Adrian Small in fourth place.
During the awards, the BSA President Mr. Andrew Lewis made note of the special effort made by the judging officials, time keepers and volunteers who assisted during the 2 day event, with a special thank you, namely for Mr. Bas Visser, Heineken Brand Manager in Barbados for all his support and assistance in making the first Open Men’s and Ladies divisions SOTY event at ‘Brandens’ a great success.
The next SOTY event is to be held on Long Beach Saturday Feb 2nd & 3rd. Registration 7.30am, please be early.
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