BARBADOS TOP JUNIOR SURFERS DOMINATE USA EVENT

BARBADOS TOP JUNIOR SURFERS DOMINATE USA EVENT

Chelsea Roett,Chelsea Tuach and Ametza Nicholls dismantled the American girl surfers in the 16 under division while Dane Mackie just missed out on Champion status in a close fought 12 under at the just concluded 2009 Ripcurl Gromsearch event in New Smyrna beach Florida last weekend.Roett started the final with a strong right hander all the way to the beach while Nicholls favored her forehand going left executing some quick turns and down the line power surfing but failing to make the connection to the inside.Tuach opened up with a right generating lots of speed and performing her signature slash off the top on a two maneuver wave.American Kayla Durden who finished 2nd in last years event had a hard time choosing the right waves to show her true talent.Roett collected another good right to earn another high score.Tuach and Nicholls brought on a Regular foot VS Goofyfoot battle as each favored the forehands getting nice turns and good speed out of the 3-4ft semi glassy conditions but it was Roett's day,catching the best ride of the finals in the dying seconds throwing big turns and stepping off on the beach in front of hundreds of spectators to claim her first major win and a trip to Salt Creek California on Nov 14th for a chance to qualify for the finals in Bells Beach Australia.

In the 12 under Boys division Round one, Dane Mackie and Joshua Burke were in heat four together against four American surfers ,coach for the Barbadian contingent Alan Burke states" In what appeared to be a strong possibility that we were going to have at least one bajan eliminated Dane and Josh did not disappoint,even though there was a 4-5ft Bull shark 15 ft from the beach,Dane and Josh exchanged wave for wave and finished 1st and 2nd respectively advancing to the next round","Myself and a Ripcurl photographer were standing at the waters edge when this 4-5ft Bull shark swam right infront of us feeding on some bait fish". Mackie and Burke continued their exhibition of excellent surfing with Burke been eliminated in the semi finals and Mackie taking to the finals to be Barbados's lone representative in a boys finals placing a commendable 2nd behind American Justin Croteau in a close 12 under final and just missing out on a birth to Saltcreek.

In the 14under boys Joshua Burke and Gavin Fernandes were surfing well and met in Heat 1 of the quarter finals,Fernandes came up short while Burke advanced with excellent surfing and look as though he was on his way to the finals but made a tactical error that would cost him a chance at Saltcreek,California." In the first 3 minutes of the Semi ,Josh caught the highest scoring ride of the 15 min heat,riding to the beach,but the current was strong and instead of him opting to run up the beach and paddle through the rip,which he is trained to do ,he took 11 minutes to make it back to the line up and never got a second scoring ride which is vital,all he needed was a poor second wave to advance as his first score was almost high enough to go to the finals" Coach Burke said.

Overall results:

12 under Boys:1st Justin Croteau USA,2nd Dane Mackie Barbados,3rd Logan Hayes USA,4th Cobie Grittner USA.equal 5th Joshua Burke Barbados.equal 16th Gavin Fernandes Barbados,equal 20th Andrew Rose Barbados.

14 under Boys: 1st Corey Howell USA,2nd Noah Schweizer USA,3rd Eros Exarou USA,4th Daniel Calloway USA. equal 5th Joshua Burke Barbados.equal 11th Gavin Fernandes Barbados.equal 16th Dane Mackie.

16 under Girls: 1st Chelsea Roett Barbados,2nd Chelsea Tuach Barbados,3rd Ametza Nicholls Barbados. 4th Kayla Durden USA.