THE BEST of local surfing talent takes to the waves of the East Coast this weekend as the Barbados Surfing Association's (BSA) Lazy Days/Sprite Nationals surf off at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba.

Up for grabs is a $2 000 purse in the men's open division and $1 000

for the best female

surfer in the island.

This year's competition, said BSA president Andrew Lewis, promises

to be bigger and better than ever before, providing the waves are up

to Soup Bowl standard.

"This year, we are really trying to bring it back

to what it was before and we want to have a nice two-day event," he said.

"I believe we should get really good competition, especially from the surfers who are lured by the prize money, provided we get

a good wave. If the waves are good and with the prize money, it could be the best Nationals,"

he said.

Lewis added that

the BSA was trying to recapture the glory of past National Surfing Championships with

this year's competition.

"Years ago, Nationals used to be a big event. It used to be a big thing to be crowned national champion," he said.

Last year's champion Stefan Corbin will be back in the water to defend his title against the likes

of Lewis St John and Jordan Heaselgrave

who is just back from

a fifth-place finish in a competition in Venezuela.

Also looking to regain her form is last year's winner Ametza Nicholls who injured her back earlier this year. She

is up against the Chelseas - Chelsea Roett and Chelsea Tuach - the

two most improved

female surfers.

The best top four open surfers will compete for $800 first place prize; $600 second place purse and $400 and $200 third and fourth-place prizes respectively.

In the women, the top four finishers will receive $400, $300, $200

and $100 respectively.

Lewis hopes the increase in prize money would be an incentive

to all local surfers, especially those who do not normally compete

on the local circuit.

He added the competition could see as many as 48 local male surfers and 16 females taking to the water

in the two-day event.

The event, which

is in its 27th year, has seen champions like Peter Hill, Alan Burke, Mark Holder, Edmund Holder, Jason Stanley, Joe Gamble, Simon Coles, Anderson Mayers and Wendell Anderson

taking the top prize.

Registration closes at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and competition is expected in the Men's Open, Under-18 Boys', Under-16 Boys', the Ladies' Open, Under-18 Girls', body-board,

Longboard, Masters

and Under 12.

The Barbados Surfing Association and Lazy Days surf shop present the 2008 Lazy Days National Championships.

The Barbados Surfing Association and Lazy Days surf shop present the 2008 Lazy Days National Championships.

25 years in the making, come see our national surfers compete for the title of National Champion for 2008.

Divisions contested will be the highly competitive Open Men & Women divisions with total cash purses of $2000 Bds. for the men and $1000 Bds. in the woman's category.
Other categories will be the Under 18 Boys & Girls, Under 16 Boys, Combined Under 12 and not forgetting the more experienced Masters and Longboarding divisions. Rounding off all the divisions will be a highly anticipated Open Bodyboarding Division.

Come support our surfers and the BSA as we celebrate our 25th year of existence.This event is geared to be one of the best as projected 2-3 meter swells are expected to bless the shores of Soup Bowl. Pablo Donte's Bar & Grill will be on site serving up cold drinks and yummy eats while our resident DJ will entertain you with the latest and the greatest.

Bring your family and friends for a weekend of sun and surf and come support of our local surfers as they showcase their talents for the right to be called National Champion.