IT WAS THE PERFECT day for surfing as the Barbados Surfing Association held its Nationals at the Soup Bowl, in Bathsheba, St Joseph, yesterday.
While very little wind might have turned other parts of the island into a sauna, it resulted in absolutely perfect conditions on the East Coast with swells ranging from three to five feet.
And today, surfers are hoping for a repeat of those conditions as they take to the water in the finals of seven divisions.
“The conditions are absolutely perfect. There is not a breath of wind down here and the waves are in the overhead range of three to five feet. It’s really good for the kids because it is showcasing what they’re worth and what their talent is and we couldn’t ask for better waves for the Nationals,” said BSA treasurer Louis Venezia.
“Because the waves are so good, the kids who are familiar with the waves and familiar with competition are doing well,” he added.
The number of surfers turning out for the competition, noted Venezia, was higher than usual.
“It (the numbers of surfers entered) was above normal but everybody does come out and support the Nationals,” he said.
It is the last local event on the BSA calendar before the association’s major ASP rated competition in November. Local surfers took the opportunity to get in some water time before surfing off against the best of international junior surfers.
It is also the last qualifying event for selection to the national team and in the local Surfer of the Year Series.
Yesterday the Mackie brothers – Dane and Bruce, along with Jacob Burke, Zander Venezia and Che Allan all showed their skills and competition experience as they made it through to yesterday’s semi-finals.
And by the end of the day’s competition, they had secured their spots in today’s finals, with Allan and Venezia slated to compete in three finals.
Competition was held in the Under-10, Under-12, Under-16 Boys, Under-18 Boys, Under-16 Girls, Under-18 Girls, Open men and women, Stand Up Paddleboard, long board and Masters divisions.
The finals of the Under-16 girls, Stand Up Paddle Board and the long board divisions were run yesterday but those results will be announced today, at the event’s presentation ceremony.
Competition starts at 8 a.m.
