Mackie stars in surfing event

ON TOP OF THINGS: Dane Mackie riding a wave to victory. (GP)

Sun, March 04, 2012 - 12:03 AM

Dane Mackie, Barbados’ top junior surfer, has shown once again that he is a force to be reckoned with.

He proved he is a true champion recently when he competed in last weekend’s Surfer Of The Year – Event 1, held by the Barbados Surfing Association at Brandons, St Michael.

The goofy footer, who is sponsored by Lost Enterprises, Arnette and Jada, was on fire the entire day and showed no sign of fatigue through the two-day event and four divisions he competed in.

His level of surfing was at its highest as he performed his signature front side air reverses and lip 360s along with his floaters, powerful and radical power carves and big off-the-top hacks.

Mackie emerged the winner of the Under-16, Under-18, Under-21 and Open divisions.

In the Open division, which was the most competitive, Mackie came up against his brother Bruce, and Joshua and Alan Burke.

Outsurfing his competitors, Dane performed an assault of manoeuvres that earned him first place.

Mackie’s triumphs last weekend are testimony of his fine form, having ended 2011 as the champion in the 14-and-Under, Under-16 and Under-18 divisions.

He will be competing in the upcoming 48th annual Ron Jon Pro Am Easter Surfing Event during Easter and the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Championships 2012 in Panama in April. (PR)