Brian Talma has an unlikely companion as he prepares to make some waves. (GP)

BARBADOS' international windsurfer Brian Talma recently returned home after placing third in the United Kingdom's inaugural Stand-Up Paddle Surfing Championships at Watergate Bay, Newquay.

Competing in the open category, Talma despite having to contend with jet lag, revelled in the conditions, making some excellent wave selections and pulling off a number of stylish cut-backs.

His constant, now familiar, cry from the surf of "action" added to the excitement for fans on the beach. But the final was eventually dominated by Elliot Dudley and Lewis Timson, who both had some very long waves to help in their quest for glory.

In the end it was Dudley, the two-time European longboard champion, who took the title, with Timson's drop-knee turns bringing him within a whisker of the title. Timson is the head lifeguard at Watergate Bay.

Speaking to the DAILY NATION, Talma said stand-up paddle surfing was one of the fastest growing surfing events in the world. Talma, who who has been promoting Barbados and its beach culture internationally, has been in action over the past year in Hong Kong, Holland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hawaii, Russia and England.

The driving force behind Barbados' annual Waterman Festival, Talma placed first in the Freeman Surf Festival in Germany in May, third in the Bonaire Classic in August, and first in the Holland Surf Festival (long distance) earlier this month.

Beach culture

"We have great beaches in Barbados and the whole concept of a beach culture and promoting that culture, tied into sporting activity, can really push Barbados' tourism even further. This is a natural sport worldwide with a huge following," he said.

Talma, and by extension, Barbados and its beach culture, have been receiving international exposure in major surfing publications over the past months.

The German magazine Surf has an eight-page feature on Barbados and Talma in its March edition, as well as a six-page follow-up in July and another six-page feature in the August edition. The United States' publication Wind Surfing has a similar five-page feature.

Talma thanked sponsors, Virgin Atlantic and Caribbean Lumber & Building Supplies, among others, for facilitating his efforts. (WG)