by HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON

THERE IS a new Caribbean Surf Network (CSN) Suzuki Brandons Beach pro.

He is Guadeloupe surfer Thibault Bremeol, who took the title from an all-star line-up that boasted three former national champions.

Bremeol, who is here studying English at the Barbados Community College, surfed away with first prize money of $2 000 and bragging rights after dethroning last year's winner Trinidadian Alan Davis.

The final was the culmination of two star-studded semi-finals – one pitting Davis against eventual winner Bremeol, top local junior Bruce Mackie and Jamaican wave rider Luke Williams, while the other read like a final in itself, with three former national champions in Holder, Stewart Stoute, and Lewis St John, along with former Under-18 finalist Jonathan Reece.

The departure of Davis and St John meant the final winner was anyone's guess.

However, it was no cakewalk for the French surfer, whose parents came in for the event.

In fact, Stoute, who is also the 2007 reigning Masters champion, matched him wave for wave from the start of the 20-minute final.

Bremeol only pulled away in points with his last wave sealing his title.

Bathsheba local Mark Holder, who demolished his competition in the quarter- and semi-finals, had to settle for fourth place after being defeated by, ironically, Mother Nature. Mackie, who appeared tired from surfing his semi- and junior final back to back, was third.

The juniors were not to be left out as they rivalled the experienced surfers in technique and showmanship.

As the wave size increased, spectators were treated to three floaters back to back to back, as Mackie, Lewis St John and Jordan Heaselgrave rolled out their arsenal for the judges.

In the end, Mackie turned the tables on his arch-rival St John who was February's winner of the Sansouci Pro in Trinidad, by taking the top spot in the Junior Division.

St John had to settle for third place with Martinique surfer Seon Millienne second and pre-teen Heaselgrave fourth.

In the ladies, it was the same faces with more or less the same result. Ametza Nicholls cemented her hold at the top of the points standings by winning the event. Chelsea Roett was second, Chelsea Tuach third, Jamaican Danielle Ohyan fourth while Jade Niccolls was fifth.

The Bodyboard was a straight final, with Martinique surfer Matias Chaya winning from Barbadians Ian Jarvis and Kwame Griffith.