Top-level surfing returning to Jamaica

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Top-class surfing will return to Jamaica later this month with the fifth staging of the Jamaica Surfing Association's (JSA), Makka Pro Surfing contest, which be held at the Makka Surfing Beach Southaven, Yallahs, St Thomas, July 29-31.

Billy Wilmot, president of the (JSA), who announced the details of the event yesterday, said his association is expecting some of the world's best surfers from North America to compete in this year's competition.

"We are expecting the standard of surfing to be top class for the tournament, and we are anticipating a big turnout from the Jamaican public," said Wilmot, during a press conference which was held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

"We are also expecting a lot of persons from across the region, more so than even last year, because of the top-calibre surfers that we are going to have out here," he said.

"We are also expecting a lot more competitors from North America as a result of the competition that we have had over the last four years," Wilmot said.

The president added that the overall purse money for the tournament is US$10,000 and all participants will receive incentives once they make it into the quarter-finals of the competition.

Seeking more support

"We are still seeking more support from sponsors because we would like to give away about US$20,000 in prize money this year," Wilmot noted.

Jamaica's Icah Wilmot is set to defend his open title against the likes of top Barbadian surfers Josh Burke and Matthew Kidd along with competitors from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Bahamas, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and also the top points leaders from the Western Atlantic Surfing Series.

On the ladies' side, defending champion Chelsea Tauch from Barbados will be seeking her third straight hold on the trophy. Entry fee is US$100 for the open division and US$50 for the juniors and women's division, respectively.