AMETZA NICHOLLS and Lewis St John are the island's top national surfers.
They claimed the top spots and prize money when the Barbados Surfing Association's (BSA) Sprite/Lazy Days Nationals concluded over the weekend at the Soup Bowl, Bathsheba.
In four- to six-feet waves, the two darlings of local surfing were made to fight for every point on every wave in their keenly contested events.
The men's final was especially competitive, as the few waves made wave selection critical, but St John eventually took the top spot from Jake Corbin, Bruce Mackie and Stefan Corbin. He claimed top prize money of $800, and also copped the top spot in the Under-18 Boys' Division.
Nicholls won the women's final and the top prize purse of $400 from Chelsea Tuach, Chelsea Roett and Allyssa Fernandes, signalling
that she was back
and fully recovered from an injury sustained in France which sidelined her for most of the year.
However, the best and hottest action came in the Boys' Under-18 final.
Jordan Heaselgrave, who is definitely one to look for in the coming years, was first up after the horn and shredded his wave with power and speed belying his young
teen years.
Mackie, always one to keep an eye on, then signalled the contest was on with two barrel rides in the same ride. But Heaselgrave, right behind him on another wave, proved he could ride his own barrel too, and did just that to the delight of the crowd.
However, St John,
as if to avenge his defeat
in the Under-16 Division, destroyed his waves - shredding them, snapping off the top and creating big spray that eventually found favour with the judges.
Winners in the other divisions were Jordan Heaselgrave in the
Under-16 Boys; Paul Larrier in the Body Board;
Christian Boos in the
Long Board category;
Chelsea Roett in the
Under-18 Girls,
and Stewart Stoute
in the Masters Division.