THE BARBADOS SURFING ASSOCIATION (BSA) has unveiled new categories and more contests as it kicks off its 2009 calendar with the first event next month.
The BSA has announced a programme which now boasts 11 local contests, including a big wave event, and t
THE BARBADOS SURFING ASSOCIATION (BSA) has unveiled new categories and more contests as it kicks off its 2009 calendar with the first event next month.
The BSA has announced a programme which now boasts 11 local contests, including a big wave event, and three new categories, including a Senior Men's Division.
And it's all in an attempt to attract more wave riders to events.
A release from the BSA's new executive revealed that the Under-18 Boys' Division has been replaced by an Under-20 Boys' category in an effort to provide more exposure for those juniors.
In addition, the first Surfer Of The Year (SOTY) event, slated for South Point on Valentine's weekend, should see entrants in a pilot Senior Women's Division hitting the water.
A Grand Masters category has been reintroduced, while the Menehune and Under-12 categories have been scrapped from the SOTY events this year because conditions might prove too much for them. However, the release added that the BSA was looking at developing a series of contests specifically for those young surfers.
In addition, the BSA has unveiled a calendar of events that include six SOTY contests at venues on the south and east coasts, its scholastics championship and the major International Surfing Classic at the Soup Bowl, Bathsheba.
A new Surf Barbados Big Wave event will be contested between February and April and again between September to December.
There will also be trials for the International Surfing Association's (ISA) World Surfing Games on February 28 after which a team will be picked for the July/August event.
The first event will be held at South Point on February 14 and 15.