Barbados’ Premier surfing event, the Independence Pro, took place last week-end at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba in highly contestable, chest to head high waves. The Open Men’s Division attracted some forty-eight competitors from the United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the French and English-speaking Caribbean. This Division was characterized by a high standard of surfing from the very first round with both local and international surfers displaying the full repertorie of explosive, progressive manoevres that make surfing such an exciting sport and which delighted the crowds on the beach. The stand-out local surfers in this Division were the veteran, Stewart Stoute, and top junior surfer, Joshua Burke, who both surfed impressively all week-end long and ended equal fifth overall.
The four man final was an international affair with Cody Thompson from the United States taking the win with his explosive surfing and walking away with the US$4000 first place prize. Second was seventeen year old Noah Schweizer from New Smyrna Beach who surfed strong throughout the event. Third was Guadeloupe’s top junior boy, Timothé Bissot while Nathan Behl, another solid surfer from the United States, rounded out the top four.
The Open Women’s Division featured four surfers with Chelsea Roett taking the win from another veteran surfer, Melanie Pitcher who was second. Third was former national swimmer Alexis Jordan and fourth was Jessica Williams from Jamaica.
At the Prize-giving ceremony, BSA President, Mr. Brian Allan, expressed the Association’s gratitude to the sponsors for their contribution to the huge success of the event and the residents of Soup Bowl, Bathsheba for being such gracious hosts.
