By Billy Wilmot – Jamaican Surfing Association www.geocities.com/jasurfas

SURFERS GEAR UP FOR 2009 NATIONAL OPEN EVENT # 1
The Jamaica Surfing Association’s 2009 contest season will kick off on Saturday, January 24th at the Lighthouse Surfing Beach at Plumb Point along the Palisadoes peninsula beginning at 9:00 am.

All of Jamaica’s top surfers are expected to take part in this event as the results from it will set the tone for the annual point’s battle for the title of 2009 National Open Champion and selection for the 2010 National Open Team.

The 2008 Champ Icah Wilmot, who finished strongly last year with 3 wins and 2 second place showings, will now be pressed to defend his title by the top challengers. The other four events of the annual 5 event series are spread throughout the year climaxing in December.

Local surfing conditions are very good at this time of year. The regular winter cold fronts which swing off North America out over the Atlantic send powerful “swells” down into the Caribbean, creating high surf conditions along Jamaica’s northeast and southeast coasts.

The result of which can be observed near Kingston as one drives along the peninsula towards the Norman Manley Airport, or at world famous beaches like “Boston Bay” and “Long Bay” in Portland.

Jamaica’s surfing is now followed closely by the international surfing world and local surfers have now started to attract international sponsorship attention.

Local surfers such as 2008 National Open Champ Icah Wilmot has wooed the hearts of sponsors such as INSIGHT Clothing, QUASHI Surfboards, NIXON Watches, REEF footwear and ON-A-MISSION surf accessories who all help to promote his career by using his images in advertising campaigns and facilitating his attendance at numerous international Pro/Am events throughout the region and around the world.

The public is invited to attend the event but please remember your beach towels, umbrellas, water and picnic basket as it will be an all day affair. Below are last year’s series results. Competitors’ best 4 results were tallied with
the fifth event reserved for tie break situations

Jamaican surfers shine at US 2008 Jupiter Fall Classic

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 November, 2008 : - -

Jamaica’s top surfers were on show at the 2008 Jupiter Fall Classic surf contest on the 14, 15 and 16 November in Jupiter Beach Florida. Young 11 year old Ivah Wilmot had the delegation’s best result when he posted a 4th place finish in the US Eastern Surfing Associations Junior amateur division.

Jamaica’s’ top under 18 surfer at the event, Ackeam Phillips from Bull Bay St Andrew made it to the money rounds with a 5th place finish in the Junior Men’s Pro division

The Floridian beach was buzzing with a carnival like atmosphere due to the presence of the famous and vociferous Jamaicans. The spectators who were on hand lent their support with loud wild cheers for every manoeuvre whenever a Jamaican the hit the water for a heat. . At one stage with Ackeam won back to back heats in the second and third rounds with impressive displays of surfing skill which brought the crowd on the beach to their feet!

JSA President and leader of the delegation Mr. Billy Wilmot said that it was a major milestone for Jamaican Surfing. “To have our surfers, especially the juniors, performing at this level and looking so good out in the water against top calibre US opposition was really encouraging. Ackeam, Ivah, Inilek and Icah were all forces to be reckoned with throughout the event putting many East Coast hopefuls behind them and out of the running.”

Quashi Surfboards was well represented with a “surf clinic” being run by the Brandolini Foundation for children where over 30 Quashi surfboards were given away to young children who attended. The JSA is now implementing a “Learn to surf” program at the Yallahs High School with support from Quashi Surfboards and fund raising efforts by the school.

“The school program is a dream of mine which I hope to bring to reality” said Mr. Wilmot, “I would like to see an inter school surfing competition series up and running in Jamaica which would form an avenue leading to opportunities for athletic youth to pursue careers in pro surfing and/or within the international surfing industry generally.”

This year as in ’05 and ‘06 surfboards the team was sponsored by our brand - Quashi International and the trip for the team was thankfully sponsored by the Brandolini Foundation.

If you missed it... you really missed it!

Makka pro goes off!

With surfers from the Caribbean islands like Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and even a few from the US, the second annual contest was bound to be a hit. The crowds came out even after tropica storm Dolly swept away the tents and scaffolding that took four men to construct. But all this was great for the surf. Waves came up and the surfers got more and more stoked to be in Jamaica for one of the only pro events in the region.

Quashi and family form a family team!

Congrats out to Mama Leanne who brought another soldier into the world to join the Quashi family. Introducing Jahnyah Mitchell. Born in Florida after Jah sent a bee to sting Mama, sending her to the hospital and bringing the youth forward in as quick as an hour and half...

Young brother Maijah was there for the whole thing while Jahsiah (eldest brother age 5) was in school... what a day...