BARBADOS JUNIOR SURFING CLUB CONTINGENT RAIDS RON JONS SURF FESTIVAL & ROB MACHADO SEASIDE PRO“The Bajan Invasion” the announcers dubbed it, and for all intents and purposes the junior surfers in part sponsored by the Barbados Junior Surfing Club had taken over the 47th Annual Ron Jons Surf Festival by storm with 5 of the 9 BJSC surfer contingent placing in their respective finals of the event. On the opposite side of the US continent Chelsea Roett was making her mark in the West at the Rob Machado ASP 4-Star Pro Junior, her debut Association of Surfing Professionals event and official launch of her professional surfing career.
Chelsea held the surfing community of Barbados’ collective heart in their mouth as she blasted a last minute wave to score a 4.67 and move on from her first round of the ASP Rob Machado Pro Junior event, prompting announcers to wonder where the Bajan lass arrived from. She would confidentially surf her way through to the semi finals, where she bowed out to eventual event winner Lakey Peterson, and finished equal 7th and making her mark on the ASP World Tour. The event is the first of three stops on the Women’s ASP North America Pro Junior Series where the winner qualifies for the ASP Women’s World Junior Tour. As such the semi final placing will provide Chelsea with a much needed ASP seeding for the future and start off her ASP campaign with a great position.
Over on the East Coast an electric Joshua Burke would stamp his mark on the Men’s Pro division at the Ron Jons Surf Festival. Surfing against seasoned pros Billabong sponsored 14-year old Burke, fresh off a week long training session in Costa Rica with surfing legend and former US Team Coach, Jim Hogan, would combine power turns with progressive airs and reverses to march through the pro rounds. Burke would have double duty surfing between two podiums at the event rushing from one heat to another at the other podium over a mile away. The results would pay off and Joshua would close out his campaign with a 3rd in the Men’s Pro, a 3rd in the Boys 14 & Under as well as an equal 7th semi final berth in the Junior Men’s Under 18.
Not to be outdone Dane Mackie the 13-year old goofy footer would demolish the waist to shoulder high lefts breaking off of Cocoa Beach’s Pier with fluid top turns, tail slides and reverses right through to the inside of the line-up. His performances were on point throughout the three day event and Dane would finish 2nd overall in the Boys 14 & Under division, the highest placing from any of the BJSC contingent of junior boys. Dane would also place =5th in the Junior Men’s division.
The largest contingent of junior representatives were our up and coming Menehunes age group, ranging form age 9-12 these young shredders attempted every age division they could and they impressed both the Club and the event officials attracting exposure from the announcers, surf industry representatives and Florida press alike. Current BJSC 12 & Under division leader, goofy footer Che Allan, would find Cocoa Beach lefts familiar territory as he matched his prior year result with a 3rd place finish in the Ron Jons Menehune 12 & Under division with fellow Bajan grom Andrew Rose also surfing through the tough junior competition in the final to a 4th place finish overall. Che and Andrew, who were the only finalists from this age grouping, would also compete in the Boys 14 & Under and Junior Men’s facing near back to back heats as the days progressed, they would finish equal 5th and 9th respectively in the 14 & Under division and equal 9th and 17th in the Junior Men’s Under 18 respectively.
9- year old Zander Venezia caught the attention of the announcers as he battled his way through the much older Junior Men’s contingent to a solid quarter final finish of =13th, Zander’s dad Louis would comment to the Florida press “I don’t think Zander’s intimidated by the bigger kids. In fact, I think the older kids are intimidated by him. They don’t want to lose to a little kid.” Jacob Burke would also impress with his solid =5th semi final finish in the Menehune 12 & Under. Displaying much of the same technique instilled on him by dad and coach, Alan Burke, which has launched his brother’s professional career, young Burke would excel in the small conditions and demonstrate potential to be a future super star. Evan Moll would also display some big turns in the small beach break surf, however, Evan would finish the event with an equal 17th in the Menehune 12 & Under and Boys 14 & Under. Evan will be attending the Volcom’s VQS Championship in California this week.
The BJSC Girls contingent would surf the southern podium of the Festival at Sheppard Park. Isabella Venezia who was a finalist previously at the Cocoa Beach’s NKF Surf Festival in September 2010 would make a repeat visit to the finals of the Amateur Girls 12 & Under where she would finish 2nd overall. Isabella is leading the charge for the BJSC’s junior girls as the Club seeks the future of Barbados’ female surfing.
Chelsea Tuach has made her mark in international surfing and like her namesake Chelsea Roett is a role model for our young female surfers. Chelsea is familiar with the US East Coast and Cocoa Beach having won the Women’s Pro division at the NKF Surf Festival at Cocoa Beach in August last year. She accompanied BJSC President and Coach, Alan Burke, with Joshua Burke to training in Costa Rica prior to attending the Ron Jons. Chelsea would surf the Women’s Pro to an =equal 5th finish overall.
The Barbados Junior Surfing Club is pleased with the progress of our junior surfers and ecstatic with their performances. The return home was punctuated with a fantastic night out to celebrate at the invitation of Café Sol, with great Mexican food and lively surfing entertainment. The Club congratulates all of its contingent , Chelsea Roett on her fantastic ASP debut, and the up and coming groms for their assault on the Ron Jon Surf Festival. The Club looks forward to assisting and training the future of Barbados’ surfing and hosting a larger team for the targeted summer events the Rip Curl Grom Search, NKF Surf Festival and East Coast Surf Championships.
Final Team Placing
Josh Burke: Mens Pro 3rd; 14&U 3rd, U18 =7th
Dane Mackie 14&U 2nd; U18 =5th
Che Allan: 12&U 3rd; 14&U =5th; U18 =9th
Andrew Rose 12&U 4th; 14&U =9th
Jacob Burke: 12&U =5th; 14&U =9th
Zander Venezia: 12&U =9th; 14&U =9th; U18 =13th
Evan Moll: 12&U =17th; 14&U =17th; U18 =25th
Bella Venezia: 12&U Girls 2nd
Chelsea Tuach: Pro Girls: =5th
