Pulsating end to surf season opener at South Haven

The Jamaica Surfing Association kicked off its 2026 season dramatically last Saturday at South Haven with a final-minute heroic display that will be talked about for the rest of the year.

In a full day of high-performance surfing, athletes were greeted by challenging but consistent conditions, with waves holding steady and the largest sets pushing into the seven-foot range.

Gusty winds added a layer of technical difficulty, testing the precision and wave selection of the island’s best surfers.

However, it was the Open Division final that truly delivered the fireworks.

After a gruelling day of heats, the final four - Elishama Beckford, Ivah Wilmot, Akeem Taylor, and Ronald Hastings - took to the water, with the season’s first title on the line.

Ivah Wilmot, who had been the standout performer in the semi-finals after beating Beckford, carried that momentum into the final, establishing an early lead with a series of confident and well-executed rides.

Meanwhile, Taylor, from Boston Beach in Portland, energised the sparse beach crowd with his explosive, dynamic style, while Beckford lurked, consistently positioning himself for high-scoring opportunities.

As the clock wound down, it looked as though Wilmot might have done enough.

But Beckford had saved his best for last. In a breathtaking final-minute showdown, he launched into a decisive 360-degree aerial manoeuvre, landing cleanly before blasting the section with a powerful closing turn.

The combination sent the beach into a frenzy and proved just enough to eclipse Wilmot’s total, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

In the end, Beckford amassed 1,000 points to Wilmot’s 860, while Taylor ended third after racking up 730 points.

Hastings rounded out the top four with 670 points.

Earlier in the day, the future of Jamaican surfing took centre stage in the Junior Division, setting an inspiring tone for the event.

The young surfers displayed remarkable courage and skill on waves that were particularly challenging for the smaller competitors.

When the scores were tallied, Menackem Wilmot came out on top with 1,000 points, followed by Gabrielle Chung with 860, Mikias Wilmot with 730, and Khori Valentine with 670.

President of the Jamaica Surfing Association, Inilek Wilmot, says the first event was a great advert for the rest of the season.

“We had some really good waves for this opening contest, and that has been a challenge for us with the cold front not producing the type of waves we would need to host events. This week has been good, though, and we anticipate more favourable conditions when we have our next event on March 14 in Buff Bay.”