Rough start for Jamaica at World Surfing Games

LA BOCANA, EL SALVADOR:

THE JAMAICAN surf team encountered challenging waters on the opening day of the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador, with both of its first competitors failing to secure automatic berths to the second round, forcing them into the do-or-die repechage.

The day began at 8 a.m. with Javaun Brown in the opening heat of the competition. Brown rode four waves, with his two best scores being a 2.43 on his second attempt and a stronger 3.83 on his final ride for a combined total of 6.26.

It wasn’t enough, however, as he finished third in the heat. The heat was comfortably won by Spain’s Luis Diaz, who posted a dominant total score of 10.34.

Reflecting on his performance, Brown pointed to a single costly error. “I thought I surfed pretty good, but I made a mistake and got caught out of position for the wave that would have given me the score that I needed.”

Later in the day, compatriot Elishama Beckford suffered a similar fate in Heat 5. Beckford managed a total of 6.00 points from his four waves. After starting strong with a 4.00 on his opening ride, he was unable to find a higher backup score, ultimately scoring just 2.00 on his final attempt. The heat was won by another Spaniard, Yago Dominguez, with a high score of 13.40.

Despite the results, coach, Icah Wilmot, remained optimistic, focusing on the positives from his surfers’ performances.

“This morning, the surfers surfed pretty good. It came down to a couple of small slips and mistakes. Javaun surfed a really good heat, and then he took a wave and got caught on the inside and was out of position for the best wave of the heat, and that set him back.”

Speaking on Beckford’s heat, Wilmot added, “Elishama surfed really solid and took advantage of some really good waves. But sadly, he slipped and fell on the finishing manoeuvre on one of the waves that would have given him that score right in the dying end of the heat.”

Wilmot emphasised that the foundation for success is still there, with the surfers urged to be more confident and aggressive.

“This team is still surfing really solid and looking really good out in the water. The strategies that we had for the heats played out really well. Just need to fine-tune a few small details. And we’re looking forward to the next round where we’re gonna put on an even better show.”

Both Brown and Beckford will get a second chance to advance in the competition when they compete in the repechage round.

The Jamaican campaign continues today with third-ranked Ackeam Phillips set to go in heat 45.