Surf’s up for Nat’l Championships in Bull Bay

The waves of Copa Beach, Bull Bay, will be the stage for Jamaica’s surfing elite today as the Jamaica Surfing Association (JSA) hosts the highly anticipated 2025 National Surfing Championships.

JSA President Inilek Wilmot confirmed the event as the “culminating event” for a dynamic competitive year, which saw two local contests and a national team campaign in El Salvador at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games.

“It took a lot of energy and focus,” said Wilmot of the international trip, “so now this is the big one for our local surfers to showcase their talent.”

The championships will feature a unique, limited-entry draw designed to crown Jamaica’s best.

The top eight-ranked surfers from the season’s two previous events are guaranteed a spot in the premier division.

However, Wilmot indicated flexibility, noting that travel or availability could open the field.

“We’ll have lower-ranked people, or those who may never have entered events and never received a rank, able to enter as well. The plan is for a 16-surfer draw, blending the established top eight with eight additional competitors.

Heading into the contest, the men’s rankings are led by the dominant Elishama Beckford, who boasts a perfect 2,000 points from two event wins.

He is pursued by Portland-based Javaun Brown (1530) and Icah Wilmot (1470), setting the stage for a fierce showdown for the national title.

In a landmark development for the sport locally, Wilmot anticipates a breakthrough in women’s surfing.

“At none of the contests we had enough girls entering, so I think this might be the first event where we really have a proper girls’ division.”

The event will be a festival of surfing, with divisions extending beyond the open title.

Competitions for juniors, longboarders, and masters are also scheduled. The masters division will carry special significance, proudly sponsored by the Latvian Regatta sailing competition.