ALL ON TRACK FOR 2011 MAKKA PRO

By Billy Wilmot, JSA President.

All is on track for the 5^th staging of Jamaica’s Annual International Professional Surf Contest “The Makka Pro” at Makka Surfing Beach Southaven Yallahs Saint Thomas. An official event press launch is scheduled for 15 July at the Spanish Court Hotell in New Kingston. The contest is the 4^th event in the 2011 Western Atlantic Pro Surf Series http://www.westernatlanticsurf.com and is expected to draw some of the US East coast and Caribbean top pro surfers for series points and US$10K in cash and prizes.

Top local surfer Icah Wilmot warming up to defend his title.

Jason Apericio, Che Lovelace and Chris Dennis are expected to come up from the twin island republic of T&T with top Bajan surf stars Jordan Heaslegrave, Jonathan Reece, young Joshua Bourke and defending ladies champ Chelsea Tuach also expected to be in attendance. Local pro stars Icah and Inilek Wilmot, Ackeam Phillips, Shane Simmonds and Luke Williams are expected to defend Jamaica’s honor at the event.

As one of the events on the Jamaica Tourist Board’s 2011 “once you go you know” campaign calendar, the event is attracting major press attention around the globe as Jamaica’s name continues to climb up the surf destination ladder and more and more traveling surfers choose Jamaica as a viable option for their surf vacations.

This event goes a long way towards legitimizing Jamaica as a class surfing destination. To date the Makka Pro has enjoyed exceptional quality surf at each renewal much to the delight of the attending athletes and as a result is one of the most popular annual surf events in the English speaking Caribbean. The benefit to the community of Southaven comes in the form of visiting surfers who take up car and bicycle rental, bed and breakfast, and vacation tour options. The Southaven Citizens Association has embraced the event and is now committed to promoting eastern Jamaica as the islands surfing epicenter.