Jensen Callaway wins Makka Pro!

The Jamaica Surfing Association’s (JSA) 5th annual Makka Pro surfing contest was held at the world famous Makka surfing beach in Southaven Yallahs Saint Thomas on July 30-31 and attracted thousands of spectators to witness world class surfing performances from the region’s top athletes. The event was a family affair with music, craft and food venders, rides for the children and product sampling by numerous sponsors.

Jensen Callaway takes top honors!

Jensen Callaway, Jeremy Johnson, Alexis Lautkzer, Leslie Dickerson from USA, Joshua Bourke, Jordan Heaslegrave and, Mathew Kidd from Barbados and Chris Dennis, Jason Aparicio and Dario Jordan from Trinidad and Tobago squared off against Jamaica’s best for cash, prizes and Western Atlantic Pro Surf Series (WAPSS) points on offer.

Jordan Heaselgrave won the Pro Junior Division.

The crowd was treated to two days of exciting surfing in waves ranging from two to four feet. Intermittent rain squalls kept things interesting as competitive action out in the water had the crowd cheering on their favorites at every spectacular move.

The US’s Jensen Callaway and Jeremy Johnson finished in the top two spots of the men’s open division with stiff opposition being offered from third and fourth place finishers Barbados’ young Josh Bourke and 2010 Makka Pro Champion Jamaica’s Icah Wilmot.

In the junior division Jordan and Josh, the two young Bajans, finished first and second and stamped their dominance over Jamaica’s Shane Simmonds and Ackeam Phillips. The women’s division on the other hand was another matter entirely with Imani Wilmot and Danielle Ohayon taking the top two spots over the two Americans Leslie and Alexis in 3rd and 4th, and Jamaican Elim Beckford in 5th.

“The Makka Pro has become the biggest public spectacle in Saint Thomas…” said JSA President Billy Wilmot. “… With corporate confidence in our efforts building steadily at each renewal, it is now a major calendar event for Saint Thomas, Jamaica, the Caribbean region and the world surfing community.”

The Jamaica Tourist Board under its “Once You Go You Know” campaign has bought into the JSA’s vision for the development of surfing at the eastern end of the island and has signed on as a sponsorship partner for the annual event. Saint Thomas which has missed out on much of Jamaica’s tourism industry publicity and development, ironically due in large part to its consistently rough seas, is now garnering international attention because of its waves and the Makka Pro.

The CARIBBEAN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 official standings! Young Bajan Phenom Joshua Burke leads the race as we head into the final event of the Championship Series in Soup Bowl, Barbados, Burkes home turf! The overall winner will be the first to etch his name into the newly commissioned Caribbean Surfing Trinidad Tobago Championship Trophy donated by the Jamaican Surfing Association. Equally important, the winner will receive an opportunity to defend his title next year with airline tickets to all the non-indigenous Caribbean events sponsored by the JSA, SATT, BSA and WAPSS. Stay tuned for the final event, the BSA Independence Pro in October!