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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Wilmots dominate first National Team Qualifier</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Observer Reporter
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>Boston Beach in Portland was host to 29 of the island's top surfers as the Jamaica Surfing Association held its first of the three National Team Qualifying Series events, which saw victories for Icah Wilmot in the Men's Open division and his sister Imani in the Women's Open.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The waves were six feet, eight inches for the duration of the day's activities, which saw 12 heats of very competitive surfing in front of a very appreciative crowd.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The first round had five heats which cut the field in half for Round Two in which the three heats further narrowed the field for the semi-finals.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men took a break for the women's final, which saw Imani Wilmot, Elim Beckford, Danielle O'Hayon and Esther Beckford paddling out for the 20-minute heat.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The ladies rode 22 waves among them, with loud cheers being heard from the beach as the girls executed daring manoeuvres in the crashing surf.<P class=StoryText align=justify>When the final whistle sounded, the judges unanimously found Imani the winner with Elim second, Danielle third and Esther fourth.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men went out for their two third-round heats and when the semi-finals ended, of the 25 who started, five surfers remained for the final showdown - Icah Wilmot, his brother Inilek, Luke Williams, young Ackeam Phillips and Boston's own Tristan English.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The final was scheduled for 25 minutes with the surfers having a limit of 10 waves from which the points of their best two would be totalled for their final score.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Forty waves were ridden among the surfers in a furious exchange which had one surfer ahead on the judges' scorecards one minute and another ahead after the next exchange of waves. The crowd on the beach cheered each surfer as they executed radical moves on the critical spots of the waves.
The final whistle sounded and the crowd waited for the judges' scores to be tallied. When the spray settled it took two sets of tie-break calculations to separate the athletes, who were all deserving of the points on offer.
When the results were read it was Icah first, Inilek and Luke tied for second, Ackeam in third and Tristan in fourth.
"The standard of local surfing has improved tremendously, especially in the Under-18 surfers here at Boston," said JSA president Billy Wilmot.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"It's obvious that the development work that we have been doing with the youth members in terms of their exposure to international competition has paid off in a big way.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Look at how many Under-12 kids are surfing now, and look how enthusiastic they are. We have secured funding for some of our programmes for next year which will ensure that the youth of eastern Jamaica continue to improve their talents in the sport of surfing and access opportunities for personal development," he said.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Observer Reporter
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>Boston Beach in Portland was host to 29 of the island's top surfers as the Jamaica Surfing Association held its first of the three National Team Qualifying Series events, which saw victories for Icah Wilmot in the Men's Open division and his sister Imani in the Women's Open.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The waves were six feet, eight inches for the duration of the day's activities, which saw 12 heats of very competitive surfing in front of a very appreciative crowd.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The first round had five heats which cut the field in half for Round Two in which the three heats further narrowed the field for the semi-finals.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men took a break for the women's final, which saw Imani Wilmot, Elim Beckford, Danielle O'Hayon and Esther Beckford paddling out for the 20-minute heat.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The ladies rode 22 waves among them, with loud cheers being heard from the beach as the girls executed daring manoeuvres in the crashing surf.<P class=StoryText align=justify>When the final whistle sounded, the judges unanimously found Imani the winner with Elim second, Danielle third and Esther fourth.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men went out for their two third-round heats and when the semi-finals ended, of the 25 who started, five surfers remained for the final showdown - Icah Wilmot, his brother Inilek, Luke Williams, young Ackeam Phillips and Boston's own Tristan English.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The final was scheduled for 25 minutes with the surfers having a limit of 10 waves from which the points of their best two would be totalled for their final score.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Forty waves were ridden among the surfers in a furious exchange which had one surfer ahead on the judges' scorecards one minute and another ahead after the next exchange of waves. The crowd on the beach cheered each surfer as they executed radical moves on the critical spots of the waves.
The final whistle sounded and the crowd waited for the judges' scores to be tallied. When the spray settled it took two sets of tie-break calculations to separate the athletes, who were all deserving of the points on offer.
When the results were read it was Icah first, Inilek and Luke tied for second, Ackeam in third and Tristan in fourth.
"The standard of local surfing has improved tremendously, especially in the Under-18 surfers here at Boston," said JSA president Billy Wilmot.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"It's obvious that the development work that we have been doing with the youth members in terms of their exposure to international competition has paid off in a big way.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Look at how many Under-12 kids are surfing now, and look how enthusiastic they are. We have secured funding for some of our programmes for next year which will ensure that the youth of eastern Jamaica continue to improve their talents in the sport of surfing and access opportunities for personal development," he said.