THIS YEAR was one which Ché Allan will fondly remember as the teenage surfer was simply awesome in the water.
The 15-year-old St Winifred’s student was arguably the most outstanding junior male surfer as he dominated the local surfing scene.
He started the year by winning both the Under-16 and Under-18 Scholastic Championship in March.
Thereafter, he dominated the Barbados Surfing Association’s Surfer Of The Year (SOTY) series of four contests, winning both the Under-16 and Under-18 divisions.
In the Under-16 division, Allan achieved a clean sweep, winning every event but he did not participate in the Open Men’s division in this series, opting to focus on his top age divisions.
He, however took part in the two-day Open Men’s division at the Nationals in October. At this event, he became the first triple national champion, winning his Under-16 age group, the Under-18 division and the prestigious Open Men’s Championship.
Allan’s year was not yet over as in the Barbados Independence Pro, he again won the Under-16 division from a strong international field. He was the only Bajan to reach the final.
His major success overseas was finishing 13th at the International Surfing Association (ISA) championships in Ecuador.
This was the highest ever position achieved by a junior male at these games, which are considered the Olympics of surfing.
Next year, will be a critical one for Allan as he has to finish his CXC examinations so that he can then concentrate his energies on surfing both locally and internationally.
He has thanked his sponsors VISSLA, Channel Islands Surfboards, Dragon eyewear and Aloe Gator Caribbean for assisting him this year.
