Che Allan confirmed his status as one of the island’s most accomplished surfers by winning the 2017 Hyundai Independence Surf Pro contest at the Soup Bowl on Sunday.
In a dazzling and confident display of board skills, 18 year-old Allan slammed his opposition in the men’s open final with a final score of 14.40 at the Bathsheba beach-break.
Before hundreds of local and visiting spectators, Allan’s win reflected impressive scores of 8.17 and 6.23 on his second and fifth waves, respectively.
Leo-Paul Etienne, who posted 12.57 points, placed second.
Allan’s performance earned him a cash prize of $5 000 and another local title to add to his range of junior and senior titles in Barbados and on the WSL tour, where he is currently ranked No. 3 in the Americas.
Etienne, of Guadeloupe, also impressed, particularly when he rode his third wave almost to shore and notched 6.71 points.
It was a surf-off that included three Barbadians. Brothers Jacob (6.90) and Josh Burke (5.90) were third and fourth, respectively, in an impressive display of local talent.
Among the women, American Rachel Presti edged hometown girl Chelsea Roett on the count-back system after both finished on 9.44 points.
The Barbadian had jumped to an early lead when she smashed the opposition, posting a 4.67 rating on her first wave to Presti’s 4.17. However, the American moved ahead of the field with a 5.17 score on her fifth wave, the highest among the finalists. This proved decisive in determining the winner when the scores were tied at the end of the women’s final.
Americans Eden Lange, who recorded 8.90, and Molly Kirk (6.93) were third and fourth, respectively.
Barbados also copped a gold medal in the Boys’ 12 and Under division, as Ocean Gittens (10.33 points) continued his good form and won the division from compatriots Kai St George (8.00), Tai Garrett (7.20) and Rafe Gooding (6.46).
A popular throw-back event for Soup Bowl regulars was the final for the Legends that saw Alan Burke, the father of Jacob and Josh Burke, roll back the years to capture the title with a score of 11.27 points.
Burke, who rode just five waves and proved masterful at selection, sealed the gold medal on his last ride with a score of 6.50. Andrew “Rappo” Rapson was second with 9.43 points, while Peter Hill (8.74) was third and Geoffrey Tryhane (7.30), fourth.
Close to 80 surfers from eight countries – England, the United States, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Russia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and host country Barbados – contested the three-day Surfing Festival. (BB/PR)